CHAPTER 1

"Yes, and"

There was really only one rule I was taught about improv. That was, "yes-and." In this case, "yes-and" is a verb. To "yes-and." I yes-and, you yes-and,he, she, or it yes-ands. And "yes-anding" means that when you go onstage toimprovise a scene with no script, you have no idea what's going to happen, maybewith someone you've never met before ...

—Stephen Colbert, host of The Colbert Report, a satirical newsshow

Level of Risk

Low

Background and Purpose

If you are familiar with improvisational theater, you are probably familiar with"yes, and." "Yes, and" is one of the fundamental ground rules of improv. It's ageneral philosophy by which you agree with your partner and then add additionalinformation. It is the best way to gain trust, acceptance, and mutual discoveryand to collaborate.

In improv, "yes, and" is about accepting what's given to you and then addinganother offer to move the conversation, idea, or action along. By acknowledgingone piece of information and adding another, you and your partner work togetherto advance the communication. It's a process familiar to creative problemsolving: you start with a few pieces of key information and spend the rest ofthe time working toward a solution and defining the various details along theway.

Saying "yes, and" does not necessarily mean that you agree with what the otherperson is saying. It is simply a way of ensuring collaboration and moving anidea along. Agreeing to disagree is still "yes, anding" as long as the intentionfor both parties is to move forward.

The "yes, and" rule allows people to pick up the ball and run with it. Itinfuses energy, it's fun and exhilarating, and most of all it creates anenvironment in which people feel empowered to pitch their ideas and thoughts."Yes, and" is an affirmation that the person is listening and the offering isbeing accepted and heard. "Yes, and" does not mean you agree with or even likethe offering. Rather, it means that you are simply validating that the offeringhas occurred.

Mini Lecture

When people first hear an idea or information that they don't understand oragree with, they often blurt out "No!" Maybe it's because "no" is the first wordwe speak as a way to assert and test our power. As adults, many people say "no"because they don't want to change existing practices or they fear losing thestatus quo of existing relationships or resources. Onstage, beginningimprovisers often say "no" out of fear. They panic and become scared about theunknown, or they don't possess enough knowledge about the situation, or justwant to be in control of the scene. Whatever the reason is for saying "no," thecommunication stops.

Another response to new ideas or information is to say "yes, but," which is justa fancy way of saying "no." At Second City Communications, they say "yes, but"is "no" dressed up in a tuxedo. When people say "yes, but," you know they'regoing to give you at least one...