My workshops for Toastmaster clubs keep evolving. I ask for feedback and also initiate changes on my own after I see what works. This latest workshop came to me via the lovely Maxine Terry, a member of Toastmasters and recent organizer of our yearly conference. Her club was installing officers and she thought some interactive […]
Author: Al Herr
The Intersection Between Improv and Assertiveness
My friend Tim said to me, out of blue one day, “Hey Al, since you’ve been teaching Improv at our Toastmasters club, why don’t we use it to address assertiveness?” Or something like that. He had previously taught this subject in a workshop and wanted to try again. He soon brought Pam, our fellow Toastmaster […]
Improv Workshop for a Homeschool Group
It’s not often I interact with kids and I don’t know why. Compared to adults they are geniuses of interaction. Kids don’t stop to reflect as much on whether their thoughts are correct. They just do it. They aren’t worried about what others will think later. Later is later and very far away. Interact with […]
Leaf & Limb Sales Team Training
In sales you have to prove that what you’re selling is worth it, and Improv really serves the act of selling well. For Leaf & Limb, a tree maintenance service that goes above and beyond to care for its customers, we created an impactful workshop for their sales team while making it fun, all at […]
Reflections on a Table Topic Workshop
I recently facilitated a Table Topics (TT) workshop for my Toastmasters club. I appreciated this opportunity and want to thank our club officers for recognizing the benefits of occasionally having a special meeting. So many clubs never depart from the usual agenda. One of my goals for club meetings is to always get two members […]
Improv and the Sports Interview
I like sports, especially when both teams are playing well and anyone could win. Recently after watching a particularly close game, I lingered for the post-game interviews, hoping to extend the adrenaline rush I had just experienced. Instead, I realized something that hadn’t occurred to me before. Have you ever noticed how predictable these interviews […]
Toastmasters
Goal: Conduct workshops on how Improv can improve communication while taking a break from the regular agenda. I’ve completed several free Improv workshops for Toastmasters clubs and they’re always fun. (Toastmasters International is an organization of public speaking and leadership development clubs.) Members (called “Toastmasters”) are creative people who love to break from the usual […]
The Zoom Good Bye
Have you ever noticed the awkward 1-2 seconds at the end of a Zoom meeting when you’re leaving? You’ve had a productive Zoom meeting and it is coming to an end. Everyone knows it’s time to go, but leaving is not always stylish. There is usually a mad dash to hit the leave button with […]
3 Hours, 75 Project Managers: Improv Workshop at Siemens
Goal: Interactive event for employees to reacquaint after the pandemic and to bring humor to the end of a week-long workshop This introduction to Improv went well. We started with a crazy warmup called “Near and Far”. Each person secretly picks someone in the room that they will physically stay close to and simultaneously picks […]
Why I’m Here:
When you have found what you are meant to do, you want to share that experience. I’m hoping to do just that on this page. Doing Improv and performing comedy have been a fun, educational journey throughout my life. From a young age I knew I had to be in front of others performing to […]
