Help us create a fun, friendly, warm, welcoming, safe and supportive environment for all. Our Code of Conduct applies to all students and performers at one of our events, whether it’s a show, a class an improv jam etc.
- Treat your fellow students, performers, other groups, hosts, teachers, volunteers, staff and audience members with respect and kindness, both on stage and off stage.
- Support the other groups performing, be generous and help lift their shows in the best way you can. Demeaning behavior is not tolerated. Don’t lift your show at the expense of other shows, groups or individuals.
- Respect physical boundaries and don’t do anything physically dangerous to yourself or your scene partner. Individuals and groups depicting violence such as slapping, kicking, dragging, carrying or holding someone in a dangerous manner must have proper training and clear agreements within the group about safety and boundaries. Without sufficient training, students and performers are not allowed to engage in stage fighting or any activity that is unsafe.
- Respect sexual and intimacy boundaries. Always be aware of any signs of discomfort in a fellow player and cease the behavior that is causing discomfort. Stay away from inappropriate touching or removing clothes. We strongly encourage all groups performing at an IT’S event to discuss their boundaries of physical intimacy before performing together, for example whether you are ok with kissing on stage. If you have not had the discussion, you cannot assume that your fellow player is ok with physical intimacy.
- Playing people with a different ethnic origin, especially of a different skin color, can be perceived as racist to an audience even if that was not the intention of the actor. If you play people with a different ethnic origin, play to the top of your intelligence, with respect to that character, empathizing with the character rather than playing it to mock or laugh at them. Same goes for playing people with a different sexual orientation, gender, religion or disability.
- Help us create an environment free from harassment of any kind. Please speak up if you are exposed to, feel at risk or witness any harassment, bullying, physical/verbal/emotional abuse or inappropriate behavior. You can talk to your teacher, show/jam host or any of the event organizers that you feel comfortable talking to.
- Make your partner happy. Make them look and feel good – on and off stage. No improviser should feel pressured to do a scene or put up with behavior that makes them feel uncomfortable.
- Please do not give your fellow students / jam participants any coaching or feedback on their work, unless you are specifically asked to do so. Leave the teaching, feedback and coaching to your teacher/coach. However, you are of course welcome to give us feedback on how we can improve.
- We do not allow drug use or excessive drinking before attending a class or performing.
What to Wear
- We strongly encourage all performers and groups to have some thought behind what they wear on stage. Whether you all dress up in a certain style, coordinate outfits or go for a smart dressed-up look, it will lift your show. Just, please don’t look like you don’t care at all. Also, consider wearing clothes that won’t limit you physically on stage. Avoid anything too revealing. For example, you might want to wear hot pants under skirts/dresses and tank tops under low-cut tops.
- If you are attending a class or a jam, it’s good to wear something that you are comfortable in and that won’t limit you physically or is too revealing if you need to crawl on the floor or something similar. Most of our workshop locations require that you take off your shoes, but you are welcome to bring your inside shoes.