#improv love

@MadeUpTheatre @ENDGAMES_IMPROV @ImprovUtopia ... THANKS!

Two(-ish) weeks ago, January 31 marked the beginning of my 4th year continuing with improv, hanging with different improv communities, embracing (or not) improvisers' philosophies, mapping improv to other parts of my life, and drinking beer with fellow improvisers and friends. What have a learned? HAVE F@#%ING FUN!

Long Walk Reminiscing ... 

Oh the improv memories of past (and more to come) ... from blog posts labeled improv, photos and events, photos STILL in Dropbox, and chats with friends, I figured it's a good time to reminisce a little about my unexpected love of improv and the improv community. While not everything is listed, here are a few highlights and tidbits -

• first ever class, first ever show, and jamming with Made Up Theatre
• presenting in Indianapolis at an annual conference hosted by the Greenleaf Center for Servant Leadership
• straddling the Bay Area for weekend and late nights with EndGames Improv 
• rogue fun with other improvisers
• weekend get away at Camp Improv Utopia

- and I am looking forward to more memories being created in the coming years.



First Ever Class 
On January 26, 2011, I signed up for a Made Up Theatre improv class, which was Made Up Theatre's (MUT's) very first class - Level A. This was after MUT's formal grand opening on January 2011. I came across a local newspaper which had an article about MUT offering classes. Since then, I have pretty much taken all their class offerings - Level A-C, then added Level D & E, then some rinse/repeat ... well, it's not about the naming of the levels but the content and teachings of the class. MUT has been my gateway to short form, long form, and games.

First Ever Show
June 11, 2011 was the grad show of MUT's Level B - and thus, my first time performing improv. With just six of us, the first part of our show was channel surfing and the second part was montage -

June 11, 2011 - after my first improv show

Birth of a Drinking Game ... Ask me about how the suggestion SOCKS became a drinking game. (Yes, really!)

- and then throughout the rest of 2011, I had 3 more grad shows in 2011. Given the MUT guys' background in games, in 2012 MUT offered game type fun - several of the games we learned listed in this blog post.

"A-B-C-B" says MUT Bobby!
yes, singing improv games!

Gimme music and singing ... I discovered that I loves me the music/singing based games. I may not be the best, but I have fun!

The Playground Improv Jam
Late last year, MUT started The Playground - a combo of games, short, and long form improv. The jam is hosted by MUT's owners. Although The Playground is wrapping up in mid-March, I was at a recent record attendance jam and then a fun get-to-know afterwards at a nearby coffee house.

at The Playground on Jan 23

The Playground has been a great way to meet other MUT students, to meet those new to MUT and in the area, and to contribute to building the improv community in the East Bay/South Bay.

Leadership Conference in Indianapolis

What does a leadership conference have to do with improv? Read on.

During my Level C MUT improv class, we were assigned to read Truth in Comedy: The Manual of Improvisation. Strewn throughout this book are tips for improvisers such as . . .

LISTEN ... be honest . connections cannot be avoided . respect choices made by others . accept and build . avoid preconceived notions . stay in the moment . nothing is ignored . there is no such thing as a mistake . welcome the silences . there is action in thought . reflect each other's ideas 

. . . and it turns out, similar characteristics and philosophies - unrelated to improv - were strewn throughout a leadership course I was taking. In April 2011 I began a course - Foundations of Servant Leadership - with the Greenleaf Center for Servant Leadership (GCSL). For me, I saw how engaging the Servant-Leader philosophies was not too different from practices of an improviser.

LISTENING ... empathy . awareness . persuasion . conceptualization . foresight . stewardship . building community . commitment to the growth of people . self-awareness . changing the pyramid . developing your colleagues . coaching, not controlling . unleashing the energy and intelligence of others 

My second course with GCSL - Applying Key Practices of Servant Leadership - is when I virtually met Jeff Miller, the GCSL instructor. In October 2012, we submitted a proposed conference presentation. Jeff and I would later present at GCSL's 2013 annual conference, our session titled - Who's a Servant-Leader Anyway? - in Indianapolis, Indiana.

getting ready to do a "STATUS" exercise

Improv Warm-Ups, Games, and Encouragement ... Our virgin voyage of the conference session was fun and a bit different with our incorporating improv warm-ups and games, while also layering the connection to servant-leader practices. In fact, after the presentation, I was slipped the following kind note and spent some time talking with Kim afterwards.

