Language Learning

In recent years, I have begun to learn a little more about people by listening to how they use language. Equally as important, I have begun to learn more about how I use language by listening to how other people use it.

Yebisu Taste Test

Last month I visited the humble Yebisu Beer Museum in Ebisu, Tokyo, Japan. Naturally, I had to engage in a little taste testing and documented my taste test of the Crescent Moon beer cocktail on my iPad with 2camshoot. The maiden voyage went quite smoothly, if I do say so myself (which I do).



For more information about 2camshoot and to download it, visit www.2camshoot.com.

Be in the Moment, Be Honest

Just a bit over a week ago, HUGE Theater celebrated the second anniversary of its soft opening with the Second Annual Improvisor of the Year Awards. I attended last year's awards, had a blast, and was warmed through and through by the talent and community that filled the room. I was frustrated that I couldn't attend this year because of work, so I asked about sending in a video, which was an idea that took off. Everyone who had moved away in the past year or who was out of town was encouraged to send in a video. This would be stellar!

I immediately concerned myself with what to film and how to film it. I began to concern myself with being funny, which is doom. The more someone in improv starts focusing on being funny, the increased likelihood there is of missing good moments and flailing on stage. Looking desperate or like you're trying too hard is not as funny. No matter how much some spectators and some improvisors like to think improv is all about being funny, at its core it really isn't at all.

The worry led to procrastination. Eventually, I lost the chance to include video of the circus tent or the giraffe and just filmed outside of my childhood home in West Des Moines, Iowa where my Dad still lives. In the end, I decided that I would just say what's in my heart, live in the moment, and work from a place of honesty.

It's not a funny video at all, and I'm sure that the videos other associates of mine submitted were far more entertaining. I'm just happy I whipped out a video greeting full of words and sentiment that I hope resonated with people as much as they resonated with me.

There was a space in my brain right behind my eyes where I was crying.

(It's important to note that the Splendid Things and Gay/Straight Alliance sets I mention in the video happened at Improv-A-Go-Go – a HUGE Theater production – shortly before it moved to the HUGE theater space. It's still a HUGE thing.)