A History of ComedySportz Indianapolis with Ed Trout

For a lot of people in Indianapolis, ComedySportz is just something that has always been there, putting on weekly improv shows for its loyal fans. But…like any business, ComedySportz Indy has its own story, including the group’s founding and the changes it has undergone since then. One man who has been there since the beginning is co-founder Ed Trout, who gives some insight on how some former members of an improv group put together a successful improv business.

Back in my day?

Who were the founding fathers/mothers of ComedySportz Indy and how did you get together? What prompted the idea for an improv comedy club? 

CSz Indy was started from the former members of the improv/ sketch group “Below the Belt”. Of those who started the group, Mia Lee Bauman, Lynn Burger, and Ed Trout retain ownership of Way Cool Productions, Inc. (the company which produces CSz Indy), and are still actively involved. Dave Ruark, also one of the starting “Below the Belt” players is also still an active performer with the group.

There are ComedySportz locations throughout the country…what kind of process did you have to go through to establish a chapter in Indianapolis?

The process we went through in 1993 is very different from what clubs go through today. We learned of the format and contacted Dick Chudnow,the creator of ComedySportz, in Milwaukee. Dick liked us and gave us permission to start up.

For new clubs today, they have to go through a much longer and more involved process, submitting a business plan to the World Comedy League, and so on

How many people started in the group and where did you find them? How do you add members now?

When we first started, we held auditions to add to our “Below the Belt” numbers. We started with about a dozen players. We’ve added players over the years either from open auditions or from seeing them work through our public workshops. Both methods are useful in different ways for finding new talent.

What were the shows like at the very beginning? Do they bear any resemblance to what we see now?

The shows do look very similar, but there certainly are differences. When we first started performing, we normally played four against four (something that is still done in the ComedySportz High School League). We also had some other fouls that we used to call regularly, like the “Waffling Foul” for a game that was going nowhere. The players were given 15 seconds to introduce some excitement (like a birth, a death, or a major religious experience), or they would be “waffled” off the field. We also relied on a much smaller group of improv games when we started out. Now there are hundreds of game options.

When did the remote shows and corporate training come into play? How about the workshops?

Remote shows and corporate training started in very early. People wanted private shows, and we are always happy to work something out for them to help make that happen. As for the corporate training, it became evident very early that the benefits of learning teambuilding and communication skills through improvisation are universally beneficial.

What has been the biggest challenge/hurdle to establishing, maintaining or growing ComedySportz? Was there ever a time you doubted it would work?

We never doubted it. One reason we’re still around is sheer stubbornness. But the biggest challenge in the early years was simply having people understand what we did. They always thought it was stand-up, or sketch comedy. Admittedly, when the television show “Whose Line Is It Anyway” gained popularity, it really helped to be able to mention that as a recognizable form of entertainment. People then could wrap their heads around us making things up, being funny while doing it, and ultimately playing it as a sport.

What would you like people to know about the ComedySportz players that they don’t get to see on stage?

One thing that people probably don’t realize is how much of a family ComedySportz is. Sure, there are lots of different personalities, and in some cases, those personalities don’t see eye to eye. But in reality, when the chips are down, you know that other ComedySportz players have your back…even players from other cities. We all know each other, and oddly enough, we all like each other. Well, you know… as much as you like all of your family.