Some may think improv is just a hobby and cannot be part of a serious income stream. While improv is a wonderful creative outlet, it also offers a wide breadth of professional opportunities for those who want to make a career in the industry.
Now, we know what you may be thinking… what are the chances you ever become a famous improv comedian and develop that into a successful movie, TV, and/or writing career à la the lineage of Saturday Night Live stars? Well, the chances of that happening ain’t great… but it is not impossible! A more achievable route to a successful career in improv comedy flows from one of the many diverse opportunities offered in the improv space as a whole. Let’s take a look at some of those pathways to a viable career in the world of improv comedy, shall we?
Careers Involving Improv
The first thing to know is improv absolutely can act as a gateway to other rewarding areas of entertainment, management, production, and more outside of the insular improv scene. The performance you see on-stage at an improv comedy show is just the tip of the proverbial iceberg. The wide-ranging supporting structure that brought that show to life exists in the deep waters of the off-stage world. There are many contributing streams that drive the improv engine like instruction, writing, and entrepreneurship with any one of them leading to a lucrative and rewarding careers.
Teaching & Coaching Improv
You may have heard the phrase, ”those who can not do, teach.” Well, that is the exact opposite of what it takes to become an improv instructor or coach. Our talented collection of instructors at The HOME Comedy Theater have decades of experience performing and writing in the Chicago improv comedy scene and around the world. Once you’ve entered the world of improv comedy, you too can pursue opportunities to teach improv in local schools, theaters, and community centers anywhere improv exists… which is pretty much everywhere. Even private coaching has great potential for both personal fulfillment and financial reward.
Improv for Business
If you’re not into the corporate 9-to-5 style of career, take the stuffy office grind and turn it on its head by teaching improv to business professionals. The skills learned from performing improv is a natural bridge to becoming a better corporate employee. Teaching skills like teamwork, adaptability, and communication resonate strongly in business contexts and many companies welcome the opportunity to incorporate improv skills into their corporate training programs.
Writing & Producing
For every smiling, wise-cracking face you see on a stage, in a TV show or movie, or even on your favorite YouTube channel, there’s a writer and a producer behind them pulling the strings. Some of the most wealthy and (in)famous members in media, and Hollywood at-large, are producers. Why do you think so many actors want to produce their own work? That’s how you’re able to control the content being seen and tell a story through your own lens. The art of improv teaches all aspects of writing and producing from the origins of an idea to the success it enjoys.
A basic improv writing class is an excellent way to get your professional feet under you and develop your comedy writing skills. You’ll learn confidence, quick thinking, and listening. These three skills are not only paramount to being a good improv performer, actor, writer or producer, they are also highly transferable to nearly any aspect of your life. At The HOME Comedy Theater, we offer expert instruction to guide you through improv elements like scene crafting to finding your comedic timing and voice. Our goal for you is to be able to confidently enter the writing room for a TV show, talk show, etc. and be an immediate contributor.
Comedy production is a skill not easily mastered. There are several mediums where production is an option, all with their own niche characteristics. While we don’t offer a production course, per se, you will learn a lot about what it takes to produce a stage show… a skill set that translates across genres from comedy, to drama, to spoken word and beyond.
There’s a long line of successful comedy writers and producers who got their start in the improv trenches of Chicago — and around the world.
Improv Entrepreneurship
As the founders of The HOME Comedy Theater will tell you, making a career out of your passion is a challenge worth the effort. If your love of improv and comedy extends beyond just practicing it one night a week, then you may be a good candidate to run your own theater or troupe. You don’t have to be a natural manager or leader to accomplish this, and the skills you learn in improv classes can even help carry you towards this goal.
A couple ways to foster a successful improv comedy theater is to engage and collaborate with the local community, and create a safe and welcoming space for students, performers, and guests. In Chicago, as in most cities, an improv theater is a positive force in a neighborhood. A place where the community and visitors can gather eat and drink and share in the fruits of your curated creativity, education, and entertainment. The HOME Comedy Theater is one of these wonderful places.
Build a Career in Improv Comedy
There are a few pretty clear steps to take to start on your path to a successful career in comedy:
- Join a local comedy troupe: This will give you the hands-on experience to learn what it’s like to be an actor and performer – AKA – the beating heart of the comedy world.
- Attend comedy workshops: Seeing how the sausage is made through comedy writing techniques helps to build that creative muscle to position yourself as an effective producer, or director.
- Network: Talk to your peers and instructors. Learn about their different perspectives and how they approach the improv comedy craft. Who knows, a casual conversation over a post-workshop drink may just end up landing you the job that launches your career.
Beyond these simple tactics, leveraging social media and creating online content to highlight your talents and intentions in the improv comedy world can act as your portfolio for potential employers. The goal is to become a versatile member of the improv comedy world and learn to balance performing, teaching, and writing to diversify your skills.
Challenges and Rewards of a Comedy Career
With aaaaaaall of this being said… it is NOT easy to make a successful career in comedy. There are sacrifices that need to be made, and concessions that need to be considered. Some common hurdles you may encounter aren’t necessarily exclusive to comedy careers.
Financial Considerations
You will likely have a period of financial instability at the beginning of your journey and/or along the way. Ever heard about the hordes of actors/restaurant servers in Hollywood? That supplemental income is pivotal to keep you afloat while you work to build your career and your brand.
Competition
As when you apply for any job, you can expect to encounter others who want that position as well. You will likely encounter this in the improv industry as well because who wouldn’t want to make money while working your dream job and making people happy? The best way to cut through the traffic and navigate your way to the front is to ensure you have a solid framework in place. Building your resume in the trenches of the improv comedy world is an excellent way to ensure success.
Rejection
Those who go the furthest in comedy, or entertainment in general, develop a thick skin by learning to accept and process rejection. You may not get the first job or gig you want. In fact, its unlikely you will… (unless perhaps you’ve been able to effectively network!) The most important thing to remember is to keep focused on your passion and maintain your focus on what you want.
While you will encounter roadblocks throughout your career path, it’s paramount to stay focused on personal satisfaction and the unique rewards of making people laugh for a living.
Make Improv Comedy A Part Of Your Life
Whether you crave the bright lights of the stage, or keep the theater lights on, the wide ranging options open to you in the world of improv comedy are abundant. While it can be an uphill battle with lots of pitfalls in your way, you can’t advance without taking that first step by participating in an improv comedy workshop or improv class.
The more open you are to embracing the diverse opportunities improv offers, the more likely you are to find yourself in a fulfilling career doing something you truly love, and that is a rare thing in life. See how The HOME Comedy Theater can help you achieve your career goals.