improv class business

100 ways to play (in the real world) - Animal Edition!

100 ways to play (in the real world) - Animal Edition!

Couldn't do a list of ways to play without checking in with the experts. They make it look so natural.

100 Ways to Play (in the Real World) - Holiday Edition!

100 Ways to Play (in the Real World) - Holiday Edition!

Ho, ho, hope these help make this time of year a little more fun. This post is a bit different in that it’s not exactly ways to play, but how to play in those somewhat stressful holiday situations where you might not be playing.

100 Ways to Play (in the Real World) - Part 31-40

100 Ways to Play (in the Real World) - Part 31-40

Despite how little many of us feel like playing right now with everything going on in the world, here’s some forced positivity in the next instalment of ways to play. Enjoy!

100 Ways to Play! (in the Real World) – Part 21-30.

100 Ways to Play! (in the Real World) – Part 21-30.

Hey, you’re back! Sweet. Okay, stop juggling your new pets, you show-off. Let’s find some more fun for you to have. With lists!

100 ways to play! (in the Real World) - Part 1-10

100 ways to play! (in the Real World) - Part 1-10

Improv class is fun, but how do play in the real world? The world outside this class that seems to hate when people have fun and just wants everyone to ‘Get back to work!’” Well, here’s a list of a hundred ways to play. Simple things you can do to have fun in the “real” world.

Fuck coping.

During a recent TV interview about improv helping with anxiety, the reporter asked/told me, “But you’re not saying this is a cure, it’s just another thing you can do as therapy. It’s a way to cope.”

I hate the word cope. Coping. Barf.

Confessions of an Asshole.

I used to be an asshole. Now I know there are people out there from my past who are thinking, “I bet you’re still an asshole.” But I also know there are people who know me now that are surprised (hopefully).

Don’t try to do it all at once.

It took a while for me to create this website. Mainly because every day I’d look at my to-do list and the top one would be “Build the Play With Fire website.” How daunting is that? Answer: super daunting. The thought of how much work it would take to build a full website today left me too overwhelmed to do any of it. I wouldn’t even start. What’s the point? And that’s why there’s no website and you’re not reading this. The end.

Would you rather be right, or would you rather be happy?

We’ve all been in arguments that go on so long that someone finally chuckles, “What were we fighting about again?” Then the other person chuckles. You chuckle together and almost make up, until one of you remembers and starts the fight again.

Don’t take it personally, stupid.

A lot of us are passionate about our jobs. We put in a lot of work and do the best we can. So it’s hard when other people don’t appreciate that work. Here are some simple steps to take next time you’re about to spit on the client.

The Freelance Mindset™

There are many perks to freelancing: You feel like your own boss. You can work from home. Or the park. You feel distanced from office politics. You don’t have to put in face time, or pretend to work. You’re probably making more money. etc(s). So how does that help you fulltimers?

Do what you love. Then do it more.

Back when I was anxious, I was a big proponent of “tough love.” My biggest changes always seemed to come after extreme pain, or hurt, or someone yelling at me. So be anxious. Focus on your anxiety. Spiral into obsession getting worse each day. Hit rock bottom. Big changes. Yay! There is another way, though (thank god!)

My Year of Not Looking in the Mirror.

I used to get eczema on my face when I was nervous (all the time), so I took a year off looking in the mirror. I learned to shave by feel, stare downward during elevator rides, and drive recklessly. When I finally did look in the mirror again, a funny thing happened. I smiled.