Do You Live An Unscripted Life?
I’m reading Improv Wisdom and the subtitle is “Don’t prepare, just show up.”
It reminded me to live my life unscripted as much as possible.
For example, last night I went to a stacked Town Meeting knowing I was going to speak against the crowd. It was for more money for an athletic complex that has gone way over budget because they stuck with the plan when they hit significant financial issues early on. Many voters felt like they were stuck between a rock and a hard place. We’ve spent millions and they wanted another million and say they will come back again for even more.
It’s interesting because art, music and theater can’t get a penny. But for sports, they’ll rip apart the books looking for the money or bond against monies dedicated to other things. Just can’t figure it out.
So, I went there with something in mind to say, some things I wrote down. Then I decided to just bag it and get up there and speak.
Honestly, it’s much easier when I just bag a script and speak from the soul. The one time I completely wrote out what I was going to say, I got up there and “forgot” my next line. I started to scramble through my notes but the writing was so small I couldn’t see it. I got all disjointed and actually said nothing for a good minute while I collected my thoughts.
That’s when I vowed never to write anything out again.
I know we are supposed to go on job interviews and rehearse and rehearse. But at some point, you need to trust that you will know what to say, to trust that your inner spirit will speak with you. It also requires you to listen to the conversation and what people actually say, to respond to that and not some conversation in your head. I’d love to see improv classes taught beginning in elementary school!
How about some of you, do you fly without a script or carry one with you?
G.
RSS
Great post, Giulietta! I agree wholeheartedly.
When I was learning how to market a screenplay, I learned that you have to write a 30-second elevator speech that sums up your story and then rehearse it to death until you can say it in your sleep. I couldn’t bond with what I wrote (trying to follow their formula) and the more I rehearsed it, the deader my voice sounded. Finally, I just quit with that whole approach. I’ll wait till I can feel natural again and then go back and do it My Way.
I hope someone listened when you got up to speak. I’m with you – cannot understand why sports is elevated to a place of glory, with obscene amounts of money thrown at it – while creativity is left behind.
P.S. I so wish we would have had improv classes in elementary and high school! That would have done more for me as an adult than so much of the standard stuff we had to learn.
Hi Milli.
Wonderful to have you pipe in about this topic. I’m not a big elevator speech fan anyway so I can relate to your inability to bond with something formulaic. It tends to be disconnected from the emotion that’s needed. Show emotion I say. Best wishes with your screenplay. Here’s to improv everywhere!
Did they listen to me? Hmmm. Perhaps on some level, but folks seem conditioned to want/expect professional level sports facilities for high school. The best players played on these uneven, kind of nasty playing fields because that’s what makes you a good player, learning to excel when it isn’t perfect. Thanks! G.
Great point about the uneven playing fields being a good teacher.
Being a good teacher via the uneven fields gives me so many writing ideas! Thanks as usual for the cross-inspiration. G.
Thanks for mentioning my book, Improv Wisdom. I’m delighted that you found inspiration to do what you needed to do at that meeting. Speaking from the heart without a script is always a good choice. Warm thanks,
Patricia
Hi Patricia,
Thank you for writing such a great book! Really a gem for the ages. I love what you say about speaking from the heart. We tend to be taught to deny our hearts.
Appreciate the visit! G.
Hi Giulietta — it has been amazing to contemplate the possibility that I can add something to people’s lives without consciously trying to “add value” or say something they’ll identify with or empathize with them or something like that. I think that’s a possibility I’m still exploring.
Hi Chris,
How refreshing to hear you say “without consciously trying to add value.” So many of the how-to folks on line talk about authenticity and the like, then go on to teach folks how to consciously “trick” folks into buying their products, etc. If you’ve got something genuine to share, shared from the heart, if folks want to hear that they will feel an attraction and migrate toward you from a place of honesty.
You’re doing great! Thanks, G.
When I first started doing presentations at Rotary Clubs I prepared extensive notes thinking that I could just sort of follow them as I was speaking. Did not feel comfortable with that and in a very short time just spoke with maybe 3 or 4 words on a small card that I would use as bullet reminders. I found that if you know what you want to say and have a passion for the subject that is is much easier to just talk to folks like you’re having a one on one discussion.
Hi Lou!
Wonderful that you got to the point in your Rotary talks where a mere word could prompt you. Yes, a good talk is like you are having a conversation. So much of life can be reduced to the ability to have a real conversation. Need to keep the conversation alive!
Thanks, G.
Hi Giulietta, Hooray for you! To stand up and make an improv speech on a subject you feel passionately about. I’m with you that improv speeches – or ones that look improv – are much more personal and seem more genuine than when someone reads a speech. Actually, one of my big peeves is to see someone reading a speech when it would have been more convincing and heartfelt if they had improvised at least some of the words.
However, once you’ve written a speech or rehearsed in your head what you’re going to say, how much is still improv? Or more like coming up with the right words for that moment You mention you went there with something in mind to say, some things you wrote down. So what you did, I feel, was take it to another level, and the improv was in your delivery, your passion, your eloquence, and as you say, your soul.
Hi Penelope,
Welcome back! I’m enjoying the conversation around this topic.
Is it still improv if you’ve researched or rehearsed? Good question. In my case, I didn’t end up saying what I wrote down at all so I think it was pretty close. I just asked a question and springboarded it from there.
Now, I took a class years and years a go where we had to pick a phrase out of a box and then riff on it. I got belly button lint. For that I headed into belly button info I’d read or heard about. Pure improv, if there is such a thing, might only take place if someone gives you a made up word and you have to define it. It’s an interesting topic to delve into …
Thanks for your comment. Made me think! G.
Great story! I’m with you 100%, and I bet speaking from your heart without a script made an impact on them, even if they don’t quite get what you’re saying yet.
As for me, I spent many years thinking I needed the script but never feeling fully authentic within it. When I began to experiment with letting it go and and trusting (myself, my audience, the universe), I felt so free and unfettered. And then the most amazing thing happened – I made real, heartfelt connections. There’s been another benefit as well: I’m a better listener because I dropped the script, since I’m no longer waiting for “my turn” to say my lines.
Hi Patty!
Trusting ourselves is so underrated and rarely discussed. You strike me as a phenomenal listener. Love that you are no longer waiting to say your lines, like we’re in some strange tv drama instead of real people connecting live. Will check out wild woman calling! G.