Does This Scene Really Need YOU?

When I worked at Walt Disney World, we did 5 shows a day, 5 days a week of interactive comedy improv. It was exhausting in the most creative way possible! The work required a lot of brain power and some days, it was harder than others to come up with new ideas for creating a fresh improv or interaction.

On those days, it was so TEMPTING to hang back, watch fellow cast members and just jump into a successful scene that they were doing.

But, it was always a mistake.

That unwelcome and unnecessary addition to the scene interrupted the flow and pissed off the performers who were rudely interrupted while on a roll, rocking a great moment.

Believe me, you'd hear about it in the break room later and those meddling souls who did it enough were eventually avoided by their fellow performers. (And those were the folks who usually only lasted in the cast for a year at most. No one wants someone continually messing up their flow!)

In the improv of life, it is an equally bad idea to jump into a "scene" that isn't yours. At best, you might be labeled as a meddler or busybody. At worst, you could cause genuine harm.

Deciding to jump into a life scene is a little like approaching a train crossing. Just because the crossing gate is UP doesn't always indicate it is safe to proceed. First, you must stop, look, and listen by asking yourself some questions:

1. Am I the person directly responsible for the outcome?

2. Did anyone INVITE me into the scene?

3. Will someone be injured -or worse- if I don't step in?

If you cannot answer yes to at least one of those questions then it is not your "scene". In fact, your involvement will only confuse the plot -or drag out a scene beyond its natural conclusion.

Just because you're AWARE of a scene going on doesn't mean you need to jump into it. In fact, I think that most overwhelmed or stressed people are involving themselves in scenes that they shouldn't have known about in the first place. If you acting on gossip or second-hand information then you're meddling in scenes that aren't your own.

Just because you WITNESS a scene doesn't mean you need to jump into it. That project at work might seem cool and you want to be on the team that's winning but just being witness to something isn't an invitation to participate in it. Unless someone specifically asks for your involvement or advice why not just congratulate the people who are doing a great job and leave it at that?

If you cannot control yourself, at the very least ASK if you can jump in. (And don't pout if the answer is "No".)

Just because you WANT to be involved doesn't mean you need to jump into something feet first. I'm thinking specifically about people who come upon a scene of negative behavior in public and feel compelled to step in to "correct" someone.

In that case, you are jumping into a scene in the most dangerous way possible. Unless someone is in harm's way, leave it alone.

Today, I encourage you to only join the scenes that are yours. You are a creative being. Create your own scenes. I'm positive it will make your life less stressful and much happier.