Dan Grimm has had his share of time on the improv stage. The Aggie-turned improviser was trained firsthand at Second City and  Improv Olympic in the bright city of Chicago, and now practices and throws his comedy punches in Austin at The New Movement. He’s mastered the art of improv through a hefty handful of improv troupes, ranging from Freudian Slip to Pavlov’s Dogs. Dan knows a thing or two about how easy improv can be if we establish truthful relationships in the scene, and he drops us some tips on how improv can help you in your relationships.

1-Human Contact. I like to get improvisers to communicate in a scene by touching and proximity. So much of our existence is dictated by how often we physically contact one another. Mothers holding children, holding hands with your significant other, fleeing from those you don’t want to be around. What greater way can you communicate your willingness to love someone, then to touch them.

2-Stay Positive. A lot of times an improv scene begins with the suggestion of an action or activity, a lot of new students’ first instinct is to refuse it. I say do it, even if you/your character hates the idea. Sometimes the funny is in people hating what they do, but doing it anyway. In a relationship love is not about what someone will do for you, but what are you willing to do for them, also known as sacrifice.

3-Show, don’t tell. In improv the jokes come honestly out of interaction, you don’t have talk to be witty all the time. In a relationship just saying you love someone is not as powerful as displaying it.

4-Be specific. The English language is extremely specific compared to other languages, which makes it somewhat un-poetic, but extremely good for communication. In improv comedy being specific communicates your thoughts and feelings more accurately and allows your fellow improvisers and audience have clear thoughts and feelings about you or your position. Being specific in a relationship shows a great deal of comfort in communication which is invaluable in the up and down times.

5-Listen. When people speak they communicate way more than just dialogue, and when I ask improvisers to listen, what I am really asking is for them to be open to everything their scene partner is communicating. Not just what they say, but how they say it. Do they make physical contact, do they keep their distance, what is their vocality like, what are they saying/communicating to you?

Improv has its wild, absurd moments, but for the most part it is an exploration of human relationships. Learning improv will make you a relationship god, or in the very least a lot more fun to be around.

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