Initiations: Sword & Shield

You walk onstage with nothing. No plan. No protection. Just the creeping suspicion that you’re about to make a terrible decision. But what if you came prepared? This week, Rob and Adam reveal the tools of the trade. Grab your sword. Raise your shield. The unknown is waiting. Brought to you By: The Sonar Network https://thesonarnetwork.com/

What happens after you get a laugh? Do you keep talking? Do you wait? Do you acknowledge it? And how do you know when it's time to move on? Rob and Adam talk about the moment after the laugh: how audiences respond, how long a laugh actually lasts, and what performers can do to keep from stepping on their own comedy. When should you hold the moment, and when does waiting become awkward? Is there a difference between playing to the audience and playing for a laugh? Because getting the laugh is one thing. Knowing what to do next is another. Brought to you By: The Sonar Network https://thesonarnetwork.com/

Improv is all about free expression. What do you do when an improv partner crosses a line onstage? Or accidentally says the wrong thing? Rob and Adam talk boundaries, difficult conversations, and how to address bad behaviour without blowing up the group. Because sometimes the hardest part of improv happens afterwards in the green room. Brought to you By: The Sonar Network https://thesonarnetwork.com/

This week, Rob and Adam open up the Backline Mailbag to discuss an anonymous question on the podcast. What should you do if you aren't having fun on a team? What if you don't respect your coach? What if the notes you're receiving aren't making a better improviser? We'll discuss conflict resolution, changing your mindset, and reinforcing your goals. Also, the soft launch of Improv Modules. Brought to you By: The Sonar Network https://thesonarnetwork.com/

Every scene, you step onstage and pray for a easy, fun, and straight-forward scene to improvise. But sometimes, you accidentally stumble into a scenario that feels impossible to win. This week, Second City alumni Adam Cawley attempts to manoeuvre out of three very difficult scenic positions. Brought to you By: The Sonar Network https://thesonarnetwork.com/

This week, Adam confesses to Rob about a regret he has from their last show. An option was seen onstage, but not acted upon. We all know what the textbook says you should do onstage, but what do you do, when your gut tells you something different? How do you know what's the right choice and what might be harmful to the set? What's based on instinct and what choices are entirely ego-driven? All this and more on this week's Backline with Rob and Adam. Brought to you By: The Sonar Network https://thesonarnetwork.com/

This week, Rob and Adam explore the prolific, abundant, and (surprisingly) impolite vocabulary of Canadian improv. Whether you started with Keith Johnstone or David Shepherd and the Canadian Improv Games, you'll find something that sounds like home. Finish that dart, leave your winter boots at the door, and let's chat improv. Brought to you By: The Sonar Network https://thesonarnetwork.com/

How do you prepare for a show without over-preparing? Rob and Adam talk about Game Plans, what’s worth thinking about before you hit the stage, and how to streamline your approach so you can spend less time worrying about the show and more time actually doing it. Brought to you By: The Sonar Network https://thesonarnetwork.com/

This week on The Backline, Rob and Adam talk Meat and Potatoes. Who gets the focus? Who has the power? And if you realize halfway through a scene that your choice isn't serving the show, are you allowed to change it? They get into strong choices, generosity, focus, and the tricky business of knowing when to stick to your guns—and when to get out of your own way. Brought to you By: The Sonar Network https://thesonarnetwork.com/

This week on The Backline, Adam and Rob answer listener questions. First up: how do you better portray emotions onstage? What does it actually mean to play an emotion, and how can improvisers make those feelings read to an audience?Then they offer some tips and tricks if your troupe is using D&D as a sub-genre of improv. And finally: Johnny No-Bones. Brought to you By: The Sonar Network https://thesonarnetwork.com/