dark blue background with colourful text on top that reads: Improv communication in scenes

Improving Communication in Scenes (and finding the unusual thing)

It's hard to notice the unusual at the top of an improv scene. Learn when and how to do it! Even if you're unusual too, like me! For EVERYONE: how to communicate better with your scene partners.

Finding the unusual thing can be a bit more challenging if there are a variety of neurotypes on a team (and there probably is, statistically speaking). Just as communication can be challenging if you have humans with different backgrounds, cultures, spoken language, and more on a team or in a class. But there are different tools and techniques you can use to help make this a bit easier. Let’s talk about them!

Listen to the episode

Learn more about the episode on this page: Finding the unusual thing (podcast)

What this resource covers

This article discusses what “unusual” can be, and how to notice that unusual thing in a scene. This tool is part of the game of the scene style of improv, a big part of it.

In a nutshell: You find an unusual thing, make a game out of it, and go from there. Heighten it, blow it out, whatever.

Success. Profit. Win.

NOTE 2025: This article is being added to a much more comprehensive PDF resource guide.

Neurodiversity in improv and comedy text with"Improving Communication in Scene Work" below.

Get the Educational PDF Guide

May 2025 update:This guide includes a revised, updated, and improved version of this article (coming soon).

The educational PDF guide cover: Neurodiversity in Comedy with the title"Improving Communication in your Scene work Coaches and Performers" with author Jen deHaan at bottom.

Talk on Discord

Discuss this topic with improvisers

This link will take you directly to the forum for this newsletter on the Improv Update Discord.The discord also contains a bunch of channels for improv nerds. Nice.

Jen deHaan
Jen deHaan

Jen deHaan founded StereoForest in 2024 to focus on creating comedy podcasts, audio dramas, and audio fiction series that blend scripted and improvised material.

Jen has taught long form improv classes at/with World’s Greatest Improv School (WGIS), Compass Improv, Highwire Improv, and Queen City Comedy. She was also the WGIS Online School Director, and hosted a lot of improv jams.

Articles: 83

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *