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.

Week 2: The Music Man

A lot of the initial nerves that were in place for week one of improv class were not there for week two. I knew my classmates, and it was easy to see that everybody was starting with a higher level of comfort. It was a good thing too…this week’s exercises were all musical.

A lot of people have trouble with public speaking…even more have trouble with public singing. On top of that…the exercises were all a cappella, and for the most part we were singing without backup. Instructor Ed Trout made a point to put us all at ease from the beginning. He said musical improv, above all else, is a lot of fun. I found that to absolutely be the case.

Nobody expected Grammy-nominated performances, but Ed started us off with some basic tips on how to make our voices sound a little better. The exercises began with us all working together on a musical “jam session” and whittled down to us all doing improvised solos. Just like last week the games were challenging. But, as promised, they were also a lot of fun. We all found things we need to work on. For me…it’s trying not to over think what I’m singing about. Said the wise Ed Trout: “The fact that you are singing doo-wop about muskrats is funny on its own.”

To me, the progress we all showed was very encouraging. During the first week, it took us all a while to get out of our shells. For the second week, we all started off with a higher level of energy and confidence, and we were able to build off of that. I wrote last week that it’s not worth taking a class unless it can make you better, and in just one week I think we’re all showing noticeable success. It’s fun to see.

And, as a side note…if the market ever calls for a rock opera about muskrats, bar mitzvahs, Jar Jar Binks, and Alexander the Great’s hair weave (often neglected by history), we’re ready.

CSz lineups for Friday, Sept. 16th at 7:30pm (subject to change). Red Team: Jason McIntosh, Jarrod Reid, and Strange David. Blue Team: Dave Ruark, Brent Owens, and Aili McGill. With Referee Jon Colby and Mr. Voice Phil Graf.

CSz lineups for Thursday, Sept. 15th at 7:30pm (subject to change). Red Team: Brent Owens, Dave Ruark, and Kelsey VanVoorst. Blue Team: Chad Woodward, Danny Rockey, and Matt Raborn. With Referee Ed Trout.

I came in truly having no idea what to expect. The class consists of five of us, and we got straight to warming up and improv exercises.

Our instructor is ComedySportz Indianapolis Artistic Director Ed Trout. Having spent just two hours with him, it’s easy to see why he has had so much success in the area. He is incredibly observant and has an astute vision of what should be happening on stage. Perhaps most important of all, he is a terrific communicator and is very specific, constructive and supportive while giving feedback. For someone like me with comedic experience but plenty of room to grow, he is a valuable person to be around.

The focus of this week was scene-building. The truth is…a lot of people are funny, but it takes a lot more skill to translate humor into a specific character and into a specific scene. The exercises focused heavily on certain elements of building a scene, such as establishing and staying with your character or defining and maintaining the environment you’re in.

My first observation was this…the stage is 1000 degrees. Most stages I have been on in my life have been hot, and this one is no exception. It’s like an improv microwave. An improwave.

My second observation…this is truly challenging. I did not go in thinking it would be easy, but the exercises push you out of your comfort zone and force you to face your weaknesses and improve on them. For example, something I’ve learned I need to work on is making quicker decisions about who my character is going to be and what his relationship with the other participants is. During many scenes we started off slowly, but once we got our feet under us and really established who we were and what we were doing, things took off.

Overall, I left week one feeling challenged and encouraged. There is a lot to work on, but a class isn’t worth taking unless it can make you better. This is a class with good students, a great instructor, and a supportive atmosphere. My initial review from Ed: “So far, so good.” I can’t ask for much more than that.

And if nothing else…I spent my Tuesday night as a bitter agent driving through the Bermuda Triangle, an Italian thermal underwear manufacturer, the Jersey Shore producer, and a confused southern professional bodybuilder-physicist. What did you do?

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Bio

My name is Andy Ober. I am Senior Writer/Reporter at Inside INdiana Business. I have worked in the media for more than ten years and have performed comedy in some form or another for just as long. I fell in love with ComedySportz after seeing a few weekend shows and have made it my goal to become part of the group.

Working in the media, I tend to meet and interview a lot of high-talent people. I have always had a special admiration for people who use that talent to be creative, entertain people and make them laugh. I’ve always hoped to be one of those people, doing improv comedy with the Ship of Fools in West Lafayette and performing parody music for years.

It was a natural fit for me to check out ComedySportz when I moved back to Indianapolis for a job. I fell in love with the place immediately. I decided I wanted to be a part of it and found out that the vast majority of the group’s new members come from these classes. I’ve never had fear of public speaking or performance, but this is the first time I will really try out or audition for anything.

So…you’re going to follow me. ComedySportz and I have gotten together and decided to have me blog as I try to work my way onto the team. I’ll be taking the eight-week Level III class. So…feel free to leave me messages and interact through the group’s Facebook and Twitter pages. I am absolutely shallow enough to appreciate baseless support from people I don’t know…so pile it on.

If I succeed…you’ll share the story with me. If I fail, I’ll sulk in my living room and eat Haagen-Dazs while you return to your regularly-scheduled lives. Everybody wins!

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Bio

My name is Andy Ober. I am Senior Writer/Reporter at Inside INdiana Business. I have worked in the media for more than ten years and have performed comedy in some form or another for just as long. I fell in love with ComedySportz after seeing a few weekend shows and have made it my goal to become part of the group.

CSz lineups for Friday, July 29th at 7:30pm (subject to change). Red Team: Matt Kramer, Claire Wilcher, and Rick Randjelovic. Blue Team: John Patrick Coan, Kelsey VanVoorst, and Ed Trout. With Referee Tim Harrison and Mr. Voice Jason McIntosh.

The final 2011 ComedySportz World Championship match happens on Saturday, July 23rd, at 10:00pm at the historic Athenaeum Theater in downtown Indianapolis. Two teams will enter, but only one will leave with the Meaningless Cp and have improv bragging rights for one year. It’s all led to this final match. The theatre is located at 401 East Michigan Street, Indianapolis, IN. To get tickets call 317-951-8499, or the shows page to order online. Don’t miss it!

The 2011 ComedySportz World Championship tournament is ready for all the funny on Friday, July 22nd, at 9:30pm at the historic Athenaeum Theater in downtown Indianapolis. Get ready for these matches as ComedySportz New York City takes on ComedySportz Portland in the first half and ComedySportz Los Angeles goes up against ComedySportz Indianapolis. You’re running out of chances to see the “Greatest Spectacle In Comedy”. The theatre is located at 401 East Michigan Street, Indianapolis, IN. To get tickets call 317-951-8499, or the shows page to order online. Don’t miss it!

The 2011 ComedySportz World Championship tournament is ready for all the funny on Friday, July 22nd, at 7:00pm at the historic Athenaeum Theater in downtown Indianapolis. Get ready for these matches as ComedySportz Houston takes on ComedySportz Provo in the first half and ComedySportz Quad Cities goes up against ComedySportz Minneapolis. You’re running out of chances to see the “Greatest Spectacle In Comedy”. The theatre is located at 401 East Michigan Street, Indianapolis, IN. To get tickets call 317-951-8499, or the shows page to order online. Don’t miss it!