Note of encouragement from
Who's a Servant-Leader Anyway?
conference session attendee Kim.

And thanks to Jeff for his encouragement of pulling a conference session idea together.

after the 2013 GCSL conference
hanging with Jeff Miller and colleagues

The point is - improv feeds my servant-leader related interests - and go figure ... I can share and teach servant leadership through improv. And my love affair continues.

Saturday San Francisco Straddling
In September 2012, I began taking classes with EndGames Improv. After I received an email that year in July from MUT about not being chosen as part of their first student performance group, included in the email was - 

"Another round of invitations will be sent out around November and every 3-4 months after that, so keep up with your improv, take classes (even outside of MUT), see shows, and you will have another shot to join the Performance Group."

So I did so, and I found EndGames.

Short version - I started taking classes with EndGames and have been straddling San Francisco as much as I can. Hmmm? Uhm ... Yeah, as much as I can. My lovely Saturday afternoons with Endgames began with Level I with Guillermo and James (of Fancy Ladies).

Guillermo and James sandwich

Our Level I show was in November 2012 at the Alcove Theater.

Debut and Closing at the Alcove Theater of
VAMPIRE PONY EXPRESS

... and thus became a hug fest with the EndGames community and so onto Level II with Guillermo on Saturday afternoons.

Late Night Commutes from San Francisco
The EndGames crack got to me. Along came the 7-10 PM Level III, IV and Advanced Scenework classes.  I remember thinking there would be no way I would stay in SF through 10 pm after working all day - having commuted from the East Bay for work. San Francisco is about 35-45 minutes away on a great, non-trafficky day or night. Half of our Level II class went on to Level III (so I totally wanted to continue, right?!). And then several of us continued with Level IV. And speaking of ...

Our Level IV Harold team -
SIN KITTY(now Feral Kitty)
courtesy: Jayne Vidheecharoen (May 2013)

Our Advanced Scenework team - CARROT PEOPLE
courtesy: Megan Sauter (Sept 2013)

So pretty much from Sept 2012 to Sept 2013, my routine had been late night classes in San Francisco and late night classes in the East Bay/Fremont. Why both? Well, turns out there are different approaches to and styles of improv. Why not learn about others, eh?

Meanwhile, I also have kept on with MUT fun at the same time I have taken EndGames' classes.

Troupe 2013 fun.

Right now, I am part of the MUT Winter 2014 cycle of troupe, which ends in March with another cycle of troupe starting up in ~April.

Although I am not currently taking classes with EndGames (as they sell out quite fast!), that will change. For now I keep on straddling when I can, especially with improv workshops that EndGames offers, with the most recent being the trifecta with Craig Uhlir and Katie Rich's "Getting Out of Your Head" and "Harold". Oh - and then there are their  is their Thursday Showcase and jam afterwards, for which I finally got my fix a few Thursdays ago with folks I have met through EndGames and MUT.

HOT TRUNK Hotties after the Up 'Til Midnight Jam
L-R: Sean, Brian, shirlnutkin, Megan, Carolyn, Dean
Audience Suggestion: taco bell + pizza hut

Rogue Fun
At some point in early 2013, I was asked if I'd be interested in being a guest improvisor at a reunion-ish show of 4 other improvisers in the San Jose area who were part of a troupe called Party Fowl. They asked me if I knew other folks that would be interested. The result? My friend Dean and I joined as guest improvisors.

Dean and I - UkuleMe
(March 2013)

Three folks - Sean, Stephanie, Mike - that I met in a MUT class in late 2012 were part of a larger improv group, Party Fowl, in the South Bay/San Jose area. In March, we joined Party Fowl's Workshow, which included standup comedians, games, short form improv, and a little bit of jamming.

PARTY FOWL
L-R: Stephanie, Mike, Trevor, shirlnutkin, Sean, Dean

We all continued to practice weekly toward forming a team called Illegitimate Improv with the intent of performing short and long form improv. While short-lived, we had fun. 

