Volunteering and Community

June: so much to say about June.  There was Twangfest for KDHX, St. Louis Heritage Festival, St. Louis Fringe Festival, Wine Dine and Jazz and Circus Flora.  I've also been doing Improv classes at The Improv Shop.  There is a quote on The Improv Shop wall and website by Kurt Vonnegut that goes: "And I would really, over the long run, hope America would find some way to provide all of our citizens with extended families -- a large group of people they could call on for help."  A little girl (4 or 5 years old) giving me a big hug after Circus Flora was over.  The combination of the quote and hug got me thinking that my favorite parts about volunteering and improv and life is the communities.  Communities that in some cases only get to see once a year and others that I can goof around with and be funny with.  Somehow it all makes sense together.  Probably my favorite part of doing any and all of it.  It's one of those things that I want to help push forward and help it grow.  So many communities to try to tie together and I am merely one thread amongst them all.

Quick Thoughts On Improv

I've been taking Improv classes at The Improv Shop since September 2013.  Long time I know.  One thing that really has really struck me is how pretty much every motivational or inspirational or spiritual speaker, all pretty much hit on ideas that are "taught" in improv classes.  The ideas are not really directly taught but I think the ideas flow from them.   Difference being is that the motivational speaker person has specific life lessons that they customize to and present ideas relative to that.  

Things like "Yes, and...", listen, or do stuff: they all pretty much come through in any motivational speaker.  These ideas are all repackaged but have the vibe of one of these things.  I am ordained by 2 "organizations", maybe I should come up with an inspirational life story and preach to that.  If you would like to donate to my church.....

Other thing that I've noticed is that I pretty much lived by "Yes, and..." for a while without realizing it.  It is pretty sweet how it all comes around.

I also would like to learn to be a clown, so if you know of anyone in St. Louis that is willing to either teach or mentor, Let me know.

St. Louis Improv Community....You guys, gals, and weirdos are awesome.  Love you guys.

Volunteering Why's

I have done a lot of volunteering.  It's been something like 800 hours over the last 2 years or so.  As for the why, I'm still trying to nail that down.  Some things that I've come up with are:

1. Lots of new and interesting experiences
1. Got to hang out back stage at music concerts and load up and ship out bands
2. Hung out on the roof on main street
3. Creepy Basement
4. Check out hidden places at events that most don't get to see.  
2. Helps me become a better leader and communicator 
3. Free T-Shirts, Food, booze, beverages, and candy (cool perk but not a requirement)
1. So many T-shirts
4. Meet lots of cool folks
5. Led me into other interesting stuff
1. Started taking classes at The Improv Shop
2. Got into other volunteer opportunities
6. Can honestly say I've worked at a circus, radio station, festivals, at a bar, selling merch, and giving away loads of free stuff.

There's a saying in improv that you need to "Get out of your head" and "Yes, and..  In a weird sense those are the ideas that I'm looking for.  It's an Art meets life and life meets art thing that seems like I've been living over the last few years with all this volunteering.  For the most part I improvise at these events.  I keep an ear to the ground and do what needs to be done.  Improv class is starting to show me the way to do this but also show me how to be funny too in an honest sort of way.  I do highly recommend taking up improv class for reasons I won't describe in this post.  If there is any interest I will describe it in future posts.