4 People

My Chicago homecoming was bittersweet, as all jolts back into the real world are. Chicago was a hiatus from life, a chance to delve into improv, and really soak in, "making shit up."

Suddenly, in Sacramento, I'm surrounded with work, and bills, and oppressive heat (despite the horror stories, Chicago weather was generally superb). However, the thing that stuck in my mind the most were 4 people. Only...4 people. These were the inquisitive folk. These 4 people were the ONLY people who asked what I learned in Chicago. That's it. That's all. Here I was, surrounded (and taught!) for six weeks with the greatest minds of improv (TJ Jagadowski, Bill Arnett, Rush Howell, Craig Uhler, Jim Carlson, Susan Messing, Brian Posen, Seth Weitberg, Steve Waltien, Dave Pasquesi, Blaine Swen, Greg Hess, Mark Raterman, Brendan Jennings, Bill Cochran, Pat O’ Brian, Brian Jack, Jet Eveleth, Holly Laurent, Charlie McCrackin, Rachel Mason, and so many more…)…and upon my return, rich with improv knowledge, bursting to share ideas, eager to help others, 4 people ask, “hey, what did you learn?”

Pathetic.

And…revealing.

What a revealing comment about those with whom I work. Guess they’re satisfied. Guess they don’t need to learn more. Well, let me amend that: guess they don’t want to learn more. They clearly need to learn…I’ve seen their improv. "Good enough," seems to be the mantra for many around here; an improv scene populated with lazy actors. That’s sad, and makes me long for Chicago.

Oh…I forgot to mention…three of those people who asked what I learned were my parents and girlfriend. They don’t even do improv.

Wow.