Improving through Improv

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Day two of our journey to Los Angeles included a pair of interviews I felt were very important to our story. The first was with Rob Belushi, son of Jim Belushi, and a man I consider to be a good friend after spending time studying improv with him at Las Vegas’ wing of Second City. My dad and mom wondered aloud what Rob’s added value or pertinence to the documentary would be – not as a person, as they didn’t know him, but in a "what’s improv go to do with it?” sense. Improv is a faith-based performance exercise. You have to walk on to the stage believing you and your stage partners have enough with just what you have (which is just you). You have to connect. You have to be truthful. It helps greatly to give a lot more than you take. In the words of Jim Belushi (according to Rob), “the guy who gives the most wins”.

My line with Rob was to have him talk about his experience as a performer and teacher and draw a line between improv, faith and health. 

“One of the core principles is to say yes,” Rob said. “As we become older we become more comfortable with a certain way – our daily experience levels tend to shrink. By saying yes, life can continue to surprise you.” 

He also talked about fear, as a personal motivator for him and what it’s like to be on stage, wondering if what he’s doing will be funny or work on any level. 

“[It’s important] to not let fear totally destroy your ability to participate in things”. 

That one hit home in a number of ways for me and my dad, too. Dad doesn’t like the attention on him or his Parkinson’s so he tends to shy away from some social situations. It isn’t that he’s a recluse, but, at the same time, he’s inclined to stay in an increasingly shrinking comfort zone. That’s one thing I worry about quite a bit.

“What we learn in improv [about fear] is that it’s going to be okay,” Belushi said. “Just keep taking specific steps and making choices and it will lead you somewhere that you couldn’t see over here.”

One of the things Rob does in his class to set his students at ease is give up something personal about himself, often something personal.

“There’s a feeling of ‘we don’t have to be perfect here’,” Belushi said. “We’re just trying to be real.”

He made another interesting insight when he talked about how in creating an improv scene, performers often have to take on unsavory roles or characteristics because that’s what their partner has given or labeled them. It’s by saying yes to these things that the performer earns the audience’s applause and laughter. This applies to life off the stage, too.

“I think when people are struggling with health, mental health, addiction, the main instinct is to isolate,” Belushi said. “It’s a form of denial, of shame, of being overwhelmed, hopelessness, despair – all of these things make you want to remove yourself. An improvisational coach would say to wear these types of things with a badge of courage and fully engage more. The ‘scene’ of your life is being shared by more people than just you.”

The Boys of Summer roll along, but we need your help to complete this year's journey. Please see our site for the latest on how to contribute. Thank you!