You wrote: "A book seems so antithetical to the spirit of clown. A one-way lecture into the void. How can there be a right way to perform an action that values failure as much as success? Instruction manuals are literal applications of authority. If a clown reads a book about clown work, shouldn’t their immediate impulse be to dismantle that system and expose the fraud who created it?"
But I think that you don't have to worry. I bet everybody reading this will read it the same way I imagine you read books (esp. about clowning). Which is kinda something like- 'if I like it then I'll take it and I'll also notice what provokes me to something new, but you are not my boss.'
There's something about books that is much less imposing than in real life instructors; if you don't like it you can chuck it at a wall and permanently damage the source of frustration. There's much less pressure to agree, and you can read, reread and ponder at your own pace, something that's hard to do otherwise, even with a recorded podcast.
So, personally I'm excited to see the substack and am looking forward to your book. I find your ideas and the way you express them to be very articulate.
I have a hard time imagining any other improv how-to book as a good audiobook, but I'd love to buy this read by you if it could at all work.
Very excited to see the first post!
You wrote: "A book seems so antithetical to the spirit of clown. A one-way lecture into the void. How can there be a right way to perform an action that values failure as much as success? Instruction manuals are literal applications of authority. If a clown reads a book about clown work, shouldn’t their immediate impulse be to dismantle that system and expose the fraud who created it?"
But I think that you don't have to worry. I bet everybody reading this will read it the same way I imagine you read books (esp. about clowning). Which is kinda something like- 'if I like it then I'll take it and I'll also notice what provokes me to something new, but you are not my boss.'
There's something about books that is much less imposing than in real life instructors; if you don't like it you can chuck it at a wall and permanently damage the source of frustration. There's much less pressure to agree, and you can read, reread and ponder at your own pace, something that's hard to do otherwise, even with a recorded podcast.
So, personally I'm excited to see the substack and am looking forward to your book. I find your ideas and the way you express them to be very articulate.
Also- those pics are awesome!