Since then, to keep on hanging out with Dean and get my South Bay fix, I've been hanging with other folks who meet up - YES! more straddling the Bay Area. Similarly inclined, we practice weekly primarily toward long form improv, while keeping sprinkles of short form improv in the pool.

the.saurus evolving and in the making
L-R: Dean, Amit, Rachel, Jennifer, Theresa, shirlnutkin, Alan

Camp Improv Utopia
Classes and shows aside, in May 2013, I experienced my first Camp Improv Utopia. 2012 was sold out by the time I registered in early 2012. Off of the wait list for 2013, I camped with ~ 100 improvisers (and a few virgin improvisers). Held during the Memorial Day weekend, food (tasty!), lodging, workshops, relaxing moments, and fun are all included.

at Camp Ocean Pines, Cambria, CA

2014? Yup, I am going again. I'm looking forward to meeting new people, reconnecting with those I met last year, and just seeing what happens.

Summing up My Improv Lovin'
As I wrote about in Anthrocubeology's Still Talking? Time to Create - pulling from Jimmy Carrane's blog post Stop waiting and start creating -

"The only power you have is the ability to create. 
No person or institution can take that away from you, 
even if you think so." 
- Jimmy Carrane

What are you in love with?

shiny penny chat

as learned from @jeffmiller79 @greenleafcenter academy class (applying the key practices of servant leadership) authentic conversations, one of the required readings of the class, is a way of differently engaging in workforce conversations -  

the decision to engage in adult-adult conversations rather than parent-child relationships

and about 2-3 months ago, shiny penny shared the foundation/framework of authentic conversations with others.

talk to me ... shiny penny is at it again - sharing with others about communicating, conversing, and engaging. however, this time he's looking at others' perspectives, approaches, and actually more tips and techniques - and different from authentic conversations. he asked if i would share a few i have come across in my readings. while some of the following do incorporate similar approaches as described in authentic conversations, each has a certain point of view - so here goes, shiny penny - 

• honest communications via steven gaffney - in the late 90s, i learned about steven gaffney after my friend maria took his course through here work (a large consultancy in southern california). she gave me an extra copy of just be honest. loved it. then i picked up honesty works. fast-forward to more than a decade later, gaffney's communication blog has quite a bit of information to become familiar with the foundation of his approach and perspective. while he does have tips and techniques, he also provides context. prior to this blog, gaffney sent out email tips/newsletter. one that i recall is uncover how honest everyone really is around you.
  
• nonviolent communications via marshall rosenberg - thanks to one of my fluevog iv sisters for sharing this. as described about nvc key facts (.pdf) and 4-parts of nvc (.pdf), it is "more of a communication model" as described in violent vs. nonviolent communication.  

• influence: the psychology of persuasion via robert cialdini - recommended many, many years ago, i picked up this book in the early '90s when i was interested in connecting the seemingly disparate goals (e.g., conservation, development, etc.) among those in the environmental community. described here at happening-here.blogspot.com (in six parts),  six triggers are described - reciprocation, commitment/consistency, authority, social validation, scarcitiy, and liking/friendship.
• and because i know shiny penny likes quickies, something from change this - jon wortmann's the best communicator in the world and a video - communication (by mathijs bek) that visualized  this little manifesto. wortmann is co-author (with ethan f. becker) of mastering communication at work. while i've not read this book, i found the change this manifesto interesting. here's the book's companion blog.

 enjoy preparing 

for your next presentation

WOW weeks

THANKS @bjfogg @greenleafcenter @madeuptheatre @fluevog ... for a wonderful 2 weeks of WOW!

catching thoughts & breaths ... a bit of a whirlwind for me, i am calling these past several days and the balance of this upcoming week as my WOW weeks - and i am all the better of a person for keeping my heart, soul, and mind nourished. a quick tidbit about each of the four (i.e., servant leadership, behavior design, improvisation, artsy shoes) and more in future blog posts ...

greenleaf center for servant leadership ... next year i'll be back for the 23rd annual conference. and since the conference, i have been in creative-mode about speaking as part of a session, yet to be created. meanwhile, this past june was the 22nd annual conference of the greenleaf center (in indianapolis). while i have completed two of their academy classes (foundations and key practices), several firsts for me - attending the center's conference, staying in a place via airbnb, and visiting indianapolis (specifically mass ave district). 

with kent keith, former CEO of the greenleaf center
and author of the paradoxical commandments

my greenleaf WOW ... i've been on a servant leader journey at least since 1994, when i had an epiphany. having met (and listened to) many at this conference, i see there are many with whom i share this path, with whom are reflecting on their lives, and with whom i look forward to others joining along.

