I was just reading Tina Fey's wiki page and it seemed a lot of great comedy writers and performers had their start together at second city in chicago. Now this is just one example, I always see that of that older generation of comedians in almost any entertainment industry, they often come from the same roots in terms of their start in the industry, whether that be the same theatres, clubs, etc.

I understand this is just how it happens because they all exist in the same areas and network and help each other out, but is this type of expansive familiarity within the industry still a thing for newer aspiring artists in this industry.

It almost feels like the entertainment industry as a whole is so oversaturated with people that, that type of small "class" dynamic is not possible. I'm sure their are collaborative groups and such but the mass "everyone knows everyone" in the scene is sort of gone no? especially with the added element of digital content.

I dont even know if i explained well what im trying to say, sorry.

Just did a rewatch of the Earliest Show and thought I'd drop it here in case anyone wasn't aware of it. It's mostly improvised, and Ben Schwartz's character goes through the 5 stages of grief across the episodes. Great guests and of course starring the incredible Lauren Lapkus​

"Maybe the best comedy festival in the nation, nay, the world."

-Craig Cackowski on OOB Fest

Out of Bounds Comedy Festival is back for our 20th festival in 2026 -- we're lining up some incredible headliners and workshops, and we want YOU to be there. The festival is happening November 5-8, 2026 in Austin, Texas!

Submissions are open until June 30 - open to improv, sketch, stand up, musical, clown, and variety acts -- basically if it's funny*, we want to see it.

Head to oobfest.com to submit your act and get all the details.

*TRAASH comedy is not funny. That means no transphobic, racist, ableist, ageist, sexist, or homophobic content.

Friends! I'm moving Frankenfilms to Chicago! This is a live improvised dubbing show where I take four or five films, mash them up take out the dialogue, add back some sound and have improvisers dub over it!

If this is something that sounds like fun to you, sign up for auditions!

Here is an example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WILrndogmwk

Here is the sign-ups: https://www.cocoscout.com/my/auditions/5E2NV/form

Show dates: 7/11, 7/18, 7/25, 8/1

Most likely a Thursday rehearsal

Excited to have you guys on board!

I wasn't able to get tickets in time for Dinosaur's upcoming NYC show, so I just wanted to see if anyone was looking to get rid of theirs -- more than happy to pay full price!

Station Theater 2000 Nance Street, Suite A-100, Houston, TX 77020

https://www.crowdwork.com/e/trillteenth-variety-show-2026?date=2026-06-20T18:00:00

https://www.crowdwork.com/e/trillteenth-improv-show-2026?date=2026-06-20T19:30:00

Hello,

I’m an LA improviser and I’m leaving LA in July/August. Just wanted to offer my place for a potential sublet for those who are in town for any WGIS or UCB intensives or anything like that. Maybe just come into town to do LA for a couple months, see what’s it’s like, go to auditions etc.

It’s a one bedroom apartment right next to UCB Franklin in Franklin village, and UCB Bronson and WE Improv. Near public transit, very walkable neighborhood near grocery stores, restaurants, the improv bar birds (Jason Momoa got his scar at a bar fight there), the coffee shop where Gunther from friends worked while on friends (former location). A block away from both UCB Franklin and WE improv. And a quick bus ride away from SES, WGIS, the Clubhouse, the Pack etc (the Los Feliz improv district/strip mall).

Nice walk to Griffith park or the Bronson caves (where Batman is from).

If you know anyone that is interested, DM me.

Cheers!

AMUSEMENT GUARANTEED is the official podcast of the fictional theme park Cardigan-on-Durge: Destination Fun (the South East of England’s 6th largest amusement park) hosted by park employees Combo and Rhett. Every week they meet and chat with the unusual personalities who step through the park guests.

We are really excited about this podcast and I will humbly say I think it’s pretty good. The guests we have lined up are all great and hilarious, and every week we are building out this little world of this peculiar little amusement park.

I’d love it if people would check it out and give it a listen. I think fans of CBB, Teachers Lounge, Mega would be into this

https://pnc.st/s/amusementguaranteed

What was your latest audition like? What format did they use? How much was it about your resume vs skill? Did they even talk to you if you haven't attended the in house Lv 1 through 5 classes?

Here's a great comedy lesson from Steve Martin: you can telegraph a joke from a mile away and it will still be funny. Similar to how Penn & Teller show the audience how a trick is done, then actually do the trick, and the audience is still amazed. Feel free to give away the punchline because it will still be funny when you deliver it.

Know any other examples like this? Or comics that put the punchline first, like a Jeopardy question?

https://youtu.be/276xNCbUDX8?si=DUUdPa9Jevt11PC5

hey! mud city improv festival in Chicago is happening this coming weekend; it is probably one of the biggest midwest festivals around. im on one of the college teams, and unfortunately one of my teammates can no longer attend the shows we purchased tickets for. considering probably half of you all live in chicago, i thought id come here! we are selling the ticket for the thursday 7pm show at the io fremont theatre for $10 and the saturday 7:15pm show at the den theatre for $20. only one ticket for each show! if you’re interested please dm or comment and i will get you in touch with him. also, if you havent already, i recommend following mud city on instagram and checking out their other shows! it’s gonna be lit. thanks!

