Greetings, salutations, and how do you dos. My name is Christian Ledek and I’ve been performing improv at ComedySportz for over a decade. My first experience with CSZ Utah was when they did a show at my high school senior all-nighter at 2 a.m. and my mind was BLOWN. It was wildly hilarious and I couldn’t believe people could go see this hilarity every weekend in downtown Provo.
After nearly five years of unfulfilled resolutions, I finally achieved a New Year's goal by attending the Beginner Workshop in January 2012. And again, my mind was BLOWN. I felt my brain being worked out in a way it never had before, and it was exciting, scary, and weirdly fun all at the same time. A little over 2 years later of attending workshops regularly, reading books about improv and how to make my mind quicker, as well as doing A LOT of bad improv (sometimes in front of audiences of 10 or less people for a “Wreck League” show). I started performing in shows on the weekends and have been doing it regularly since.
In the green room after a show, a fellow CSZ Utah performer and I had a memorable exchange:Fellow performer: “It seems like you always know the right thing to say that will either get a laugh or add something to a scene that was missing…often times both.”
Me: “Wowie kazowie, buy me dinner first.”
FP: “How do you do it?”
While I was a little bummed that they didn’t react to my initial response, I could see in their eyes that they were looking for sincerity, so I gave it.
Me: “How long have you been doing shows?”
FP: “…a few months”
Me: “And how long have you been actually doing improv, not just watching it. Actually practicing it?”
FP: “Well…not even a year, really.”
Me: “Exactly, hear me out. I’ve failed more times than you’ve even tried. I still fail all the time too, but I’m quicker at learning from it than I ever have been, and even then, I’m still nowhere near a 100% success rate”
FP: “But how do I get better faster?”
Me: “Keep showing up to workshops, stay curious, and don’t be afraid to make mistakes because we all will make them. The best improvisers still have off nights.”
FP: “Thanks, I appreciate it.”
Me: “Absolutely, of course. And I’ve got plenty of improv horror stories where I messed up big time, so feel free to ask me about them if you think I’m getting too big for my britches.”
I still remember the look of realization on their face when I said, “I’ve failed more times than you’ve even tried.” Credit to that performer for their persistence and growth since our interaction. However, the key takeaway remains: there's no substitute for hands-on experience. To sharpen your mind, quicken your wit, and excel at improv, you simply must dive in and practice. Just friggin’ do the dang thang, ya dig? That applies to anything in life, really.
So don’t be afraid to fail, and if you are afraid to fail, keep failing until you’re not afraid to fail anymore! There’s something freeing about it, and you’ll find yourself succeeding more often when you do.
Improv is a journey of constant growth, laughter, and self-discovery. It's about embracing the unexpected, learning to trust your instincts, and finding joy in the spontaneous moments of creativity. Whether you're a seasoned performer or just starting out, remember that every scene, every laugh, and yes, every stumble, is a step forward.
So, to all the aspiring improvisers out there: keep showing up, keep failing forward, and keep doing the dang thang. Because in the world of improv, and indeed in life, the real magic happens when you're brave enough to step into the unknown and say "Yes, and..." to whatever comes your way.
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