Walk-ons – we can enter a two player scene in progress as another character, offering a move that contributes to the progression of the game(s) at play. Two high school boys are feeling self conscious in the hallway so Player 3 enters as a mean girl to point out their foibles. Two players are arguing over the value of the movie they just left, so Player 3 enters to agree with one of them and rile the other. If there is one tertiary move an improviser knows, it’s the Walk-on.
Unfortunately, too few improvisers know to Walk Off. You’re a tertiary character; the scene’s not about you. A Walk-on should only be used to heighten/sharpen a game already at play. An entering character must acquiesce to those already on stage and strive not to be the focus of the scene.
[…] card games not our shitty president). In practice this means that if the first tertiary move is a Walk-on then the next tertiary move should also be a Walk-on to heighten the game at […]
[…] doesn’t realize Scott has edited. He thinks Scott has walked on/off as another racer. Joe, in service of making his teammate look good, returns to try and drag John […]
[…] scene with two characters out to dinner could call for a waiter (but then remember the “a walk on deserves a walk off” mantra). A scene with two teenagers making out on the porch could call for a parent to interrupt. A […]
[…] often in a Walk-On based game like this one, the new arrivals would start rushing on as soon as the game was apparent […]
[…] From the wings, the rest of the group does not hesitate to support with Walk-Ons and, importantly, Walk-offs. […]
[…] And if you Walk On, Walk Off. […]
[…] Walk-On Progressions Example #1: Timing matters. Is every called-for walk-on comically late to arrive? How many lines are there between walk-ons, and between entrances and exits? Example #2: Tempo matters. Do tag-outs always come in groups of three this show? Is it always one person, then two people, then four people? Example #3: Use matters. Is a walk-on used time and again to establish location? Does a string of players walking on different scenes to count down a doomsday clock evoke a shared world? Example #4: Who matters. Does the same character enter multiple scenes? Does the same player enter whenever a technical definition is needed? Remember, as should every Tertiary Move, a Walk-on should be made in service of what’s already established. So those of you who see a way to serve the show that may not service the scene in progress, I caution you. Ideally a move serving the show serves the scene. If following a pattern of a show disrupts a scene’s flow but earns an edit, then okay. But beware improv hubris: We’re all, the audience included, playing by the rules in our heads. If you make a bold leap assuming the majority is at least near your wavelength and you miss? Follow your compulsion as it serves the ensemble; keep your ego in check. […]
[…] of Tertiary Moves: • Walk On • Cut To • Tag Out • We […]