Comments on: Experience the Art of Improv Travel http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2009/09/03/experience-the-art-of-improv-travel/ Online travel magazine dedicated to exploring travel in the 21st century. Offering travel news, compelling interviews, online travel tools, and more. Sun, 21 Mar 2010 19:48:01 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Pat Hartman http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2009/09/03/experience-the-art-of-improv-travel/comment-page-1/#comment-94548 Pat Hartman Sat, 03 Oct 2009 15:16:19 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/?p=4940#comment-94548 Dear F. Daniel Harbecke, Thanks for this interesting piece, which being able to link to makes ours more valuable to our readers. I won't insult the comment box with a web address - we're talking about The Blog of Kevin Dolgin, October 2. Best of all possible regards, Pat Hartman Dear F. Daniel Harbecke,
Thanks for this interesting piece, which being able to link to makes ours more valuable to our readers.
I won’t insult the comment box with a web address – we’re talking about The Blog of Kevin Dolgin, October 2.
Best of all possible regards,
Pat Hartman

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]]> By: DHarbecke http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2009/09/03/experience-the-art-of-improv-travel/comment-page-1/#comment-94420 DHarbecke Fri, 25 Sep 2009 20:32:09 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/?p=4940#comment-94420 Now that this article has had its run, I can tell you the source of my inspiration. While in my twenties, I studied for a little over a year at Chicago's Second City theater. My instructors included Nia Vardalos ("My Big Fat Greek Wedding"), her huband Ian Gomez (a recurring character on The Drew Carey Show), Steve Carell (yes, THAT Steve Carell), Jim Zulevik (from "Second City Radio" in Chicago) and Steven Colbert (yes, THAT Steven Colbert). They are truly brilliant people and I'm thankful for the opportunity - how much I learned from them is incalculable. I realized back then that the same things I was learning for improv theater could (and should) be easliy applied to daily life. These ideas and dozens of others have helped me see a great deal more to things than I ever would have. I have a friend who recently started the same training, and going over the material showed me how much I owe to improv technique. Now that this article has had its run, I can tell you the source of my inspiration.

While in my twenties, I studied for a little over a year at Chicago’s Second City theater. My instructors included Nia Vardalos (”My Big Fat Greek Wedding”), her huband Ian Gomez (a recurring character on The Drew Carey Show), Steve Carell (yes, THAT Steve Carell), Jim Zulevik (from “Second City Radio” in Chicago) and Steven Colbert (yes, THAT Steven Colbert). They are truly brilliant people and I’m thankful for the opportunity – how much I learned from them is incalculable.

I realized back then that the same things I was learning for improv theater could (and should) be easliy applied to daily life. These ideas and dozens of others have helped me see a great deal more to things than I ever would have. I have a friend who recently started the same training, and going over the material showed me how much I owe to improv technique.

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]]> By: Maureen http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2009/09/03/experience-the-art-of-improv-travel/comment-page-1/#comment-94136 Maureen Thu, 10 Sep 2009 14:16:34 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/?p=4940#comment-94136 Wow, this article really spoke to me. I had a similar experience to Justin at a bus station in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. I arrived at 7am and didn't leave again until 5pm. A young guy offered to show me around the city. I saw the city, made a great new friend, and I didn't have to sit in the bus station all day! Thanks Daniel! Wow, this article really spoke to me. I had a similar experience to Justin at a bus station in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. I arrived at 7am and didn’t leave again until 5pm. A young guy offered to show me around the city. I saw the city, made a great new friend, and I didn’t have to sit in the bus station all day!

Thanks Daniel!

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]]> By: Ekaterina http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2009/09/03/experience-the-art-of-improv-travel/comment-page-1/#comment-94050 Ekaterina Sat, 05 Sep 2009 20:13:02 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/?p=4940#comment-94050 Love it Daniel! It's so much better to allow unexpected into one's life! All of my best experiences (especially while travelling) were related to 'unprogrammed' moments and schedules. I remember how once my cousin and I ended up in a 'five-star' hotel in Crimea (Ukraine), to discover that both lifts didn't work and our room was on eleventh floor, and in order to have breakfast we had to have it with our backs facing each other. Actually, we had a choice: either backs facing each other, or eating in turns, - one at 8 in the morning, another at nine. The hotel was totally full as it appeared. But funny enough, it was perhaps the best holiday ever, so hilarious it was. We couldn't stop from laughing the wole way through. Love it Daniel! It’s so much better to allow unexpected into one’s life! All of my best experiences (especially while travelling) were related to ‘unprogrammed’ moments and schedules.
I remember how once my cousin and I ended up in a ‘five-star’ hotel in Crimea (Ukraine), to discover that both lifts didn’t work and our room was on eleventh floor, and in order to have breakfast we had to have it with our backs facing each other.
Actually, we had a choice: either backs facing each other, or eating in turns, – one at 8 in the morning, another at nine.
The hotel was totally full as it appeared.
But funny enough, it was perhaps the best holiday ever, so hilarious it was. We couldn’t stop from laughing the wole way through.

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]]> By: Travel China Ren http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2009/09/03/experience-the-art-of-improv-travel/comment-page-1/#comment-94034 Travel China Ren Sat, 05 Sep 2009 01:46:23 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/?p=4940#comment-94034 Very helpful article! I enjoy it so much. Thanks, author! No saying no. Don’t deny. Saying “Yes, and…” is always better than saying “No” or “Yes, but…” Some kind of life art! Very helpful article! I enjoy it so much. Thanks, author!

No saying no. Don’t deny. Saying “Yes, and…” is always better than saying “No” or “Yes, but…”

Some kind of life art!

