A few days ago I posted a quote from Red Sox Manager (now former manager) Terry Francona where he said “Ultimately, you don’t need to have a team that wants to go out to dinner together, but you need to have a team that wants to protect each other on the field, and be fiercely loyal to each other on the field. That’s what ultimately is really important”
The more I think about this quote the more I love it. The Red Sox didn’t make the playoffs despite being heavy favorites this year and having loads of talent. Now some of the reason they didn’t make the playoffs was injury related. But some of it seems to be, based on post-collapse discussion, that they didn’t work as a team. Few went to any practice that wasn’t mandatory. They were lax on conditioning. They relied on their sheer talent. And they had a lot of talent. Almost enough to make the playoffs. But no matter how talented you are, you need to work hard. If not for you, then for the guys around you.
Shut up about Baseball. Talk about Improv!
In Improv terms I think that means attending rehearsals. But that’s obvious. It also means commiting in those rehearsals. Lazy rehearsals where you aren’t playing at your best don’t prepare you for when you are on stage and trying harder. Treat rehearsals as seriously as you would the most important show!
It also means make your scene partner look good. We’ve heard that a lot, right? But let’s discuss a specific angle of that statement. Let’s say your team mate makes a bad move. A move that sells out the scene. Or he makes a joke. Or he plays in a way you don’t like. Maybe he is physical and you want to play talky. Or vice versa. A good teammate supports his move regardless. If he sells out a scene, you double your commitment to whatever reality you are now in so his move looks good. If it’s jokey, he makes it work in the scene, so it’s less of a joke. If he’s physical, so are you. If he’s talky, you find a way to play in that style.
So I have to match bad moves?
No. It’s a mistake to focus on those moves as BAD. I think a good team mate focuses on what he likes in a move. What he likes in a team mate. Even when that team mate is doing something he doesn’t like. In that situation he focuses on the good part EVEN MORE. Right?
So I guess what I am saying in this super long winded 4am rant is…. During a show be the teammate that loves everything your team does.
Afterwards you can discuss styles and techniques you like or don’t like. But not during a show. During a show you go with them.
If you can’t do that on a regular basis, and I believe there are situations where maybe it’s not possible, you shouldn’t be on that team. Because you are the problem.
As long as I don’t have to get dinner with my improv team
Also, Erik Tanouye said to me “I agree with that quote, AND I think younger teams should get dinner together” - He’s right. The quote says you don’t need to WANT to get dinner. But that’s a different thing right. I don’t need to be best friend with a teammate but getting to know him will help me as a performer. So I don’t need to want to get dinner with him, but if I don’t know him that well, then I should spend time with him. Maybe over dinner.
Ok? Did I ruin a simple smart quote by talking about it for 633 words?
