What makes a good troupe?

Month 2 of the "everybody with a blog in the Kansas City improv community posts a blog entry about a specific topic." (it's my own personal title for it. I should lengthen it...) This month's topic:

What makes a good troupe?

*People-The people in your group, experienced or not, have to have a good attitude about things. None of this "I'm going to show up to rehearsal with a mournful expression on my face and let everyone know what a huuuuge sacrifice I'm making for them so I can grace them with my presence" crap. The best groups have people who walk in the door with the mindset of, "Holy crap, I get to play with my friends today!!!!"

*Support-A good troupe's members know they can absolutely count on their fellow members onstage, and hopefully off as well. There's a level of trust that can only be built by actually caring about one another's lives on an everyday basis. Enjoy being with one another, even if it's only a couple of you at a time on, say, a shopping trip. (what?) Be there during the good times and the bad.

*Performance-Regular rehearsals and regular performances=a good thing.

*Have fun!-What other reason could you possibly have to be doing this? Every once in a while, you just need to experiment and goof off. You might even invent a cool new format while you're at it!

*Trust-Don't control things just because you think you always have a better idea than someone else. Allow your fellow troupe members to continue that scene and see where it goes without your input. Think twice before inserting yourself into a scene, something amazing might be about to happen and your presence might just kill it. Edit when necessary and you will be loved.

*Tommy Todd-Oh come on, you were thinking it too.