Jeff, from San Fran writes:

I am a director of an improv group here in SF, and we have recently acquired some new members.  After about 2 months with the new people, we are starting to meld our brains together and create some pretty awesome scenes.  My question is that although those of us who founded the group do hang out outside of rehearsal, the only times we interact as a large group are during our weekly rehearsals.  I am worried that our “group mind” will be limited since we are not all best-friends-forever.  How important do you think closely bonded friendships are in terms of a successful improv group?

Thanks Jeff,

Short answer on the importance of closely bonded friendships:  not very.  It depends on the people.  Are they professionals?  Do they drop their agenda when they walk in the door?  Do they play with the dominant group energy? Do they play by the unwritten rules that each ensemble unknowingly generates?   If so then being best friends is not a prerequisite for a strong group mind.  It can certainly help and sometimes works backwards; people who find they play well together become friends.

Group mind is very difficult to quantify.  We know when we see it, when also know when we don’t.  Here’s a good working definition: group mind is the state that emerges within a group, defined by a common style and tone, that informs the choices of the individuals.  Said metaphorically it’s a silent drum beat that, over time, everyone begins to hear.  The notes you choose to play fit naturally with your partner’s because you hear the same beat.  I hope you’ve had a “that’s exactly what I was thinking” moment on stage when a fellow player makes a move that you were about to make.  That is group mind.  It’s amazing from the outside.  From the inside it is cool but it also makes perfect sense.  The audience says “wow”, the players say “of course”.

Achieving that state takes time and willingness from the group. Some people walk into a room having never met each other and seem to click. Others work together for years but never get it.  I’ve done hot shows with complete strangers and done painfully boring shows with my best friends.  Does having a group sit in a circle around a burning candle telling each other their greatest secrets create group mind?  I’ve seen it work, I’ve seen it not. Does canceling rehearsal and going out to a bar till 2 a.m. work?  Again, sometimes yes and sometimes no.

The biggest hindrance I’ve seen to establishing group mind isn’t doing or not doing particular bonding exercises but the individual attitudes of the players.  This explains why friends, with their generous attitudes towards one another, can build strong ensembles quickly.  As a coach, when I’ve had group mind problems, I can usually track it down to a player or two that, for what ever reason, tend to zig while the rest of the team zags.  Sometimes people just have different energies or trouble molding themselves artistically to what the group wants.  Other times they are miserable people that can barely work with themselves much less anyone else.  The rest of the group will tell you who the problem person is with by how they treat them.  Watch for it.

Every group is different and the larger the group the more difficult ensemble building is.  Group mind tends to help those that help themselves.  It will appear faster and make it presence felt more strongly if groups play hard, make moves and keep an open mind artistically.  If you feel that your group isn’t playing from the same sheet of music maybe you should spend some rehearsals doing group bonding things. But if your happy with where the work is (in terms of energy, style and other tangible intangibles) then trust that group mind is there and is growing.  It just needs time to ripen.

*** Please send you question to improvquestions@billarnett.com

*** Here’s a video that I’m in:  Edit City, PD.  Enjoy!