Improviser's Ground Rules & Vignettes ground rules & vignettes in pdf format

A Series of Vignettes, in no particular order, none of which may last more than 10 minutes, for our own sanity, and everyone is encouraged to play together. Keys, tempos, and the like are determined intuitively at the line of scrimmage:

You Could Park a Pillow in that Space! Take an ambient excursion.

Around the World! Make a foreign noise of the world beat variety.

The Suggestion Box! Patrons and fellow wankers may suggest a scene, both literal, such as: "Play forty-seven e flat notes at any tempo and duration, then stop for 5 seconds, then play the last 6 notes of the Star Spangled Banner in any key (If listeners think we're "patriotic" they might tolerate such silliness, yes? Then again, how much listening do most people take part?), or descriptive, such as: You are a droplet of water raining down to earth, you land on the back of a duck, roll off the duck's feathers and plunk into green pond scum. Anything goes, as the players must interpret the text, oh and listen to each other.

Crescendo! If you build it, someone will come. Start soft, end hard and someone will cut it off on a dime. Ouch!

The Blasting Zone! Go ballistic from start to finish.

Cleanse the Palette! One minute of silence by all of the players and audience members. This will be most effective after Crescendo and The Blasting Zone, and I will time that minute, so behave. Sorry, I'm having a school teacher flashback! No "Shhhuuushhhing" as that is not silence, and is probably more annoying than the person with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder whom is incapable of shutting their freaking mouth, and how inappropriate they are, isn't that right Miss McGillicutty!!? There goes another flashback.

Phat Bottom People! All bass players have to play together at the same time.

She's Bangin'! All drummers have to play at the same time, literally or not.

Reader's Corner! For those insistent on bringing in their security blanket, I mean their chart, however the non-readers have to react to the players doing the reading.

Bleeps! For machine people with laptops, looping devices, DJs etc. Of course you will be playing at anytime during the performance, but this is your moment alone to rule the world with machines…(insert maniacal voice): Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha!!

A Word or Three! Musicians interact with poetry.

Under The Covers! Deconstruct a cover tune, and make it our own. Any style of music goes.

Pop-Up! Singers will either free style or bring in written lyrics which the players will construct a tune.

It's All Your Fault! A game of follow the leader. Whatever the designated leader does, the players must emulate and react.

Make a Quiet Noise! It needs nothing, or maybe just a little bit.