TEDxVictoria - Dave Morris: The Way of Improvisation

Improviser and storyteller Dave Morris teaches you 7 steps to improvising and how they apply to life in "The Way of Improvisation."

Filmed at TEDxVictoria on November 19 2011


About TEDx, x = independently organized event
In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)

[kiannaking]

I did a workshop with this guy in school and he is truly incredible! So happy he got to do a Ted talk!

[avinashprasadfilms]

Seven Steps of Improv:
1. Play
2. Let yourself Fail
3. Listen ('Listening is the willingness to change")
4. Say 'Yes'
5. Say 'Yes And..'
6. Play the Game
7. Relax and Have Fun

[wendycarter]

I teach acting techniques to business students to help them give more dynamic presentations. I show this video to them in class. This is how it's done...

[markminter]

Dave Morris is a fun, resourceful, and highly entertaining improv. presenter. Kudos to him!!

[lucandre]

its been 10 years and this video is still GENIUS !!!

[martinbondesson]

So awesome! He kind of reminds me of Jack Black!

[curedbytheonomy]

I'm blown away that this guy prepared his speech.

[elementalsigil]

I think what Dave is saying is that "Yes and" gives credit to the previous idea and follows with your and "Yes but" says that the previous idea is inferior to what is about to come next. In the creative process all ideas should be considered since you never know where a perceived ineffective idea will lead.

[saifali]

Great talk. Listening is the willingness to change. That's beautiful.

[ai]

Awesome and useful tips with 7 steps of Improvising:
Play
Engage
Let yourself fail
Listening
Say Yes
Play the game/Improvise within the rules
Relax and have fun

[soudascribbles]

This is the first ted talk i've been engaged in!!

[Poohbearalpha]

Sweet Sweet! You taught me years ago... This is the first TED I'm watching

[joseville]

Great stuff! Just began my improv journey with an Improv 101 class and this was the first "homework". Very informative and well presented!

[MastertheGamerpg]

This was suggested to me by so me guys from an RPG community I belong to and they were right this video can help a lot of people with their table top role playing games. Great video!

[flowinlove]

Soooo good! I adore improv/flow! I am watching this the morning of a circus performance that I haven't had time to suss out and will be largely improving. I have been feeling some anxiety about it, even though flow is my happy place and I play for a living. So I searched "Ted Talk Improv". This was so so so perfect! Gorgeous presence and wonderfully consise advice! I love everything about this! Going to share with my cast now!! Thank you, silly human!

[EverydayEboni]

Thank you so much. I am a student teacher and yhis has help me simply improv for non theatre students. We enjoyed the joys of play, inspiration team work and impulse

[mikeyllo]

This was absolutely great! I am about to create a workgroup to give employees the opportunity to practice public speaking at my job, and this will definitely be a video I show to the group! Awesome lesson here.

[EdwardHazell]

"listening is the willingness to change" -SomeWise Man

[Phyrefly]

I have to disagree with one small point. "Yes, but" is as important as "Yes, and." It's still not a "No, " and shouldn't happen as often (unless the "conversation" is between people with mutually exclusive goals in the story we're telling), but it helps change the direction of the story. If we all bring a brick, and we pile them up on top of each other, we might make a wall. But if we allow people to turn corners and change direction, we can end up with a house, or even a palace.

[tallandlanky]

Starting my middle school theater improv unit tomorrow.  Going to show this for the first time.  We will see how it goes.