I went to a comedysportz class level 1 class - to just check out the
program. It was the most awful, painful, long... experience. I wanted
to throw a chair thru the window and jump out, screaming.

The first 45 minutes involved the teacher explaining (/selling) the
history of comedysportz, in great unnecessary detail. The details and
anecdotes were amusing to him, but nobody else. Some of it seemed like
him testing his jokes on us.

Finally, we stood up and were going to do some improv! But instead of
improv, we did retarded warm up exercises. OK, to do *some* retarded
warm up exercises, but it went on too long.

And every explanation for anything was beat over 3-4 times. The
instructor would explain a point, animate it (like a stand up), but
then repeat, repeat, repeat. (This is when I was going to throw the
chair..). I could see the desperation on some of the other people's
faces.

The class had a selling tone - selling the comedysportz brand. The
"cirriculum" seemed like it was forumalted by a bunch of high level
one-fits-all corporate types. A lot of the exercises were more
appropriate for children (who also have separate comedysportz
classes...). Either the format of the class or the personality of the
instructor gave the exercises a kindergarten tone, which was
inappropriate for the early/middle aged audience.

I was there for 2 hours, and improvised very little. I got nothing out
of the class except the motivation to write this letter (and some
material for a seinfeld like sketch about an amway-like improv
company).

I've taken many other improv classes, which were nothing like this.
All of those had you up on your feet within the first 10 minutes (or
at least by the end of the first class..). The focus should be improv
and play, not selling and beating the hell out of every explanation.

Someone get me a drink!!!!!

L