“If your improv students come out of class and say “That teacher was brilliant” then you are a good teacher. If they come out and say “That class was amazing” then you are a great teacher. If they come out and say “Weren’t we awesome?” then you are exceptional.” - some improv teacher, can’t remember who

Here’s the secret that every improv teacher knows deep down in their secret, vulnerable hearts. It doesn’t matter how good your lesson plan is. It doesn’t matter how beautifully you communicate your teachable points, nor the extreme care with which you choose your exercises.

It matters who is in the room with you.

At the end of the day, when the rubber of planning meets the road of practice, if your students aren’t with you then you’re going to fail.

I’ve delivered the exact same syllabus to different groups of students and achieved WILDLY differing results. And sure, some of it can be laid at the door of serendipity - how was I feeling that day? Did I eat too much BBQ beforehand? Was I struck by lightning during the warm-ups?

But mostly, it’s to do with the connection I was able to make with my students.

If your class doesn’t gel, if they’re not willing to work together, if they’re there for very different reasons - then it’s going to be a tough 8 weeks, pal.

I used to haul myself over the coals for this kind of thing. But I’ve slowly found the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference (as the old prayer goes).

So here’s my hard won wisdom for what it’s worth:

1. Spend the first week of class getting to know one another - it might seem like a slow start but it’ll pay off in the weeks ahead.
2. Talk about holding space and share boundaries & Accommodations - the lines that won’t be crossed, the things that matter intensely to your students. If someone doesn’t understand why such things are necessary - explain that you probably aren’t doing it for them.
3. Write your promotional blurb carefully - explain exactly what you want to explore in class. It gives you a better chance that the right people will turn up in the first place.
4. Find the style of improv you like to do and teach that. Slowly, you’ll become known for that style of improv and like-minded improvisers will gravitate to you.
5. Keep attending the classes of your peers and learn what they’re interested in. Recommend other teachers to your students, especially when you think their improv sensibilities might be aligned.
6. Don’t allow students to critically note each other. Ever. They can absolutely say what they loved in each other’s work though.
7. Practice the art of positive criticism - less DON’T DO THAT, more DO MORE OF THAT.

I’m always proud when my classes really love each other, when they all move forwards into other levels or even form performance teams together. When that happens, I’m very happy that I’ve done a good job as a teacher.

And it’s such a pleasure to be part of that story.

We can’t know what awaits us every time we step through the door of a new improv class, all the planning in the world can come undone in an instant. But then there’s also the other possibility, that the people waiting on the other side of that door are about to become firm friends and collaborators. That their lives will be forever impacted by the relationships they find there.

In ten years time, they won’t remember who taught the class. But they’ll remember their friends.