016 - Matt Holmes - On Improvising with Non-Improvisers and his 3 Simple Steps

Talking Shop: An Improv Podcast with Brian Gray

Matt Holmes interviewing Shai, his partner from the audience at a Matt & performance at Arcade Comedy Theater in Pittsburgh.

My latest interview features Philly native, 15+ year improv veteran, co-founder of renowned Philadelphia improv team Rare Bird Show, and creator of a show in which he improvises a 20- to 45-minute long form set with an audience member who has never done improv before, Matt Holmes. His show–Matt &–has enthralled me every time I've seen it, enough that I helped bring him to Pittsburgh and enjoyed lots of shop talk at my kitchen table. It took a few months to get him on the show.

Matt and I talk about the fascinating strategy he has to prepare to improvise with non-improvisers, his 3 simple steps to fun improv, and the big ideas that are occupying his mind right now.

Note: this is another episode recorded remotely, and sound quality is not always as good as I'd like it throughout the episode.

Find more about Matt at http://www.mattandimprov.com.

Music in the podcast:

• Talking Shop Theme by Michelle Horsley
• Kick Shock by Kevin MacLeod
• Last Days of Disco by Fhernando