Feel Me Don’t You

Thanks to my PC basically freaking out over the past week, my time online in the coming days will be limited. I have lost files and now my PC has been locking up and forcing me to reboot after only a few minutes (if I’m really lucky) being logged in. Sounds like a virus or some serious spy/malware right? Nope. All checks from the 4-5 tools I use have come back negative and the only culprit my Event Viewer has returned is this stupid nvsvc32.exe service halting. For the non-techs in the crowd, that’s merely a service called by my NVidia video card.

Eureka! I’m at least a little closer in my troubleshooting thanks to Windows Safe Mode (again, for the non-techs, this is a way to boot your PC that doesn’t load all the drivers it normally would and assists in troubleshooting/correcting issues). After removing the video card from my hardware profile and running in VGA, I’m able to proceed in basic daily activities (email and some websurfing) with the only downside being some pretty annoying latency when I have to scroll through pages. At least it’s a little faster (and a little less annoying) than if I was running in safe mode. Hopefully I can resolve all my issues with a new video card once I scrape together enough cash.

So, if I don’t reply to an email or a question posted in a timely fashion, you know why. I really don’t want to have to resort to my only method of connection being my phone. Ugh, that would suck. If I don’t see or talk to you soon, I hope you all have a happy 4th! Hope to be back soon.

This song came across Pandora the other day and it reminded me that I hadn’t heard it in such a long while. So long that I had forgotten how much I liked it. Touching. Simple. Beautiful.

I think it’s time for another round of Mixtape Madness. I also think perhaps a theme is in order this time. So, I put this before you all. Who wants to join in and what would you like to see for a theme? Songs popular from your high school/college days (or a specific time in your life)? Songs that remind you of your favorite season? Songs that define you? Throw your musical hats into the ring. I will announce the theme in the next couple days after the voting seems to have halted.

For those who don’t know, I have had a roommate since May. Perhaps tenant is a more accurate term since:
a) we aren’t in a college dorm
and
b) we don’t share a room

Anyway, fellow Tantrum performer, Rob, has been living here while he goes through his nursing program at William Jewell since I live so close. Other than the Hawaiian bread incident, things have been pretty uneventful and it’s been nice to have Rob around. I was concerned after initially offering him the room that I wouldn’t want to have someone else in my own house. Perhaps there would be a weird chemistry or some irritating quirk would crop up and it would drive me nuts. Nope, pretty smooth so far and I had basically let go of any fear I had.

Until today.

As I was poking around for a new avatar online this morning, I came across this site that brought all the worry screaming back to my mind. My Crazy Roommate. Great, now I have to watch for the signs he might turn out like that guy’s roommate. I’m sleeping with one eye open.

June improv blog topic: What’s the importance of a troupe name?

Yes, two improv posts back to back. My apologies non-provers, I assure you there won’t be three in a row. Back to the topic…

What is in a name? In three words: everything and nothing (or perhaps “being and nothingness” if you’re a Sartre fan).

The “everything” category seems very specific - a marketing person’s wet dream or nightmare - consistency and clarity. The “nothing” category is less easily pinned down. Does the average person recognize and understand (or appreciate) the difference between ComedyCity, Too Much Duck, Act Two Baby!, Tantrum, TBA, & etc?

So, what’s the importance of a troupe name functionally? In my personal opinion, it matters very little until you reach a grander level of public awareness - a genericized trademark if you will. Within the scope of this discussion, however, we likely will never have to worry about this. As long as your name is evocative, you should be fine. Like many others, we trotted out all manner of names until we decided on Tantrum. Initially, I strongly disliked the name for a multitude of reasons - primarily the negative connotation associated with it. I eventually came to grips with it because it at least evoked something. Positive or negative, there’s at least some sort of synaptic connection.

You’re now 2¢ richer.

*** WARNING ***

If you’re not at all interested in the Kansas City improv scene, this post is not for you. Please feel free to amuse yourself here, here, or here. Hope to see you back again soon!

I’m upset with the local improv scene and I’m tired of suppressing my anger. There I’ve said it. Now, you might be saying, “But Pete, you’re so laid-back and easy-going… whatever could be the matter that it riles you so?”. Maybe not, who really talks like that? Any fly on any troupe’s rehearsal wall might hear one or more of the following:

1. We need a new perspective on our show.
2. We need a new director/coach.
3. We need more opportunities to learn via workshops.
4. We need more butts in seats.
5. We need better marketing.

