What does the summit look like for you?
The peak will change but the efforts remain the same
There is something nice about taking time off from something and returning, as it allows you to digest things and come back with a different appreciation. The break was needed for a few reasons, and I do come back feeling refreshed.
Over the month, I have been asked by a few people what my next steps are, which is a difficult question to answer. While I’m very much focused on the here and now, it did get me thinking about end goals and what we want to achieve.
Every person has different goals and ambitions, and therefore, the summit (the idealised outcomes they want) is different. Most of us start the same, but the paths quickly diverge, and even our understanding of the concept evolves.
When I started, my two aims were to stop being nervous on stage and to be funny. Both were vague goals that not only require developing several to give yourself a foundation, but also achieving personal milestones. Whether it’s turning up to a workshop or class or getting up on stage for the first time, anything that pushes your comfort zone and you can walk away from tends to be a success.
Equally, I saw those who performed in duos as at the top, since, at the time, I saw it as this ultimate form of improv. In my mind, normal groups have multiple people to rely on, but in this case, you only have one other person to support you and vice versa. There are no hiding places in it.
Over time, my goals changed, and some of them required taking steps back to move forward. One was going back to basics, another was travelling and performing elsewhere, and the third was exploring other disciplines, such as sketch and short story writing.
I do think failure is the best teacher, despite the difficulty of going through it, and it can greatly inform you on your strengths and where you need to work.
What I’ve found is that through those experiences, I’ve become more focused on what I need to get out of shows and performances. I take a macro view of the scene and make decisions based on what I feel it needs rather than what I require.
The result has been finding a balance between responsibilities and fulfilment; the ratio is always shifting.
I am working on particular projects that are exciting me, both in improv and outside of it, and I’ve no idea if they’ll lead to anything. Nothing I can share at this moment but what I’ll say is it’s nice to be developing my craft further.
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