Improv tip: Avoid asking questions
(Yep, you read that right.)
I know that I’ve said that improv is all about asking questions, but…
It’s important that you ask those questions to yourself in your head. Then, once you have answered them, you inject those answers into the scene through actions, dialogue, and emotional expressions. It’s best if you avoid asking questions out loud to your partner when you’re performing a scene.
“Antonia, are you telling us that asking questions is bad?!” 😱
Not exactly. Let me explain.
Improv is a team sport
Because you and your partner are building a scene together, it’s important that you establish the “who, what, where” together. (If you need a refresher of the “who, what, where” in improv, check out this article.) The “who, what, where” details are best put in place by committed statements:
Who = “I’m so glad to have you as a brother.”
What = “I am so glad you agreed to train for the marathon with me.”
Where = “Wow, there seems to be a really vibrant techno scene here on the moon!”
All of those statements add depth to a scene by answering key details about the characters, their motives, and their surroundings.
What happens when you’re acting with a questioner
Now, imagine acting in a scene where your scene partner looks around and asks, “Where are we?”
This line doesn’t contribute anything to the scene, and instead puts the responsibility on you to come up with the “where” all on your own.
Or if they look at you and ask, “What exactly are we doing?”
Same thing; you have to come up with the “what” without any help from your partner.
Taking time in a scene to ask questions is like trying to ride a bike with a flat tire. You might get where you need to go, but it’ll take a while - and it’ll be a bumpy ride for everyone involved.
Oftentimes, when an improviser asks questions like those, they are trying to stall. They could be having trouble committing to their character or the story, and they want to put off the decision making to their partner. But this is ineffective teamwork; you are putting too much weight on their shoulders.
Can questions ever be helpful in improv scenes?
Yes, if they contain information that contributes to the “who, what, where.” For example:
Who = “Have you called mom yet?”
This question informs the audience that the characters on stage are siblings. It also suggests that they may have something to tell their mother, which could be a major plot point.
What = “Have you ever operated a forklift before? This is my first time.”
From this question, the audience learns that one of the characters is attempting to operate a forklift and is inexperienced. Depending on the other improviser’s answer, the audience may come to learn that the two of them have a mentor/mentee relationship or that they are equally inexperienced colleagues.
Where = “Is this haunted house creeping you out, too?”
This is a helpful question because it not only sets the scene in a haunted house, but it also establishes an emotion for one of the characters (creeped out).
So, you can see that questions in improv are not universally bad; however, when you’re just starting out, it’s a good rule of thumb to avoid asking questions whenever you can. Instead, make statements with conviction. That’s what drives the scene forward.