Twin Cities Improv Festival blog - Day 1
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One day is behind us and it is somehow more surreal than I remember.
Yesterday was the last stretch of running around, taking care of little details, finally putting things together and even some relaxation. The whole time I kept asking myself what I must be forgetting.
Got to spend some time with some of favorite giant-improv-brains from Darby Lane, both Lucas and Matty D are exactly the same wavelength of geek about this stuff as I am and it's good to be able to just dive into the nerdy end of things for a while, it helps you socialize the rest of the time as if you're actually fairly well adjusted. That was cool.
While picking up Matty from the airport I discovered that this weekend just happens to be when they shut down 35W at 62 for the big bridge work, which makes everything a total zoo. Wonderful. And I thought competing Gay Pride weekend was our biggest drawback. Alright, still completely manageable, but I was probably still forgetting....something.
Oddly enough, all the Vitamin Water I consumed yesterday didn't help me focus whatsoever. Maybe it's because I had seven times the normal daily dose. I don't think that says anything negative about our sponsor beverage, just my poor impulse control. If there's a vitamin supplement that helps reign that in I'll try it.
Then it was finally time to pack the audience into the Theater Oven and rock the shows.
How awesome is our festival? We start with Fingergun. That's pretty awesome.
Lauren figured out what I had forgotten all day - to eat. Ah yes, some fuel for the brain. Can't get everything from Vitamin Water, but if you could I would have.
One of my favorite things about the first day of the festival and new people to the Twin Cities is introducing them to the theater - last year a group came in and was startled into blurting out "Oh...it's a REAL theater!" and I know exactly what the feeling. It sucks never knowing if the festival you travelled across the country is going to be in a good space in a good neighborhood or just in the back of a bookstore somewhere. It definitely cranks up the energy right off the bat when they get here and see what we've got going on - and it reminds me that we're spoiled the rest of the year.
But the best part is always when people get to meet our audience. I. love. our. audience. They're the best in the country.
Again, we're spoiled since we get to perform in front of big houses full of people that not only care more for really smart, cool stuff that can come out of improv more than the cheap laughs - but they expect it of us.
They're positive, hip to what we're doing, smart and want to be spoken to like smart, hip theater-goers. I dig that.
When I see visiting performers getting their preshow nerves on I know they're in for one of the best surprises you can get onstage. You guys rock and we owe you thanks for way more than putting down your dollars on live improv
Although, I really have to say thanks for that as well.
Anyway - that's the wrap up. Not sure if it's the 90 minutes of sleep or the crazy release of tension that happens when nothing catches fire or whatever, but I'm nothing but stoked for Day 2, if I didn't know that by Sunday night I'm going to be a tattered wreck I would say I want to just do this forever.
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