Hosting an Improv Show

When MPIII first started out, Dave was the only one that really had any improv hosting experience, thus he was the one who would host most every show. After a solid year of hosting it was time for me to try it out…get my feet wet so to speak.

I had never really given much thought to possibly how difficult it might be and all the nuances that go along with hosting a show. I soon learned though.

Just a few things that I have learned in the past three years that I would like to impart unto those unfamiliar with what goes on while hosting.

1. In the split second it takes to raise a whistle from in your hand by your side to your lips, you can and WILL miss a good close. Guaranteed. If you are not Johnny on the spot with that whistle you are going to find all too often that you will have an unexpected GREAT close to a game and miss it.
2. On closing a game, if you are laughing too hard, you will NOT be able to blow a whistle to close a game. Now true, the audience loves to see a group having fun and enjoying themselves, but when one of your players says something so funny or outrageous that you literally blow the whistle from your mouth while trying to close a game…lets just say that its embarrassing picking your whistle up off the stage.
3. The players on stage, much like a lot of other people in the world, need and want structure. The look of fear and terror in their eyes as you tell them, as the host, that you will be calling the game list from the stage and not giving them a set list, is almost priceless. That is, until you figure out that throwing your players into games they are not ready for or even want to play is a good way to kill your show.
4. Never get adversarial with some of your audience, especially when they are armed with water balloons! Yeah, its all in fun but if you have never been hit with a 90 mph fastball balloon, you have never performed in one of our shows. Its always a good idea for the host to be on the same side as the audience.

Hosting, much like performing improv itself, is an art. I am continuously learning new things that will help during my hosting. I love performing, don’t get me wrong, but there is a very satisfying feeling to hosting a good show.

There you have it. Just a bit of wisdom from someone who has stood at the front of a stage with an audience just looking for a reason to throw a balloon. Those guys on Star Trek with a red shirt have NOTHING on me!

~ Beavis