There are BRIDGES yet to be constructed by those who live and

breathe in their ENVIRONMENT - AIR, LAND, and WATER. Egos stand firm

on the ground that they were born and choose not to acknowledge that

to get one step closer they must go one step FURTHER.

MY VISION IS TO CREATE THOSE BRIDGES. - (shirlnutkin, 1994)

lovely setting along the river  in Sonoma County

bj fogg's persuasion boot camp ... the opportunity to be part of bj's persuasion boot camp became reality this past friday and saturday. it started with tiny habits, which i learned about through health month at the beginning of the year, and since then, i've been quite obsessed fascinated with tiny habits, the back-story, and the continued evolution of bj's behavior design model and his thoughts.

lovin' my little boot camp dog tag!

it has not even been 24-hours since the end of boot camp, and already i am very much seeing and hearing the world around me so differently. that's what i get for going to the campbell city farmers market - hearing people talk about how they want to eat healthier foods, watching people trying to make their dogs "more obedient", trying fruit samples, and looking at point-of-purchase displays in the little shops and boutiques.

lunch on day 1 of boot camp - 3 FABULOUS salad offerings.
thanks, denny, for wonderful meals made with love!

my boot camp WOW ... several outcomes as i pondered on my drive home from healdsburg to the east bay and from this morning's stroll around the farmers market. i am totally taking my broader abstract ideas and getting them clearer, MUCH clearer (and this means clearing the clutter physically, mentally, emotionally, and socially) - (a) revamping my 2012 mash-up goals, (b) baby steppin' my creation of anthrocubeology, and (c) identifying tiny habits and triggers for several july health month rules. i am practicing what i learned on me and sharing with others!

short form improv with Level E MUTers!
my pee-in-your-pants moment
of introducing "plaque"
as part of an instruction manual for a ball.
(yes - a ball. that round thing that bounces.)

made up theatre improvisation classes ... my, oh my, how i have missed playing with fellow improvisers at the sunday classes for advanced long form improv and short form improv. many games already learned in short form improv as of week 3. i'll be including week 4 and week 5 (today) in a combined blog post for fellow improvisers.

most of the short form peeps from made up theatre ...
still two more peeps to round us out!

today is week 5 of 8, which means our shows (long form and short form) are around the corner. and this evening, i will spend 4 hours with fellow improvisers after more than 2 weeks away from making bold choices and committing to fabulous fun on stage! what WOW will result from this evening's ruckus?! 

fluevog fluegasm ... what can i say that has not been said about my obsession love of fluevogs?! admittedly, i have been at 26 pairs of fluevogs that make me smile and make my feet happy. and as of thus past monday, i've got a wonderfully cute vintage pair - fellowship | cecily.

fellowship | cecily
thanks much, wendy bliss!

on thursday, i'll be at the haight street store - 3 of the 4 fluevog iv will hang out with others for a summer sale sneak preview. the "rest of the world" can shop the sale in-store and on-line starting friday. just a little perk of lovin' fluevogs.

shirl, dorothy, jim, gladys, joanne, denny
(we'll miss you on thursday, gladys, 
and will be thinking of you lovingly!)
love you fluevog iv!

an exciting way 

to start july for shirlnutkin!

inspiring #gcsl

THANKS @greenleafcenter for #servantleadership day 1 of your annual international conference by the greenleaf center for servant leadership (in cooperation with ALP). oddly one of the bestest vacation choices i have made - being inspired, meeting wonderful people, learning more about servant leadership, and as one does ... intense self-reflection and self-awareness.

so many thoughts ... are swirling in my head. it's the morning after day 1, and last night i spent amped up, energized, and pensive - deeply reflecting on many learnings, mini "wow" and "ah ha" moments, and more importantly (for me) continued clarity about anthrocubeology. i thought i would post something last night, however, i spent time reading and reflecting (and actually - mostly reflecting and meditating).

tidbits of day 1 ...  there were many chunky things during the first day of the conference, so just a few highlights that i hope to later follow-up with in some fashion and write about later -

