Memory and Recall exercise & Improv Jams - #57
Newsletter #57: When do you remember things best? One thing to try for that. And an article about literalism in comedy, new jams with Jenice & Keri, and an animated audio drama
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Memory and recall is a big deal in improv! This week I have a bit of science about what is easier and harder to remember when it comes to how details are positioned in an event. And I’ll suggest some ways to practice your memory and recall for a future set.
In this week's newsletter you will find:
One thing to try: Remembering stuff n things
An article about communication in improv
Improv jams and livestreams in January
One Thing to Try: Remembering Stuff
There is a lot of science around memory and recall. And it, of course, heavily relates to our improv practice. One piece of science I ran across recently was regarding when we remember things best during a single event. For example, do we remember the beginning of a meal better, the middle, or the end.
Neuroscience indicates that detail ordering impacts memory. For example, details of the beginning and end of a meal are easier to remember than a detail in the middle.
To read a bit more about why ordering matters, here are a few resources about memory to get your started:
Primary effect, Primacy bias, and Recency bias are part of the Peak-End Rule and Serial position effect.
You can also refer to Paul Rozin, who has done related studies to memory and positioning, often involved with food. Here’s one video on this particular topic.
One thing to try on your own
While you are having a discussion this week (it could be with yourself, even!) or watching a movie: try noting a detail from near the beginning, middle and end of the event/show/discussion. Try to notice the kind of detail you would typically want to remember during an improv set. Maybe a character name, an unusual detail, or a phrase you would want to call back.
A few hours later, or following day, try to recall those three details and ask yourself the following:
WHAT was easiest and hardest to recall: the first, second, or final detail.
HOW did you recall these details? For example: Visual or personal association, the storytelling, a trick, repetition… or nothing at all? And so on.
Did anything in particular cause you to choose certain details (ie: emotion? curiosity?)
I reckon you’ll have a guess for how this exercise will go prior to doing it. Or at least an idea about how you tend to recall specific details in improv (and life).
But still, notice which details were easier or harder remember. Does is “rule” hold true for you improv or not? Is it consistent? And also notice what makes that memory easiest for you to hold - the visual cue, the storytelling (easiest typically to use for memory), or some trick you use.
Related to the example above, food itself is used as a memory device! Perhaps you use that during scenes too with the suggestion of a type of food during a scene leading to flash memory of a lived experience.
Memory and recall will shift as you evolve in improv. But it’s still useful to check in with the basics, and understand how your brain works in these scenarios.
Because if you understand HOW you recall information, and understand when it’s easier or harder for you, you can focus on how you want to grow in improv or new things to try.
Want to share what you notice? Let me know (reply or contact here) and I’ll share it in a future newsletter. Or reply on the site with a comment!
Improv resources, podcasts & shows
Some new improv and comedy things to check out this week from the online space. Everything is free and accessible to you, right now!
Article 1: Impedance Matching improves comedy performance (Neurodiversity in Improv) [Read Article]
Animated partially improvised comedy series: Unfuck Your Life: Animated (Episode 2)
Improv Jams, Events, & Livestreams
These are a fun way to get in reps, have fun, and meet new friends! They are online and free, so no matter where you are, you can attend. And at the end of this section is a button you should use to send in your stuff to me (hi - I’m Jen).
Online Improv Jams
Check out these great online improv jams from the community! These jams are organized by their respective hosts, so please contact them with any questions. Click the links provided to find out more information about each jam and sign up!
January 10th 5pm PT - Improv Jam with Jenice [Register]
January 24th 5pm PT - Improv Jam with Jenice [Register]
February 7th 11am PT - Improv Jam with Keri [Register]
February 7th 5pm PT - Improv Jam with Jenice [Register]
Contact Jenice here on Whatsapp
Ongoing Community Jams
Audio Online Improv Jams: Mondays 4-6pm PT and Saturdays 2pm-4pm PT on oozebear.com . Open to all!
Improv & Comedy Livestreams
Comedy and improv livestreams that I think look pretty cool that happen to be coming up soon or available right now (no affiliation):
Jan 10th: Ultimate Improv Show with Lauren Lapkus, Nicole Byer, Dan Black, Bobby Moynihan, Neil Casey, Jon Gabrus [Get Livestream]
Jan 14th: Comedian Traitors [Get Livestream]
Feb 11th: Katie & Erika Throw The Perfect Valentine’s Day Party [Get Livestream]
Do you have a stage show that’s livestreamed and want it added? Or a FREE jam or workshop I should add? Reach out or comment on the website for the next newsletter (every two weeks).
Fact or Word of the Week
As per usual, here's yet another fact or word of the week…. this week we have a fact. Heck yeah, FACTS RULE!
FACT(s): The Egyptians invented toothpaste around 5,000 BC. Way before toothbrushes, which emerged around 3000 BC. The first commercially available toothpaste? Colgate, 1873.
Do you have a cool fact or word I should add to this section? I know you do. Let us know in the comments for this post! (Click the button above or below)
A real human makes these things. It’s getting more and more difficult to find real human creations online, here are some things that are. Support human made stuff!
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my warmest of regards and salutations from my cold, damp and lonely forest cavern bunker forest dwelling house,
Jen deHaan
ImprovUpdate.com | NeurodiversityImprov.com | StereoForest.com
BONUS SONG SHARE: Light Up the Sky by Phillip-Michael Scales. What are you listening to?
Wow, love the clear idea to try re: memory! I appreciate having the links to follow if I cared for reading up more, and also the quick "what to try" if I don't have time to read further. Thanks, Jen!
BTW, your comment from a prev post; the one on impedance matching. The article you referred to is exactly correct in the physics of electrical circuits (you had mentioned it might not be right). Impedance matching, as you "artistically" extrapolated to, can be extended in any direction, and personality or emotional interaction can certainly can be included in a really "soft" sense of impedance matching. In fact, that's one of my favorite freedoms; taking some term or idea and stuffing it into an idea that requires some brain jumps.