Buffalo Improv House has reached the point where we need more instructors.
The Foundational Curriculum: Sequential eight-week classes, delivered across three “levels,” using a standard curriculum
Performance Studies: Intermediate-level classes focused on a single form or concept.
Saturday Drop-Ins: 90-minute sessions, open to the improv comedy community, geared towards reinforcing improv fundamentals from a “halfway through level one” perspective.
Free Intros: Occasional free intro sessions targeted to prospective students and the general public
Other Possibilities:
Master Classes: It would be great to bring in longtime local improv teachers to lead one-off master classes.
High School Classes: Requests have been coming in for high school classes. It would be great to start offering these at some point. These could look a lot of ways.
Pay Rate: $35/hr for standard classes, with a $50 flat rate for class shows. $40/session for drop ins. Negotiated rate for master classes.
Requirements for Foundational Curriculum and Performance Study teachers:
Verifiable improv or theater teaching experience
At least three years of experience performing improv comedy regularly
At least a couple references verifying the above
Willing to deliver the curriculum as written (lesson plans are already made!) and enthusiastic about teaching
Willing and enthusiastic to become part of the community (if you’re not already) including participating in our various performances and jams when you can
Requirements for Drop-In, Intro and “Mini Class” teachers:
At least two years of experience performing improv comedy regularly
Experience coaching, teaching, or directing improv
At least a couple references verifying the above
Willing to deliver curriculum as written, where applicable
Willing and enthusiastic to become part of the community (if you’re not already) including participating in our various performances and jams when you can
For High School classes: Above requirements, + High School teaching experience & references required
Our ideal teacher:
Has at least 1 year experience teaching long-form improv and is passionate about it
Is an active improv performer and has regular performances that students can check out
Has taken our classes or participates in Buffalo Improv House events
About the core curriculum: We’re building a structured, sequential curriculum, so it is important that the lessons are delivered according to the lesson plans. The majority of our teachers’ experience comes from the Magnet Theater and the UCB Theater in New York City. Both of these places have strong, consistent curricula, where students who sign up for a class get the same basic instruction as anyone else taking that class, regardless of who is teaching, and this is the model for what we want to do here in Buffalo.
There is a bit of flexibility within each lesson plan and teachers are not discouraged from adapting certain warm-up and enrichment exercises to their own teaching style, or replacing certain activities with other ones that address the same basic skill. There are also weeks reserved in the curriculum where the lesson plan is pretty much open to let teachers address things they feel the students need more work on. It’s not overly dogmatic and is probably not as rigid as it sounds. However, it is important that teachers “stay on script” with the core activities, basic vocabulary, and overall philosophy of the lesson plans.
What the process might look like:
For potential drop-in / core curriculum / mini class teachers: if we are a good fit for one another, the process would probably begin with you co-teaching a class session with one of our established teachers. If things work out, you and I (Dan) will go over the curriculum to make sure we’re on the same page and that you’re ready and willing to slide into teaching the type of grounded long-form improv Buffalo Improv House is going for, which, again, is primarily influenced by the way improv was taught at the Magnet and UCB Theaters when we were students 10+ years ago. If this all goes well, you’ll be added to the teacher pool and we can take things from there based on the needs at the time.
For potential master class teachers: The process could look a lot of ways.
If this all sounds like something you’d like to be a part of, please fill out the form below!