• world cafe in the morning ... we had one with hundreds of people and it was nifty. two questions posed with the framework of quotes from robert greenleaf. and arla (who i sat next to) shared when we judge others, we don't judeg who they are, we judge who we are.
• storytelling ... personal servant leadership journey stories from a panel of three speakers - barbara hollace, steve thiry (fond du lac police dept), and tre sanders (@tre_sanders). a few take aways for me included ladder of inference, kiwani's key club (and caring, empathy, sense of humor, realness), and "3 e's" as i'll term them - example, empathy, empowerment. 
• intercultural competency and recruiting diversification ... while other workshops were offered on personal development, organizational implementation, and faith, i chose a workshop that was part of ALP's offerings, i met erin and tessa of catalystlead with (thanks to tessa and eric for a kick in the arse about anthrocubeology - YES! getting info out there - writing, sharing, writing, etc. - so people can respond. it will help shape and clarify what is brewing. and yes, my friend, tracy s., ALSO has lovingly nudged me.) interesting exercise on feeling and behaving. 
• afternoon speaker (with storytelling intensity) ... kevin trapani (@kevintrapani) from redwoods group spoke well as he shared about his perspective of servant leadership and on being a servant leader, as well as about his organization. 
• affinity group meeting ... with 8 to choose from, i attended the greenleaf center academy group meeting. (other group meeting included topics related to health care, business, servant leadership and race, government and public sector, NPOs, virtual servant leadership learning community, and ALP folks.) my instructors - isabel  (for foundations coures) and jeff (for key practices course) - were there, along with other center's faculty members  and other academy students. in this group, i met a member of the USAF and learned something i was not aware of - the intense leadership and professional development opportunities afforded by the air force to their people.
• reception and book signing ... while i did not attending the book signing (though i will leave with more books), chowed a little cheese, crackers, bread and washed down with a cabernet sauv that i nursed through dinner
• dinner ... i had the honor and pleasure of sitting with two women (quite impressive) in the usaf and learning about them, their perspectives, their experiences, and their challenges. let me say that i am humbled that i had this opportunity and am glad the gentleman from the affinity group invited me to sit with them. (a very big "thank you!" - what i learned over dinner will shape (is shaping) my pursuing anthrocubeology.)
• evening speaker ... judy o'bannon - was the first lady of indiana from 1997-2003. very much inspired by her stories and thankful that i had the opportunity to be present to hear her share.

OOPSIE ... i'm running late to get to today's conference!!! gotta cab over from my airbnb mass ave district home away from home. (LOVE IT!) to keep with yesterday's "theme" of pictures - here's my beer offering from lunch - upland IPA (and mini corndogs ... i know. what was i thinking? was tasty, still.) - from loughmiller's pub.

upland IPA, mini corndogs - from loughmiller's pub

for the servant leader's mind: 

if not me, who?

pre-conf in indy

@greenleafcenter thanks ... for a fabulous pre-conference (workshops) day at this year's annual conference - getting results through servant leadership. and as i have said before, thank you for the wonderful greenleaf academy experience.


about the pre-conference ... quickie about the topics relating (and relaying) servant leadership included implementing in healthcare industry (cases), non-profit capacity building (introduction, in the boardroom, philanthropy, cases), and personal development (both half-day and full day offerings).

my amber pint at ram restaurant 

my pre-conference day ... i attended the morning non-profit capacity building with presenters phil anderson and dr. kent keith. i lunched at the ram restaurant with dr. jeff miller in the afternoon where i sampled (o.k. - i pint-ed) the amber ale. in the afternoon, i attended dr. keith's intro to servant leadership. yes, i realize after my taking the foundations and key practices courses, maybe it may make sense not to attend the intro class, however, i was curious about others who are in the learning and discovery mode, so makes sense to be part of that workshop.

a few notes ... i will follow-up on several references by the presenters and by those attending. some tidbits -

• expand the "why" (not just how and what)
• you are theirs as a leader
• persuasion (not coercion)
• compassionate emptiness
• personal development plan (which reminds me of 31 day reset)
• appreciative inquiry

and as a misheard set of words

(giggle, giggle)

survey monkey

not

serving monkeys

(and serving monkeys is funnier 

within the context of a conversation 

about anyone's cubeopolis - had to be there, i guess.)

