Improvising Now: A Practical Guide to Modern Improv

by Rob Norman

We all want good scenes. But it seems the harder we work, the less likely we are to stumble towards them.

Improvising Now offers techniques, tricks, and secrets used by professionals to make the act of improvising easier, more efficient, and more enjoyable onstage. You'll discover easy tools to navigate some of the more stressful parts of scene work, including:

* Starting scenes
* Discovering the character dynamic
* Playing patterns and Game of the Scene
* Heightening your own ideas
* Mental blocks to discovery
* Navigating group scenes
* Second beats and structure
* Tips for intermediate/expert improvisers

This book also provides an insider's look at the business of comedy. From producing your own independent improv shows to getting hired by a paying comedy theatre.

Work less, play more. Enjoy whatever Now you're in.

Genres: Comedy, Theatre

150 pages, Paperback

First published October 16, 2014

Reviews

[Sebastian Fazio · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rob Norman is my favourite improvisor to watch. To see him onstage is to witness magic happen- to be in a constant state of wonder. Sometimes after watching him, I try forgetting what I saw so I could be blown away again. Turns out I don't have to, 'cause he manages to do it again anyway.

This book is not only a collection of what makes Rob great, but what makes improv great in general. You'll definitely be a better improvisor after reading. A+

[Elin Isaksson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a very practical and useful improv manual. It doesn't do anything mind blowing and I don't think it tries to, it's just solid simple advice on how to make people laugh my making up stuff in the moment on stage. Would recommend!

[Hayden Nesbit · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m fascinated by improv and am convinced we’d all benefit from incorporating many of its “rules” and frameworks into our work and relationships. I think its core tenets of play, adaptability, imperfection, and agreement push back against a lot of the unhealthy ways we move through the world.

[Chris Duffy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A read this book after talking a workshop with Rob’s improv partner Adam Cawley. I liked its practical approach and ideas it gave me to try with my teams and my own scenework

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rob Norman ditches the don'ts and shouldn'ts for this joyful approach to the form. Improvisers with any density of improv boner, from soft newbies to hardened pros, will find encouragement and inspiration in this slim friendly volume. Many improv books i've read have had the unfortunate disadvantage of screwing me further into my head, but Norman takes a more mindful approach. Improvising Now--a call to awareness, an invitation to begin scenes with "a shrug and a smile" rather than a bang. Put simply, Rob Norman knows what he's talking about.

[J.D. Lowe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is up there with my favorite improv books, right close to the top (The UCB Manual still hits parts of my brain in a really good way, but this is a close second!). Great theories about improv, involving examples, in ways I haven't seen other books do. It even goes into how to produce an improv show, which I feel others don't touch on as much!

[Gino Galotti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rob made a really practical guide for improvising. Each chapter touches a different area that you can work on if that's your weakest point. It includes a lot of insight and examples, as well as several techniques and new games to try. Totally recommended!

[Dan Richter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ein hübsches Vademecum für den fortgeschrittenen Improvisierer. Teilweise für meinen Geschmack zu sehr in den amerikanischen Konventionen verwurzelt. Dennoch hilfreich, angenehm gegliedert und schönen Zusammenfassungen am Schluss jedes Kapitels, die das Lesen sehr erleichtern.

[Michael Bradt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my new favorite improv book, and one read a LOT of them. It's clear, it has actionable steps to improve, and it's practical. I highly recommend it to any improviser at any level of their journey.

[Amy Mable · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've listened to The Backline podcast, and bought this book as a result. I enjoyed it... thoroughly. I'm a hobby improvisor, briefly on a team before my life became too busy.

[Michael O'Keefe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy reading but full of good techniques and tips for the beginner to implement and experiment with.

[Rusty Graves · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short, simple, & SUPER!
Rob Norman’s book is FULL of fun and simple techniques that will make you look like an improv genius. My goal is now to convince every improviser I know to read this book!

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rob Norman the OG at Second City aka the first place I trained at <3

[Sam Hancock · Rating 4 out of 5]

Norman's manual is indeed a practical guide to modern improv. Stripping improv principles down to the bare basics and then providing clear and concise examples, Norman reinvents how improv could be taught. Instead of relying on gimmicky games to convey "listen, accept and build", this book lays out what those terms mean and how to achieve them in very easy to apply exercises. There are two main sections - Two-Person Scenes and Building a Show - and the advice laid out speaks to Norman's experience in the Toronto Improv scene.

For me, the clarity of the chapter endnotes - "Make it Simple" - are the real takeaways from these books. Succinct and powerful advice abounds at the end of each chapter. Norman has set up a great method to learn improv, and I'd highly recommend this book to improv coaches and new teams everywhere.

[Baris · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are a lot of interesting tips in the book that reader can easily learn and implement in their scenes. In certain pages I felt like having a private instructor critiquing my scenes. To complement the book you can check out the backline podcasts where Rob and Adam Cawley talks on a variety aspects of improv.

[Erik · Rating 4 out of 5]

I good refresher for "getting out of your head" I feel like this is a good book for the improvisor that is just getting out of classes to keep at hand or the established on to go back to like a Cliff's Notes when they feel like they are hitting a valley in their performance. A quick read.

[Ryan Aldred · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent guide to improv suitable for novice and experienced improvisers alike. Filled with practical and humorous examples, Norman writes with an energy that's sure to inspire.

[Michãel · Rating 5 out of 5]

clear, well-written, great examples. lots of stuff to chew on, especially for the beginning improviser.