Initiating a scene can be stressful at any level, and when your brain goes blank up there, it's easy to panic. In this episode I talk about a simple approach to scene initiations that Will Hines recommends: start by answering the question "where are you?" You can do it physically, verbally, or both, and it gives you and your scene partner something concrete to build on while your brain catches up.

Two exercises in this one. The partner version, This Place Has So Much Flavour, has you enter a scene using only physicality and emotion to establish the character of the space before anyone speaks.

The solo version, The Garage, has you handling objects in an imagined location and then describing the base reality you just created.

This is part of a series on the top of the scene, initiations, and base reality.

Resources and downloads: https://improvupdate.com

Article for this episode: This episode is part of a four episode series available on YouTube and audio podcast. You can find an article for this episode, and links to the full series on both platforms, here.

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YouTube version of this episode: https://youtu.be/8HXZl0LS7AU

Chapters

00:00 Why initiations are stressful

00:56 Will Hines on answering "where are you?"

02:19 Why physicality buys you time

03:21 Using words to set location

03:47 Partner exercise: This Place Has So Much Flavour

05:17 Figuring out what you're doing together

05:47 Solo exercise: The Garage

07:17 Wrap up

Downloadable content

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Get a booklet with six exercises to help you get reps in challenging scenes called "Exercises to Ruin You"

Get more downloadable booklets here: https://improvupdate.com/downloads

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About

This podcast was created, written, and is hosted by Jen deHaan. Jen has certifications related to healthy communities (Tufts University Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy), nervous system regulation and soon teacher training certification on community resilience. She has a BFA in teaching creative arts to adults. You can find her full bio here.

This episode was and edited and produced by StereoForest.com.

This podcast was made in British Columbia, Canada by StereoForest Podcasts.

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Student and Teacher/Coach Guides about NOTES in Improv

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