thanks @greenleafcenter

and dr. kent keith, @jeffmiller79, isabel lopez, and dolores jones. i cannot say enough about how much i value the greenleaf center's role (and timing) in my servant leadership journey. and as part of the reminiscing that regularly occurs during the december-january months, i am glad to share tidbits of my 2011 journey, along with the first two pages of my key practices paper.

and once again, 

with much gratitude,

thank you all.

the greenleaf center for servant leadership certificate programs (over here) - the foundations of servant leadership and applying the key practices of servant leadership - were intensely thought-provoking for me and very energizing (internally and externally). more than a month after the last key practices class, i am already going through withdrawals not regularly being part of a servant leadership community - those learning, studying, and practicing. yet, meanwhile, i am excited to engage what i have learned as part of the self-discovery that is inherent in the greenleaf servant leadership programs. 

a little background of my greenleaf journey ... on this blog, i've occasionally posted about my class experience and related thoughts for the foundations class (over here) and the key practices class (over here). (also under my blog's greenleaf label)

for the foundations course

for the key practices course

in short, we read, we wrote (on the class wiki), and we talked as part of monthly class calls. and there are many opportunities to go beyond the required reading and discussions. most notably, however, are the many AH-HA moments! i shared about my first class with the foundations course over here, where i included the text of my 3:38 minute intro - why i was taking the coures. and i shared about my key practices paper in the making over here.

wordle from my key practices final paper

key practices ah-ha moments ... in addition to refining and defining my credo (as part of feedback from the foundations course), i am engaging in further exploring servant leadership through language.

key practices paper, p. 1

key practices paper, p. 2

For Now, I Choose the Petri Dish:

Unwritten Rules and Alphabet Soup

 

There are BRIDGES yet to be constructed by those who live and

breathe in their ENVIRONMENT - Air, Land, and Water.  Egos stand firm

on the ground that they were born and choose not to acknowledge that

being one step closer means choosing to be one step FURTHER.

My VISION is to Create Those Bridges. – Shirley Rivera

My journey as a member of the Greenleaf Academy’s class, Applying Key Practices of Servant Leadership (Key Practices), has been not only an extension of my introduction to the Academy through the Foundations of Servant Leadership class (Foundations) but also a a series of unplanned, experiential learning moments in the workplace.  I have affectionately referred to my workplace as my “petri dish of improv comic gold and servant leadership lessons-in-the-making”. Whether by coincidence or by being present – through awareness, reflection, embodiment, contribution – more than often my workplace seemed to manifest our Key Practices readings and discussions.

A petri dish, by definition from the American Heritage® Medical Dictionary, is a –

“shallow circular dish with a loose-fitting cover, used to culture bacteria or other microorganisms”

I suggest that the workplace analogy, using the format of this definition, may be reworded as –

“cubicles used to culture staff and management personnel”

 Meanwhile, another definition (from Merriam Webster) that is not as tongue-in-cheek may be considered more comparable for describing the workplace setting –

“something (as a place or situation) that fosters development or innovation”

While I have frustrations about the workplace, I have come to appreciate better and do acknowledge what my petri dish offers as I continue my curious discoveries through my servant leadership journey. Whether it is through observing and participating in day-to-day peer interactions and in communications across hierarchies, with the added knowledge from of Key Practices, I believe that I have much to offer to foster development of better workplace experiences, as well as much to be reminded of about circumstances not demonstrative of servant leadership characteristics.

As an extension of my reconnecting with my epiphany during the Academy’s Foundations course, Key Practices has provided the added context for understanding how to weave together servant leadership attributes and engage with others the ten characteristics of servant leadership, particularly as part of organizations and institutions. By observing and reflecting on my workplace, I intend to explore the use of language – written, verbal, artistic expression – to affect workplace satisfaction. Three topic areas that I am pursuing include: 

• systems - while being mindful of the value of foresight, the goals of rethinking complexity, and similar ideas, increasing my understanding of and making more accessible systems theory;
• storytelling – through my creation of anthrocubeology (i.e., a web-based format for story-telling workplace possibilities and alternatives), express ideas about approaches for catalyzing organizational cultural shifts through reflection and self-awareness; and
• philosophy – by bringing together servant leadership and my other interest in the epistemology of knowledge and ignorance, develop my voice about my belief of a person’s ability to make a difference through our connectedness.

If you try to find meaning in everything you do,
you will imbue everything you do with meaning.

- James Autry