I am at the end of my 1st year improv class in italy. I have done it for curiosity, to meet people, and to try something (almost) completely outside my comfort zone. I'm the guy who thinks a lot before speaking, analytical and rational mind, very nerdy and fairly socially isolated background, limited imagination intersection with people from my class.

I am finding that I am fascinated by the game of building characters and stories in real time on stage, with others, by the creativity there can be. Or at least I think I am. I am drawn to the idea of creating "deep" and "nuanced" characters and relationships and thus, hopefully, interesting stories (whatever these pretentious words might mean, e.g. dynamic relationships, conflicting motivations, grey areas, thematic contrasts, a rich external conflict or world, unforseen choices, creative ideas, psychological depth, realistic acting).

I tend to enjoy most things with an "intellectual" approach, that's just how I am. I don't have much fun with comedic, mundane, silly and jokes, I don't care to laugh. Ok, sometimes I do, but it's not what I care to go on the stage for.
I also veer spontaneously towards sad emotions and a slow thoughtful rythm (I am trash at making this work past first approach of course, unexperienced as I am). Most of my partners don't veer the same way.

I wonder if having this inclination, and relatively little time to dedicate to improv as an hobby, I will realistically be able to have fun with it in the long run and/or what I should adjust compared to my naive expectations. Whatever "deep" and "nuanced" might mean, doing it well requires already so much craft in classical media, that I wonder if it is "really" feasible in improv, or what form it takes.

Basically I wanna hear from people who have a similar inclination to me and more experience, what their journey has been like and how they are enjoying improv (and maybe how they would even qualify "deep" in improv).

P.s. I do like very imaginative scenes and comedy that stems from unexpected situations.
P.P.s I know I did only one year, I should try the second year where they will have us go beyond few-minutes scenes

While I believe my own improv scenework is better when based on reaction over cogitation; this brief pause of agency makes a difference- and offstage it helps keep me sane in social media interactions.

Two Adam interviews in a row! Both parts of Adam Bellas’s Improv Autopsy interview are out now, you may have encountered him in Orlando as part of SAK Comedy Lab or the indie group Six Degrees.

Adam has stories of playing at Cons, doing some ill-advised improv in a bowling alley, the traps of “tourist-prov” and how to handle being called Jesus in scenes when you’re just a guy with long hair.

Improv Autopsy is available wherever you get your podcasts, but here’s a link to the free Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/posts/158460238

And here’s Adam’s current project History Bluffs, catch it live if you’re in the Orlando area: https://www.facebook.com/historybluffers/

Here in person but thought if anyone online wants to enjoy?! It's going on for 25hrs and the loopy bits will start around midnight Berlin time

https://www.youtube.com/live/dHFltwo1n_A?is=kfOCLiWtKRCE-hMo

I was looking around my YouTube account and noticed my team’s DCM submission had zero views. Zero clicks, zero seconds watched. That was pretty surprising because we submitted on time with all the required info, paid the fee, and have all been performing regularly with a good audience.

No one on the team is a current student/house team member and I had a feeling that might work against us, but submissions were open to everyone.

I get that they were overwhelmed with submissions but to charge a submission fee without even watching the submission is pretty shitty.
And no, the video wasn’t downloaded either.

No one was bitter about getting rejected and we were planning on going to support friends and catch the headliners… but now I kind of want to get our submission fee back on principle and not give them any more money?

If your team was rejected, is your submission showing any views?
Curious if this happened to anyone else.

Hi all, I've been brought on to do a workshop for about 70 women for an hour. It's for team building as well as just a moment to be silly. I am thinking of splitting them into groups of 10, using my mic to tell the group as a whole what game we are playing and then walking around and assisting the groups. Simple simple games like Word Association, One Word Story, Zip Zap Zop.

Id love to hear how you would do it differently, or if anyone has experience leading large groups - how did it work best?

If needed, I could pull help and bring another to help lead and assist.

Thank you all I really appreciate the insight

Hey everyone!

We recently launched World’s Greatest Improv, where we’re uploading full improv shows, clips, and other comedy content from the World’s Greatest Improv School in Los Angeles.

The channel features performers and teachers like Will Hines (Comedy Bang Bang), Jim Woods (Jury Duty Company Retreat), Sarah Claspell (Dropout TV), Dave Theune (St.Denis Medical) , and lots of other great improvisers from the LA scene, along with special guests like Eugene Cordero (Loki, Tacoma FD), Bob Dassie (Second City, iO), Erica Hernandez (Jury Duty: Company Retreat).

We’re trying to build a larger online improv archive/community with full shows, clips, experimental formats, sketch videos, and more over time. We’re still just getting started, and are very low budget, but we’re really excited about where it’s headed.

YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@worldsgreatestimprov

TikTok:
https://www.tiktok.com/@worldsgreatestimprov

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/worldsgreatestimprov

If you want a good place to start, here’s a recent Living Room Living Room show:
https://youtu.be/FdIciSdh8rk

And our latest Under the Influence show with special guest Danika Lyle:
https://youtu.be/ENmkSD9EJGc?si=O3O_g9ucwfa_MyAm

Also if anyone is looking for improv classes, WGIS offers classes in LA, NYC, and online:
http://www.wgimprovschool.com/classes

Staffing Solutions is an improv show where our host Brock St. Clair tries to help the weirdos of Los Angeles find a job.