Chapter 4: 10 Ways out of an Improv Rut

These are things that have helped me…Please feel free to make more specific to you when possible.

1) Take a class in something that isn’t improvisation—cooking, shooting, whatever.

2) Spend a weekend with non-improv friends or have a long phone conversation with an old friend who doesn’t know you as an improvisr

3) Give yourself a non-improv challenge: don’t use your cellphone for a day or learn a new language or a musical instrument

4) See a foreign or silent film

5) Get a colonoscopy (everyone should)

6) Get a game-changing haircut

7) Pull a Holly Hunter and let yourself have a good cry every morning for a week

8) Get laid proper

9) Spend an afternoon with a pre-school class; or see if you can read them a story you loved when you were a child. Make it interactive if possible.

10) If you always wear something to shows, wear something different with a different cut/feel/texture

Dina Facklis

Dina has toured with and directed for The Second City National Touring Company and has taught/performed/directed all over the great city of Chicago. In 2011, Dina was honored to headline the Denver Improv Festival as a representative of Virgin Daiquiri; that same year, iO Chicago graced her with the title of Improviser of the Year. In 2012, Dina executive produced Virgin Daiquiri’s first album FOOD BABY, now available on iTunes. Dina now performs regularly at iO Chicago with Virgin Daiquiri at iO - where she also co-created CUFFS & DBAG. She has also had the honor of working at Steppenwolf and ATC.