Just Say Yes

11 March 2025

Active listening is the most underrated skill in improv — and in life.

Most of us think we’re listening, but we’re really just waiting for our turn to talk. In improv, this shows up as planning your next line while your scene partner is still speaking. The audience can feel it.

Real listening means letting go of your plan and responding to what’s actually happening.

When you truly listen, something magical happens: you stop trying to be clever, and your responses become honest. That honesty is what the audience connects with.

How to Practice Active Listening

  1. In your next scene, make a conscious choice to respond only to the last thing your partner said — not to your idea of where the scene should go.
  2. In conversation, try paraphrasing what someone said before adding your own thought.
  3. Notice when you’re planning ahead instead of being present.

The best improvisers aren’t the funniest. They’re the most present. And presence starts with listening.

Whenever you're ready, there are 5 ways I can help you.

  1. 1. Weekly Newsletter: One actionable improv idea per week, straight to your inbox. Practical tips you can use immediately in your scenes, rehearsals, and everyday life.
  2. 2. Online Courses: Self-paced courses built around the same ideas I teach in the room, designed for improvisers who want to go deeper on the stuff that actually makes scenes work.
  3. 3. Saturday Drop-In Class (Melbourne): All-levels improv every Saturday in Melbourne. No commitment, no prerequisites. Just show up, play, and leave feeling sharper than when you walked in.
  4. 4. Consulting & Coaching: One-on-one consulting and team coaching to help you develop confidence, freedom, and feel more empowered in your performances. In Melbourne or remote.
  5. 5. Are you a coach, teacher, or facilitator?: If you're looking for session plans, warm-ups, and curriculum you can trust, I'm building something for you too. The Improv Coaching Toolkit is designed specifically for the people who plan and lead improv sessions. Lesson plans, exercise libraries, planning tools, and coaching courses, all in one place.

Previous Edition

#002

The Power of the First Line

11 March 2025