Your chance to perform Long Form Improv in front of a crowd with many other seasoned and novice improvisers from around the area. It's also an opportunity to network with these improvisers. You could even discover that person who may be the improv yin to your improv yang. Okay, you get the idea. If performing doesn't interest you, it's a chance to see some of the most unpredictably wild improv ever!
Visit the AntJam MySpace page to read about current AntJammers and more!
How does the AntJam work?
On Monday evenings you'll ind the 'Jam Jar' in our lobby. Before the show starts and at intermission of a regular show (Usually around 9PM) you can enter your name in this ballot box. After the regular show, around 10PM, six to eight names will be drawn. Those individuals will then have around fifteen to twenty minutes to create, contribute, and edit their own improvised scenes. Scenes can be based on audience suggestions, an inspiration from the previous scene, or however you would like to play them. At the conclusion of their final scene, six to eight new names will be drawn and these individuals will perform for fifteen to twenty minutes. The teams are followed by a seven minute game of 'Switch' in which anyone can play. After that, two names will be drawn. One from Team one and one from Team 2. Its audience applause that will determine which of these two winners had the best overall evening and is the winner of the coveted AntJammer! But that doesn't mean the runner up goes off empty handed! They are rewarded an amazing, amazing prize.
What the heck is an 'AntJammer'?
Ah, good question. Let's say you show up for the AntJam one Monday night and you don't feel like submitting your name at intermission. You don't even plan to show up until 10PM but you still want to perform that night. With an AntJammer, you can completely take cuts! You decide just which Monday night you're going to perform and just which half you're going to do it in. You can even save it until your friend has an AntJammer or someone you've always wanted to perform with gets called up.
NOTE: When you plan to use an AntJammer, it must be used before the final participant name is selected for that team. AntJammers are nontransferable.
What if I'm too intimidated to perform?
Don't be! There. That was simple. Listen, you can read all the books you want but the quickest way to get better at improv is to put in the time performing. Come learn from working with other improvisers and they will in turn learn from working with you. It’s always a friendly atmosphere in which everyone is rooting for you! The focus of the AntJam is to provide local improvisers a space to perform Long Form Improv, gain valuable Improv experience, and do it in front of an audience. It will also provide local producers, directors, and/or talent scouts to see who is coming up through the ranks. Unlike many other communities, the Detroit Metro areas' local improv scene is unique in the sense that everyone generally gets along and wants others to do well. Let's make that even stronger!
Is there an AntJam every Monday?
Yes! I mean, sort of. I mean... Every Monday there is a regular improv show. If there is a special engagment that dictates no AntJam on a given Monday, it should be announced on the website long in advance.
If you have any additional questions or suggestions please contact Dave Davies. Also, any suggestions you may have are welcome and will be considered. This entire plan is aimed at strengthening the improv community so your input is always welcome. Please forward this email on to as many improvisers as you know! I hope that together we can make this a successful endeavor! I look forward to seeing all of you and meeting many of you