Choosing a workshop title: funny or clear?
“That title is hilarious!
So that is a no.”
I am on the phone with a teacher of our improv school. Most courses are taught by Gael or myself, but we are now adding a course from another teacher to the mix. She is one of those ‘started as an ambitious student, then became a teacher’ types.
Today we are brainstorming titles for her course. It will be a course combining improvised theatre and visual art, an exciting brand new course for total beginners. Finding a title is definitely one of my favourite tasks ever and I love sharing insights about it (see also section C in my free workbook).
And so we throw titles back and forth.
Improv & visual arts.
No, 2 scary things in 1 title.
Using art for acting.
Meh. Pretentious.
Happy accidents: The Bob Ross approach to theatre.
What an hilarious title!
And it is a hard no.
Why? Simple.
A title like that doesn’t speak to our future participant. Yes, it speaks to fellow improvisers. We love funny titles, pop cultural references, rhyming, all of it!
But the people we think are perfect for this course are completely different. They are a little hesitant. They have wanted to do ‘something with theatre’ but never took the step. They might feel untalented.
The title should communicate: come join, no worries, you are part of this.
It doesn’t matter how boring, obvious or plain it is. As long as it says to our ideal future participants: this is for you.
A funny title says: are you fun and quirky like this title, then this is for you.
For instance… Teaching a workshop at an improv festival? Absolutely, have a funny title!
However… Want to attract total newbies in your space? Put clarity first. The title should do exactly what it says on the tin.
That is how my colleague and I landed on this title for her course… Theatre & art: anyone can do it.
Not hilarious. A little plain. Clear.
So a yes.
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