Blah. Blah. Blah.

Now one would expect that if an opportunity to address one or more of those concerns presented itself, people might jump at the chance to take advantage. With respect to the majority of the improvisers in town, you’d be wrong. Oh, so wrong. Here’s the situation…

If you’ve paid at least a minimum of attention to this blog or any other improv blog (or Facebook or MySpace, & etc.) in this town, you’d know that the KCiF:8 festival is coming up this fall. As such, we’re looking to help defray the costs of visiting troupes/improvisers by hosting various fundraisers. There was a kickball tournament a month or so ago and June has had 4 workshops scheduled ranging across many interests like character work, long form initiations and scenes, long form formats and edits, and the upcoming basic improv scenework & relationships. You would be hard pressed to argue that there isn’t something for everyone in that mix. The great thing is they are only $20 or $75 for all four! All this cash, in case you forgot, is going towards the festival and not in some instructor’s pocket. The only catch is that these workshops are in Bonner Springs. Now, I realize that this “catch” is subjective. For those out on the western side of town or actually in Bonner Springs, this is more of a godsend. I digress.

So there you have it, so much of what improvisers in this town have been clamoring for - a chance to learn, grow as a performer, get new show ideas, tips, techniques, and so on and so forth. Classes have been full, right? BZZZT! Wrong! Tell them about our lovely consolation prizes Don Pardo. Attendance has been weak. Please allow me to further clarify that I don’t believe that each class should have 20 participants each (oh, but how nice that would be!). I know that there are too many things that get in the way (more on that later). Is 10 per class asking for too much? 5 per class? Surely that’s not too much to ask for. I guess it is. There must be a reason why we can’t draw 5 per class.

Possible reasons:
1. Too expensive
2. Classes aren’t teaching what people are interested to learn
3. Location
4. Instructors lack the credentials
5. Waiting for workshops by KCiF national instructors
6. Scheduling issues - too busy
7. Not a worthy cause

I’m sure there are many more reasons why people aren’t attending - more than I care to hypothesize at this late hour. Let’s address some of those reasons, shall we?

1. Too expensive
Hm, I don’t know people’s finances and if you have a family to support, then you have more than yourself to consider. I get that. However, we gave people plenty of notice so if money was a concern, there was time to scrape up $20.

2. Classes aren’t teaching what people are interested to learn
Let’s see… the classes cover short form, long form, scenes, characters, relationships, formats, edits, and philosophies. Yep, that covers everything you need. The only things that weren’t covered are very specific topics like music or puns (heaven forbid). I’m betting one of the instructors involved could have imparted some knowledge (or directed you to someone who could) on any desired topic.

3. Location
I addressed this somewhat earlier. Yes, for the majority of people this could be an issue. I can’t deny that. However, if you live in close proximity, then you can’t really claim this as a reason. If you’re within 15 minutes of the location, is that really too much trouble to go through for this opportunity?

4. Instructors lack the credentials
Hm. Trained with instructors at iO, Second City, Annoyance, Theatre Sports? Trained with Del Close or Charna Halpern? Check! Instructors performed in shows across the country numbering in the hundreds or (in some cases) thousands? Check! Creds don’t appear to be an issue.

5. Waiting for workshops by KCiF national instructors
Sure, who doesn’t want to take a workshop from an SNL or 30 Rock cast member or writer? Who doesn’t want to study from some critically-acclaimed improviser? Does that mean that you can’t learn from someone other than these individuals? More on this later.

6. Scheduling issues - too busy
With plenty of notice and a workshop spanning each Sunday afternoon of the month of June that didn’t have a parental holiday attached, certainly one day could be set aside. You’re busy. I get that. I’m busy. We’re all busy. Are we too busy, though, to make time for something for which we’ve been yearning?

7. Not a worthy cause
This is a statement of your value system and one that isn’t easily debatable. I can’t convince anyone what is worthy or unworthy. What I can do is simply ask, “If you consider yourself part of a community - one which the sole basis is predicated upon support - why wouldn’t you consider it worthy?”.

In the end, it doesn’t really matter. Honestly, there are a million reasons and there will always be reasons for not showing up. Everyone’s got a reason. Back to point number 5….

