Pay it forward

Try to remember what you needed when you were just starting as an improviser. Try to remember those things that helped you get over some slumps. Remember the first time someone you admired as an improviser walked up to you and told you they loved a specific move you made during a show, even though you thought it sucked? Remember the first time someone you looked up to told you a story about how they came up and went through the same struggles? Remember when someone you looked up to offered you a seat at a table with “really cool” improvisers? Remember that random email a teacher/coach sent you telling you to keep it up because even though you didn’t think it at the time, they were seeing improvement in you? Remember when someone you looked to up said you are doing everything right, even though you felt like you were doing everything wrong? Remember how all of that helped?

Now you are a veteran improviser that a lot of people look up to.

Don’t forget where you came from and remember the newer people need reaching out to as well. Pull someone to the side someday and just compliment them for something they did. Don’t just say nice show. Tell them something specific that you liked. I promise you it will mean the world to them.