Paul F. Tompkins Quotes

Yeah, improvising only really works 100% when you're with somebody.

With human beings it could be argued that all music-making is, in essence, grounded in improvisation.

Chicago was where I realized that improv is its own thing, its own art form. And through that, you kind of develop a work ethic of not selling it short.

I love when things can repeat and you can make things slightly different each time and just react to the music and react to the recording.

When you improvise alone, you don't risk a lot, but doing an improvisation when you are two is even more difficult because you need to listen exactly to understand what is going to happen.

Sometimes you have to kind of keep proving that you're improvising. That's the game, or the goal, of long-form TV improv, is that you have to kind of keep reminding and showing people that you're improvising, because they won't believe you really.

If you're a good improviser, you improvise well enough that people think that you're doing a sketch.

The trouble with improv is that it is often about being funny in the moment without any real consideration for the bigger picture.

If you ever go to a music session, you'll notice that the musicians can sit down and start playing right away, and everyone knows what to do. Of course they're reading it, but the conductor can tweak little things, and you can take that back to directing motion pictures.

While you're improvising, you may come up with something which will break him up. As soon as that smile comes out, you know that, hey, we're having fun.

I love improvising.

I like to improvise.

When you're playing the same dirty dozen night after night, the moments that keep it fresh are those when you just let go and trust everyone.

I love improvising on the spot. I like that pressure.

I love improv so much. Listening. I think that's the key. When you improvise, you put a lot of pressure on yourself to create, and to be generating information, and trying to be funny, but if you just listen to what's being said to you, and then react honestly, you generally get better results.

The interesting thing about improvisation is you're making something up in front of the audience. Now music helps you out a little bit because you have an instrument that'll separate you from the audience.

I love to improvise when it's appropriate and encouraged by a producer.

When I start playing I'm just a rollercoaster of sound. I don't know what's coming next, I never do, and I sit and sign and talk to the people afterwards.

I love improvisation.

The lifelong goal of an improviser is to listen to what the other person is saying, taking it in, and responding.

I can't imagine doing anything without being an improviser. I can't imagine trying to write or act or direct without what improvising offers you.

Improv has been immensely beneficial to me as both an actor and a writer.

I've always been an improviser. I was one before I knew even what the word was... And acting, that I've been doing since I was 5.

My act is sort of improvisational. I have a skeleton in my head, but no fat or skin on it.

I don't write any of my material down. I like to improvise and be spontaneous.