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]]> By: Carlo http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2009/09/03/experience-the-art-of-improv-travel/comment-page-1/#comment-94026 Carlo Fri, 04 Sep 2009 08:44:02 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/?p=4940#comment-94026 Great story Justin...we also had Chinese girls we met on the public bus helping us in Leshan. They really love to practice their English and help foreigners! China is a great place to travel! Looking forward to going back one day. Great story Justin…we also had Chinese girls we met on the public bus helping us in Leshan. They really love to practice their English and help foreigners! China is a great place to travel! Looking forward to going back one day.

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]]> By: Justin http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2009/09/03/experience-the-art-of-improv-travel/comment-page-1/#comment-94025 Justin Fri, 04 Sep 2009 08:39:26 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/?p=4940#comment-94025 This past fall my sister and I went with the moment when we arrived in Fuzhou China at 6am after a long overnight train ride. We never intended to stay and had another 12 hour overnight to Shenzhen at 9:30pm. What to do with all that time? Well since we had been "whiteboarding" asia for a month we just sat down and started drawing outside of the train station. After only a few short minutes we had a crowd of 50+ Chinese people that didn't speak a lick of English and must have gathered to witness two tall blond Americans that looked to be out of their element. A girl came up who spoke a little english and offered to take us all around the city to practice her language skills...we had nothing to do and found out that it was Nations Day and the nearby park was on steroids for the festival. That is where we did "Water Happy Balls" (huge inflatable balls that make you feel like a hamster in a wheel). We soaked up the city, the food, and had one of the most memorable days just because we were willing to take a chance when it came our way. If you want to check out this or any of our 3 month Asian adventure go to whiteboardasia.blogspot.com and look for the title "Water Happy Balls - Nuff Said" This past fall my sister and I went with the moment when we arrived in Fuzhou China at 6am after a long overnight train ride. We never intended to stay and had another 12 hour overnight to Shenzhen at 9:30pm. What to do with all that time? Well since we had been “whiteboarding” asia for a month we just sat down and started drawing outside of the train station. After only a few short minutes we had a crowd of 50+ Chinese people that didn’t speak a lick of English and must have gathered to witness two tall blond Americans that looked to be out of their element.

A girl came up who spoke a little english and offered to take us all around the city to practice her language skills…we had nothing to do and found out that it was Nations Day and the nearby park was on steroids for the festival. That is where we did “Water Happy Balls” (huge inflatable balls that make you feel like a hamster in a wheel). We soaked up the city, the food, and had one of the most memorable days just because we were willing to take a chance when it came our way. If you want to check out this or any of our 3 month Asian adventure go to whiteboardasia.blogspot.com and look for the title “Water Happy Balls – Nuff Said”

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]]> By: Carlo http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2009/09/03/experience-the-art-of-improv-travel/comment-page-1/#comment-94023 Carlo Fri, 04 Sep 2009 01:27:17 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/?p=4940#comment-94023 It's inevitable this convo will turn to Danny Wallace's "Yes Man" (now a movie with Jim Carrey), so I'll just go ahead and do that for a sec. That book (movie) makes a great point to how saying Yes more can really open up new experiences and adventure. However, I wouldn't take it so far as to saying Yes to SPAM email asking "would you like to add four inches to your penis?". It’s inevitable this convo will turn to Danny Wallace’s “Yes Man” (now a movie with Jim Carrey), so I’ll just go ahead and do that for a sec. That book (movie) makes a great point to how saying Yes more can really open up new experiences and adventure. However, I wouldn’t take it so far as to saying Yes to SPAM email asking “would you like to add four inches to your penis?”.

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]]> By: Christine Garvin http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2009/09/03/experience-the-art-of-improv-travel/comment-page-1/#comment-94022 Christine Garvin Fri, 04 Sep 2009 01:21:19 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/?p=4940#comment-94022 "In improv, you’re taught that you can say YES or NO to life. If you say NO, you are rewarded with security and stability. If you say YES, you get adventure and change. Neither is inherently good or bad - but it matters how often you say the one or the other, and how well they help you get what you’re looking for." What a great addition to your article...I hope everyone reads your comment, too. “In improv, you’re taught that you can say YES or NO to life. If you say NO, you are rewarded with security and stability. If you say YES, you get adventure and change. Neither is inherently good or bad – but it matters how often you say the one or the other, and how well they help you get what you’re looking for.” What a great addition to your article…I hope everyone reads your comment, too.

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]]> By: DHarbecke http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2009/09/03/experience-the-art-of-improv-travel/comment-page-1/#comment-94021 DHarbecke Fri, 04 Sep 2009 01:15:27 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/?p=4940#comment-94021 It's right in line with your comprison, Carlo. One warning about saying YES too much, though - you can get into some pretty tight spots if you don't say NO once in a while! Stages are safe: real life, you gotta take responsibility. In improv, you're taught that you can say YES or NO to life. If you say NO, you are rewarded with security and stability. If you say YES, you get adventure and change. Neither is inherently good or bad - but it matters how often you say the one or the other, and how well they help you get what you're looking for. Always a pleasure to hear from you, Carlo. I've never been gone, but keeping those other plates spinning is a full-time job. :) It’s right in line with your comprison, Carlo. One warning about saying YES too much, though – you can get into some pretty tight spots if you don’t say NO once in a while! Stages are safe: real life, you gotta take responsibility.

In improv, you’re taught that you can say YES or NO to life. If you say NO, you are rewarded with security and stability. If you say YES, you get adventure and change. Neither is inherently good or bad – but it matters how often you say the one or the other, and how well they help you get what you’re looking for.

Always a pleasure to hear from you, Carlo. I’ve never been gone, but keeping those other plates spinning is a full-time job. :)

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