Improvisation and Clowns...

Improvisation is a discipline.  It takes work to learn.  

People make the mistake of thinking anything that flies out of your mouth is "improvisation"  What you say, still has to make sense and has to lead to a next scenario   That is, if someone says to you, are you hungry?  You can say, no.  

And that's the end of the conversation.  Nothing further. 

Or you can say.  Yes, I would like, ham and cheese, a pizza, two hamburgers and a pie.  For dessert, I would like cheese crackers and a banana split.  This leads to the other person saying, something like "I meant would you like a slice of pizza"  

In improvisation, this is called "yes and..."  Keep the yes, in mind.  

Can I have a balloon?  Yes, would you like fries with that?  

Here's where clowns break with traditional improvisation.  Your clown character has an internal logic, a logic that might not be all that bright.  

But in your clown world, you are very smart.  Are you following?  Clowns are smart, they just appear dumb because the world is smarter than they are. 

Is a child dumb for eating paste?  The logic is, it tastes good let's go for it.  To the world, eating paste is dumb.  To the child eating paste it's logical to eat whatever tastes good.  

The clown tries to find solutions that make sense within clown logic.  So, clowns are not stupid, the logic is flawed.  This is why clowns are funny.  Clowns are as smart within their own world. 

Would you like something to eat?  Yes, I would like, ham and cheese, a pizza, two hamburgers and a pie.  For dessert, I would like cheese crackers and a banana split.  The flawed logic is that since you are hungry and someone is offering food, you can have as much as you want.  And, you will be able to eat as much as 5 people. 

As a clown, you create a world, then you say yes to what approaches.  

Notice where you say "no".   A no can be, in the sarcastic answer.  Think anything that makes someone not able to answer back.  

Improvisation should empower the other person.  By saying yes to whatever someone says, that gives them the opportunity to answer back or give you something.