Maybe I’m off base here. If this is actually a reason for not attending a workshop, here’s what you’re implying - you have nothing to learn from a local instructor. Think about that a moment. Is that really the case? There are workshop attendees who have studied with these same national instructors. There are workshop attendees who have logged hundreds or thousands of shows. These people are still taking these classes. Why? Because they know that they can still learn from others! If you’re still with me at this point, you’re likely in this for the long haul (so, thanks, I probably won’t be making any friends with this next part).

Hey! Tantrum, you aren’t that good. Trip 5’s, you aren’t that good. ComedyCity, you aren’t that good. ImprovAbilities, you aren’t that good. Full Frontal Comedy, you aren’t that good. Hypothetical 7, CounterClockwiseComedy, MakeshiftMilitia, Roving Imps, Scriptease, Updog’s Special Friends, Exit 16, Thunderdome one-off teams, and any other local troupe I may have forgotten to mention… you aren’t that good. Not one of us (hell yes, I’m including myself) is so good that we can’t learn from another performer or instructor. Is your ego that inflated that you honestly believe this doesn’t apply to you?

Jared (Trip 5’s, in case you didn’t already know) feels that we’re too nice to each other as a community. We don’t hold ourselves or others accountable for the efforts put forth. No more! Some of our shows in this town seriously lack quality and it’s time to rectify that! It’s time to be more vigilant with the quality of our performances. Cut out the shit, because you know what? Your show isn’t that good! How’s that Jared?

In closing, I want to thank all the people who have actually participated in these workshops - instructors and attendees alike. Your efforts are appreciated far beyond whatever any attendance shows. I’d wager the visiting improvisers would agree.

I was messing around out on Seeqpod over the last week and have stumbled across some interesting musical tidbits. This first one I can’t listen to without thinking of Pearl McDonald. I. Just. Can’t.

This next one caught me by surprise as I was searching for some appropriate Father’s Day songs. I would have included it in the mix tape, but the language at the end prevented that. Sensitive ears should pause or just stop listening as soon as the song ends and the talking begins.

I wasn’t searching for anything in particular with this final one. It just popped up and I thought I would give it a shot. Nothing like cruising down memory lane in your ‘94 Ford Taurus blowin’ motherf***in’ oil on your way to Stacks of Wax for the retro show filled with geriatrics.

This is the second (in a series?) image that came to mind upon viewing Collin’s recent picture (below). I’m not sure exactly why this specific picture has caused such a surge of inspiration or if I should even question it and just go with the flow.

/nod Craig W.

Thanks to a recent design discussion with Trish regarding some new handbills, I was put in a mindset to seek out the new and trendy. ‘Lo and behold, what do I find staring me in the face this morning as I log into the Wordpress dashboard? Why, 2008 Design Trends, of course.

Courtesy of Matthew Mullenweg:

About a year ago, I compiled a huge list of artistic sites. It seems like the trend has carried on in 2008 and is growing stronger (thank God the glossy style is gone). So what’s hot now? Pencil sketches, handwritten notes, card stocks, watercolor effects, collage art, script fonts, grungy and splatter ink backgrounds (glossy gradients are not “in” this year). Another trend to be on the lookout for are the vintage and retro styles which I’ve posted earlier this year. Here is a list of 82 sites picked from Best Web Gallery that show the current design trends.

On the handbills we have a handwritten font, which I told Trish I didn’t like - just my opinion. Perhaps I overstated my dislike for that style of font as there are actually some that I don’t mind at all. I guess I just didn’t like that specific font. Oh well. I do like some of the other trends I’m seeing as evidenced here. The vintage/retro, grungy, splatter ink, watercolor, and sketches styles to name a few are pretty sweet. Does anyone else see something they like?

Those of you familiar with Jared’s blog will certainly recognize the image here. When I saw the picture, this is the first thing that came to mind. Yes, I realize my Photoshop skills are weak. Deal with it. It’s been a long time since I have seen an image and felt such a desire to re-create it as it appeared in my mind. It took several hours to cut the image out and place it where it seemed to fit my vision. I’m sure there is a quicker way to achieve the same results, but I don’t know all the ins and outs of Photoshop like several of my friends do. Honestly, it doesn’t really matter at this point since it gets my point across… what (if there really is a Creator) might creation look like in its infancy. Thanks, Jared, for sending me the pic and thanks Collin for the inspiration.