Improvising is great. Planning is great. Both are true.

Hey improviser,

Are you a planner?

When it comes to teaching improv, I am a total planner. Thinking about what a good arch is, which approach keeps it fresh, how to build on the previous and what the class needs. Doing this (on paper) is my happy place. I have so many thoughts about what entails good planning, I even developed my own framework for it in my teachers course.

I believe in being flexible and letting go of your plan. And I believe in being confident and committing to your plan.

Because both are true.

Let me explain.

Planning is great, but…

Regardless of how well we plan your class, there are moments when reality catches up on us. Something in the context, in our students or in ourselves is different than expected. And what we have planned simply doesn’t work anymore.

The heater broke.
Tomorrow our country goes back in lockdown.
The students got the giggles.
The video call doesn’t allow for breakout rooms.
I just got dumped.
Someone has to bring their dog.
The students are not ready yet for the topic.

Let me tell you, it happens. This list above is literally all from my own experience. What do you do? Not sticking to the plan, but really tuning in on what the group needs… Coming up with an adapted, or sometimes completely new plan. Crumble up that paper and be in the moment.

You got this.

Look at the group.

What do they need in this class and trust that your Improvising Self knows.

It is those moments that really train you as a teacher.

Trust yourself. And feel free to improvise.

Improvising is great, but…

Regardless of how well we can improvise, there are moments when reality catches up on us. Something in the context, in our students or in ourselves makes you doubt the original plan. And what you have planned simply doesn’t look like a good plan anymore.

You get only frowns while you introduce the topic.
The organiser asks you to triple the warmup time until the group is complete.
The students stay dead silent when you explain an exercise.
You are suddenly unsure about your own expertise.
The day beforehand you receive a request to switch from Zoom to Teams.
The group says they ‘already know how to do this’.
The blurb the organizer sent around is different from what you prepared.

Let me tell you, it happens. This list above is literally all from my own experience. What do you do? Not throwing everything out of the window, but trusting that you know what you are doing… Reflecting on your lesson plan, confidently sticking to it and taking the situation as is. Feel supported by the attention you put in beforehand and stay in the moment.

You got this.

Look at your plan.

What do you stand for in this class and trust that your Planning Self knows.

It is those moments that really train you as a teacher.

Trust yourself. And commit to what you planned.