Living here in Los Angeles, I’ve seen people move here for their dreams. As an improv teacher, I’ve especially seen lots of improvisers come here. That means I’ve gotten to know many people who used to be major players in their regional scene move here.
Which means I’ve gotten to know, indirectly, lots of improv cities.
So I thought it would be fun to describe my impression of each city’s improv personality.
Before I do this, please know that this list is my very incomplete impression, often based on, like, five people from the last 10 years. In other words, I know it’s wrong. I do really want to hear disagreements and corrections from people. But I’m from NYC, and we like to do unflattering impressions of people (see below).
I lived in NYC for 17 years and now LA for 10. The quality of my guesses drops from there! Ok here we go!
New York City
Are so over it they can’t even tell you.
Their real selves are their characters. No wigs, music, object work or acting.
Can do impressive and unflattering impressions of every person they’ve ever met.
Tell you every 10 seconds how stupid LA is, where they lived for 15 years and are moving back to in a month
Are used to cool smart audiences. Their improv sets start uncommitted, end extremely surreal, and feature callbacks to previous shows.
Are we really doing this clowning thing now?
Los Angeles
Are psyched to see you! Oh my God! Great show!
Believe a good sketch idea is doing Jurassic Park beat for beat.
Can stock a costume shop which what’s in their trunk.
Are used to stoned audiences. Out of courtesy, their sets stay very literal and do not mention books.
Have seen every movie and television show of the last 30 years.
Hooray! Clowning!
Chicago
Actually studied with whoever it is you are quoting right now.
Is ready to say how you’re doing the Harold wrong.
Are used to the most improv tolerant audiences. Doesn’t require a laugh from the audience for the first 45 minutes of their set.
Prefers object work to having an actual idea.
Have a character ready to go that involves: a wig, yelling and a list of specifics about lawn care.
Have one friend who is a millionaire in LA and are totally not weird or mad about it
Have kind of done clowning and may have been in a group that actually sort of invented it
Philadelphia
After the set, will be drunk at the bar reading a Pulitzer Prize winning novel from 1952
Did a Harold once, but prefers to keep it unstructured. Drove to NY to take 4 levels of improv without telling anyone
Are both passionately queer-friendly and will start a fist fight about football
Are used to argumentative audiences. Sketch shows are mostly presentational scenes involving yelling.
Are the surprise star of their clowning class
Washington D.C.
Their entire team has competitive day jobs. They have an updated resume in their Google Drive right now. Are on LinkedIn.
Actually read the codes of conduct before pressing “agree.”
Are used to uncool audiences who like to be home by 7pm. When thinking of improv forms, they picture the poster and title first.
Are smart, make confident eye contact, dress professionally
Will happily do clowning if it expands their network
Seattle
Their entire team is capable of streaming the show to Twitch
Are used to overworked audiences with short attention spans. Shows have improv, music, sketch, jazz, poetry and dance.
Before doing improv, toured with a band
Learned about game of the scene from listening to podcasts
Have never heard of clowning, too busy doing TikTok
Portland
Have studied at 10 improv theaters, all within walking distance of their house. They quote Del, Keith and a guy who started a podcast yesterday.
Read the books you lent them. Biked here.
Are used to issue-oriented audiences who’s most radical comedy experience is watching SNL past 12:30.
They want shows that are queer-friendly, green, anti-capitalist, showcases for under-representative voices and do short-form in the second half.
Are either insanely rich or routinely asks the audience if they can crash on someone’s couch
Love clowning, it’s so important.
New England
Don’t think it’s weird to drive for 90 minutes to do a show
Assume the audience loves stand-up and only heard of improv for the first time when your group is introduced. Does forms where the opening is explaining what improv is.
Have taken 17 levels at UCB
Don’t complain, even when punched in the face. Moves home without telling anyone.
Drop out of clowning after two weeks, won’t ask for a refund.
Okay I’m excited to hear suggestions of how to correct/improve this! Sound off in the comments.
Plugs, Fresh
I’m doing a silent clown set with clown leader Chad Damiani TONIGHT (Sunday) at the Clubhouse 7:30pm. Come watch me have no idea.
Plugs, Ongoing
Screw It, We’re Just Gonna Talk About Comics - Comic book podcast, hosted by my brother Kevin and I. We are preparing to do a series on legendary comics writer Keith Giffen!
Clubhouse Fridays - WGIS’ weekly improv show. Fridays 7pm at The Clubhouse. Free!
The World’s Greatest Improv School: The improv school I run with Jim Woods and Sarah Claspell. We’ve got classes online, in LA and even a few in NYC!
How to Be The Greatest Improviser On Earth - My improv book, available at Amazon. Kindle or print. It’s a hodge-podge of advice I wrote in 2016 about doing improv. If you’re broke and want a free PDF version just email me and I’ll send it over.
Surprising accuracy! Thank you for the giggle!
Now I want more! Austin! SFO! Some teeeny little town I’ve never been to or thought of…
Do San Francisco!