Let our team deliver much needed laughter to your team, while developing invaluable life skills. We have been hosting events live from Times Square NYC and touring since 2002!
Corporate Team Building & Leadership Training thru Improv Workshops & Immersive Shows
IMPROV WORKSHOPS are amazing tools to develop strong teams and leaders, replacing 1000s of books and lectures that merely discuss concepts, goals and techniques. Simply playing these games develops creativity, critical thinking, public speaking, self confidence, self awareness, listening, focus and more. We teach all to replace ego and insecurities with simple choices, active listening and supporting team. These are all cornerstones of “YES! And…” the #1 governing principle behind Improvisation. YES AND… Improv is also the best route to Psychological Safety, the #1 factor in Team Success. The #1 skill in comedy is LISTENING, which is also the #1 factor in a good leader. We use a version of these workshops to train team building, leadership, sales, customer service, conflict resolution, professional development for teachers, medical staff, lawyers and more.
OUR #1 RULE: HAVE FUN but NEVER at another’s expense!
The #1 fear in this world I Stage Freight. Combined with social anxiety in general, many are terrified at the mere idea of improv. Understandable. This fear stems from YEARS of judgement from peers, parents, teachers, bosses and now our kids. This fear is labeled as stage fright but it is really a fear of the unknown. Fear of embarrassment. Many folks appear to have confidence but truly are simply over compensating.
CREATING A FUN SAFE SPACE
At the New York Improv Theater our mission is to create a fun safe space for all to discover their best selves. We cannot let go of ego & insecurities without first addressing the cause. As long as we make bad jokes at another’s expense, no matter how innocent the intent, we are feeding into the problem.
Our goals to HAVE FUN by including all. t’s not enough for me to be nice. I have to reach out and welcome others into my circle.
TRUE CONFIDENCE?
We define true confidence by not being afraid to fail. We are not afraid to look foolish. We are not afraid of judgement.
In order for more of us to get there, we need to create that space. We need to suspend judgement. We need to focus on YES AND… support.
The results? I have seen shy kids find agency in the first 5 minutes of my workshops. They go from hiding in the corner to smiling in front of the pack. They discover, this thing I do, talking on stage, being silly in front of others, is not only easy, it’s rewarding. It’s cleansing.
THE SCIENCE
When we tap into our creative side, the depressing side of our brains turns off. When we smile, we squeeze the happy juices out of the brain. LAUGHTER itself is cardio, pumping oxygen to the brain. COMEDY itself builds a better brain.
Don’t take my word on it. Research Psychological Safety, starting with Project Aristotle by Google (2015). Research studies at Stanford by Humor Guru, William Fry. Look up studies at John Hopkins regarding the power of humor in the classroom.
The Final Pitch?
Any team of any kind nervous about doing Improvisation, NEEDS TO DO IMPROV. ESPECIALLY sales & marketing teams or anyone in leadership, teachers, project managers, etc. The things that make you fear improv are also holding you back as a leadership, creativity or sales. You might even think you are good. I guarantee you are not doing your best work if my workshop scares you. And once you move past the ridiculousness of those fears, the possibilities suddenly seam endless.
CONTACT US TODAY for DATES & RATES
We travel DC to Boston Montauk to Pittsburgh almost daily and host day time events at our own TImes Square NYC theater.
THE FULL WORKSHOP
Actual games might vary from teacher to teacher, or depending on your specific needs for your team. We have 100s, if not 1000s of games that all deliver similar results.
Our Three #1s:
We begin every session (Including our educational shows) by emphasizing three foundational principles:
- Walter’s #1 Rule: HAVE FUN but never at another’s expense.
Improv thrives on a playful and supportive atmosphere where everyone feels safe to take risks and be themselves. - #1 Improv Rule: YES AND…
This principle teaches psychological safety, the number one factor in team success. By focusing on making your teammates look good, you create a collaborative environment where
everyone feels empowered to contribute. - #1 Comedy Skill? Listening
This is also the number one skill in a great leader. Active listening involves not just hearing the words, but also understanding the underlying emotions and intentions. It’s about listening with your eyes and being open to changing your perspective based on what you hear.
Warm-Up Games:
- Zip Zap Zup:
The classic game warms us up individually and as a team, teaching us to listen and respond quickly as we pass around simple words and gestures. - Pass the Face
An improv version of telephone, where players pass around a silly face, gesture, and sound. This exercise highlights the importance of non-verbal communication and observation. - What Are You Doing?
We break out of our shells a bit with silly pantomimes – swimming, biking, running, rock climbing – to spark creativity
and spontaneity.
Team-Building Games:
- Ten Scenes Ten Minutes
In smaller teams scattered around the room, players spontaneously create a series of simple conversations based on a location or scenario. This activity builds quick thinking, collaboration, and storytelling skills.
- Eight Things or Categories of Eight
Each player is given a topic to list eight things, while the team encouragingly counts to eight after each offer. This game promotes creative thinking, quick recall, and supportive
teamwork. - One Word Story
Players create a short story, one word at a time. This exercise fosters collaboration, active listening, and builds a sense of shared creation. - Yes! And… Short Stories
Players create mini-stories one sentence at a time, starting with the words “Yes! And…” This exercise reinforces the power of agreement, collaboration, and building on each other’s ideas. - I Am a Tree
We learn to make simple choices, listen, and “Yes, And…” as we build a series of pictures. This game develops trust, non-verbal
communication, and the ability to create a shared vision.
Masterclass of Performance Games:
Unlike most corporate training improv companies, we believe in ending the session with a taste of actual performance games you might see in a show like “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” or performed by local troupes, including our own off-Broadway show. These games showcase the potential of improv and demonstrate how far the team has come during just one session. The beauty of improv, while it takes years to train as a professional performer that could get hired by a company like ours, everyone can have fun playing these games on day one. Whether as final moments of the workshop or our show YES AND… THE EXPERIENCE, these games deliver the laughs, gently push our comfort zones beyond current boundaries, and leave everyone realizing they are capable of far more than they gave themselves and / or each other credit.
PSYCHOLOGICAL SAFETY = “YES AND…”
USING IMPROV to enter the LEARNING ZONE
In 2015, Google released the findings of their 4-year study into what makes a successful team. Project Aristotle found that the most consistent factor behind team success is Psychological Safety – meaning every member of that team feels safety to contribute and feels of value to the project.
“YES!” is all about accepting your colleagues and their contributions to the team. We create a safe space and level playing field for all. We accept our colleague 100% as is. EVERYTHING they say and do. We do not judge. We do not fear. We trust each other AND ourselves, removing ego and insecurity from the equation.
“AND…” is all about contributing valuable work and information to the team, playing to the top of our intelligence and potential. We are going to take this to the next level by accepting our colleagues, their work, and then build upon through our own contributions. Performance drive is not a selfish process. We have a collective ambition to grow and achieve together as a team.
When the whole team embraces “YES! And…” we enter the learning zone together. No challenge is insurmountable when we work together in a supportive exchange of ideas and actions.
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