Thank you for being an
hvc performer!
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We are honored and very grateful to have you on our team.
Happier Valley Comedy's mission is brings laughter, joy, and ease to Western Massachusetts (and the world) through the principles of improvisation. We aim to use improvisation as a tool to amplify each person’s authentic voice and creativity in an inclusive, welcoming community inspired and empowered by the diversity of all members. At HVC shows, our #1 priority is to do no harm. Secondarily, we aim to entertain and bring laughter, joy, and ease to audiences. Please familiarize yourself with the info on this page to help us with both these priorities. |
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performer expectations
you are a professional performer - Yay!
though we have a goofy company culture,
we strive to approach the job as professionals.
What We Expect Of You:
- SHOW UP: On time. To all rehearsals and shows. Ready to work. Distractions, tardiness, and absences impact your director, castmates, and ultimately the show. It may also impact you; performers who are repeatedly absent will be disinvited from individual performances. If you can't make a rehearsal or show, please let the director(s) know as soon as possible. If you’re running late, contact the director(s). (Also try not to run late.) We can't control much in improv, but we do have some control over when and how we arrive to rehearsals and shows.
- BE PROFESSIONAL: Improv involves a lot of interpersonal dynamics and collaboration. Please join us in our intention to approach our work together with wisdom, respect, compassion, kindness, and emotional intelligence.
- FIRST DO NO HARM IN SHOWS: When you join a cast, it's assumed that you agree to our priority to do no harm to audience members, particularly from marginalized, non-dominant groups. Become familiar and comfortable with calling in and being called in as an important way we have each other's backs by using our Procedure for Calling In & Redirection below.
- BE A RESILIENT LEARNER: Your director strives to provide productive, compassionate feedback to support you in developing your skills and being of service to the show and your castmates. Take notes with grace, an assumption of good will, and a learner's mindset. We are all learning and growing together. We believe it's only a mistake if we don't learn from it.
- ASSUME GOOD WILL: Everyone is truly doing their best and means well. Starting from a place of assuming best intentions tends to support the team in progressing together with positivity and intentional connection.
- DRESS RESPECTFULLY FOR SHOWS: Please dress thoughtfully, neatly, and comfortably. Unless your show has a particular costume or dress code, we suggest business casual. You want to be able to play any character, from a princess to a pig. Maybe also a pig princess. You don't want to accidentally flash anyone when you bend over. Overall, your appearance should reflect respect for the stage and the audience's time and attention.
- FOLLOW OUR ANTI-HARASSMENT AND ISSUES OF RESPECT POLICY: See below.
- BETTER OUT THAN IN: If you’re having trouble with anything, let your director and/or HVC Leadership know as soon as possible. Here are all the ways to be in contact with HVC Leadership.
- PLAY MORE: Facilitate fun for yourself, your castmates, and the audience!
What You Can Expect of Us:
- A POSITIVE, CARING WORK CULTURE: Follow the Joy and Ease. Assume Good Will. Be of Service. Redefine and Disempower Failure. Play More. You see our core values all over the theater because we use them as guiding lights in our company culture of positivity, support, and services. Please let us know when we fall short of our intentions, so we can do better. It's only a mistake if we don't learn from it!
- PAY: Paying artists for their work is a foundational value at HVC. Mainstage castmembers are paid for each performance. BIPOC performers are paid 50% more to compensate for the extra work of representation in a predominantly white space that they shoulder.
- TRAINING & SPACE: We provide training and space for HVC shows and rehearsals at the HVC Theater for no fee. (Some theaters have a 'pay to play' policy. We think that's bullshit.)
- PRODUCTIVE FEEDBACK: Your director is always looking for opportunities to make you a more skilled performer and create the highest quality show possible. They'll provide specific exercises, personal notes, open discussions, and compliments to support you in doing your part to make an inclusive, kick-ass show.
- AUDIENCE: We promote all our shows in a myriad of ways to bring you an audience, such as social media, weekly newsletter, shout-outs in classes, flyers, calendar listings, occasional promotional deals, etc. You can support us by promoting your show via email, social media, word of mouth, or flyers...
- EARS & SHOULDERS: We are here for you. Please let us know about your hopes, troubles, joys, and goals. We promise to listen, respond, discuss, and make choices that are best for you, your show, and our community.
calling-in & redirection procedures
This process is a key way we can have each's backs and also stay true to our intention to do no harm. Our calling-in procedure provides a structure for stopping and redirecting possibly offensive or biased material as one way we can take care of each other … and the audience. Missteps are inevitable and not a call for shame and blame. Instead, we assume best intentions, have each other's backs, learn so we can do better, and prioritize reducing the impact on people of non-dominant cultures by immediately stopping and redirecting the scene.
Using this model, every cast member is responsible for and empowered to redirect a scene at any time, preferably as early as possible. It takes great courage to redirect a scene during a show or rehearsal, so the immediate and audible response by the called-in player(s) is to show each other - and the audience - their appreciation by saying, “Thank you!” or “Thanks for having my back.” And then making a totally different choice in the scene. This process is quick, smooth, and positive.
You are responsible for understanding and following our Calling-In Procedure.
We will make mistakes. This is how we learn from them.
Click below for the full procedure, including:
Using this model, every cast member is responsible for and empowered to redirect a scene at any time, preferably as early as possible. It takes great courage to redirect a scene during a show or rehearsal, so the immediate and audible response by the called-in player(s) is to show each other - and the audience - their appreciation by saying, “Thank you!” or “Thanks for having my back.” And then making a totally different choice in the scene. This process is quick, smooth, and positive.
You are responsible for understanding and following our Calling-In Procedure.
We will make mistakes. This is how we learn from them.
Click below for the full procedure, including:
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You also will be provided with training in rehearsal for how to follow this process.
Please contact your director with any questions or clarifications at any point.
This process is continually evolving as we learn and grow together.
Please contact your director with any questions or clarifications at any point.
This process is continually evolving as we learn and grow together.
Anti-harassment & Issues of respect policy
Our official, lawyer-approved policy is required reading for all performers.
IF YOU'RE WONDERING ABOUT OUR school's CULTURE OF CARING:
we appreciate you!
notice of nondiscrimination policy
Happier Valley Comedy welcomes performers of any race, color, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religious affiliation, age, ability, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to performers. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religious affiliation, age, ability, or national and ethnic origin in casting decisions.
Happier Valley Comedy, Inc. is 501c3 non-profit organization.
