Directing Can Be Fun

I've never been solely responsible for the direction of an improv troupe. I have assistant-directed on a few occasions but what that generally meant was leading exercises the actual director had left for me in his/her absence. I've never felt inclined to take on the role of director, mainly because I recognize that people are often more sensitive than I am and I have a hard time in situations where it's not necessarily a good idea to say what I think.

I'm not saying that I think people suck -- not at all -- but when it's my place to criticize it always sounds to me like I'm saying just that, even if I don't mean to. I guess it follows that I thrive on harsh criticism. When the drill instructors at Parris Island came screaming into our barracks for the first time and most recruits were paralyzed with fear, I was smiling inwardly and thinking that things were just starting to get interesting.

So this evening I sat in and coached (in a very loose sense of the word) a FIST team that will perform this weekend. I hardly had any criticisms at all, and what I did have to say was more to their format than to any one individual's work. They seemed to appreciate my suggestions and ideas and I think we all came away from it with a positive feeling. I'm excited to see their show on stage and it will be gratifying if any of my ideas play a part in their (hoped for) victory.

It might also help cover the bitter, ashy aftertaste of my own team's early demise.