I've made a lot of mistakes. I had to and so do you.

I've made a lot of mistakes. I had to, and so do you.
Today, I'm going to talk about a familiar topic: how to get better at improv (or anything else).
The way you improve at improv is similar to how you improve at many things. You make mistakes, you try, and sometimes it works. That's great when it does.
When it doesn't, you learn more. You discover more about yourself and your art form. You begin to understand the structure and dynamics of the moment. This process builds confidence.
You stop thinking, "I've made a mistake," or "I shouldn't have done that." Instead, you start thinking, "I'm getting this," and "I'm getting there." Self-judgment decreases, and as you accept mistakes as part of the play, you progress faster.
Eventually, you'll realize that the more mistakes you make, the faster you learn. When I started doing improv, my first class was with Jo Tomlin at San Francisco State University. It was a large lecture hall with about 200-300 people.
Jo called on people randomly, and I often tried to hide, even though I paid for the class. Despite the large number of people, she always spotted me. Every class or so, she'd pull me up on stage.
As the class progressed and attendance dwindled, I stuck with it. I made mistakes but improved. I continued doing improv, taking various classes and practicing with different groups.
Over time, I judged myself less.
I learned to accept that whatever I did on any given day was the best I could do. That's where my energy and understanding were. I've been doing improv since 2000, and I've steadily improved.
My advice?
Always show up.
Participate actively and embrace mistakes. That's how you learn. Whether learning improv, a language, painting, or marketing, trying and accumulating experience is crucial.
Most mistakes aren't life-threatening; they're zings to the ego. Let them go. Be gentle with yourself, allow time for growth, and don't judge yourself.
If you're ready to try improv, visit the Improv Dojo. It's a relaxed chance to meet new people, explore improv, have fun, and make mistakes. Mistakes are encouraged. The Dojo is offered on Sundays from 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm at Pan.
This was a longer video. Once again, this is David from Pan Theater. Thank you for watching.