r/improv • u/Careful_Leader_5829 Longform • Mar 02 '26
longform What have you seen improv theaters / training centers do that reassures you they hold themselves accountable, they avoid building a cult around themselves, and that they protect volunteer-performers?
What have you seen improv theaters / training centers do that reassures you they
- hold themselves accountable,
- they avoid building a cult around themselves, and
- that they protect volunteer-performers?
Green flags and red flags are welcome. I'm looking for specific examples (you don't have to say the theater, just what the green/red flags are)
EDIT
just a thought -- do any of your theaters connect performers to external resources, other organizations?
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u/tokyoimprov Shortform Mar 03 '26 edited Mar 03 '26
Our Mission/Vision Statement: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1471AqZ39um5VLkEXNuizwESuHHnVmnZQaJ6j4moNP_A/edit?usp=sharing
Other things we do to support our members:
・Pay 50% of ticket costs for members to go see other improv shows in Tokyo (even if none of our members are in the improv show) or theater production (if a member is in the production)
・No questions asked loans given to members (0% interest) up to $2,500
・Anonymous member satisfaction surveys
・Annual group dinner at the fanciest restaurant we can find in Tokyo (idea being, go somewhere and order something you'd usually feel is out of your reach financially)
・Audition decisions (who gets in) has to be a unanimous decision
・Lots more little things that (hopefully) are all green flags
The hope/goal here is we build and foster a supportive community of members on stage and off stage.
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u/Careful_Leader_5829 Longform Mar 03 '26
Oh my gosh you have won my heart for having a bilingual improv group. That's incredible.
Also, I produced a show once a long time ago, and even though I didn't have a lot of money, I took everyone out for dinner at a decently nice place as a thank you and for team building. Really cool that you do this!
I don't have much money so I don't get to travel often, but I sincerely hope I get to visit your theater someday.
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u/tokyoimprov Shortform Mar 03 '26
aww thanks for the kind message. You are welcome any time you are able to make it to Tokyo. Ticket on us. But yes, performing in two languages (Japanese and English) in our shows is tricky but its what makes it fun for us. (It also sorta keeps us from any potential issues with the mono-lingual groups in Tokyo (Japanese language shows or English language shows) since our audience draw is so different.
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u/Okay_Werewolf Mar 03 '26
Wow, I used to do improv in Tokyo (and saw some of your shows) - that sounds awesome!
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u/srcarruth Mar 02 '26
First time I saw a rule that teachers and students weren't allowed to date i was happy. Because I hadn't seen it at my previous school and that was a place where all the teachers dated students. Pretty much exclusively
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u/kareembadr Mar 02 '26
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u/Careful_Leader_5829 Longform Mar 02 '26
what I appreciate about this is that it also holds directors accountable.
thank you!
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u/leftlanespawncamper Mar 02 '26
A red flag for me is if they say something along the lines of "this is how you do improv" versus "this is how we do improv." There's a local theater/school that does the former and acts like their way is the only way. They also only allow people to perform in shows if they've been on their house team, which of course requires you having had gone through all their classes.
What sucks is they're the biggest place in town and have the most name recognition, so if you say you do improv, the first thing people ask is if you're at that theater.
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u/AffordableGrousing Mar 02 '26
Where I perform, there is a written code of conduct and the teacher/coach will go over it at the start of a class session/first meeting of a team. They detail multiple ways to provide feedback: to the teacher/coach, to the education coordinator, or even directly to the general manager. I think it helps that no matter where the problem may lie you an option.
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u/Unbentmars Mar 03 '26
A written code of conduct and a 3rd party to report issues to so you aren’t reporting a coach or instructor to other coaches and instructors who they work with constantly
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u/Careful_Leader_5829 Longform Mar 03 '26
I'd love to see this in practice. my big fear is improv theaters that keep themselves closed off from external resources and third parties.
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u/StereoForest Improv comedy podcaster Mar 03 '26
Actually follow and practice the values they project on their website. If they make a claim (particularly around diversity and inclusion and who actually has a seat at a table and is allowed to make calls and decisions) it's actually true and not for show and selling seats in classes or shows. Green flag if there's evidence, red flag if there isn't.
Having a code of conduct only matters if the people who uphold it want it to be there, believe in its value, and follow what it says. The green flag is the evidence this happens as opposed to it being put up somewhere.
So the reassurance question would be that transparency. Those diverse voices are leaders, they are transparent about how they contribute and why decisions were made. That those affected feel like they have their backs had to be comfortable enough to speak up about things. Do people feel safe in those communities enough to be able to have a voice and a conversation about a thing (green) prior to the take down piece after they left (red), or are most of the discussions that take place behind closed doors (also red). Hell, how steep (red) or flat (green) is the hierarchy? Do people, like, just leave because question mark never to be seen again (red).
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u/[deleted] Mar 02 '26 edited Mar 20 '26
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