Will Peischel and Leah Horner
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Few things are more deadly than awkward silence. When silence strikes its victims, they squirm in an attempt to vacate the area as quickly as possible — and for good reason. Remember how uncomfortable the eighth-grade talent show was?
When we can hide and observe from behind a lens or television screen, awkwardness becomes the stuff of hilarity. But we generally avoid uncomfortable situations in real life. We reserve the entertainment caliber of awkward for the fantasy of reality television. For this reason, the stakes are high in improvised entertainment — but Smile and Nod steps up to the challenge.
Smile and Nod is Cal Poly’s improvisation team. On Saturdays during the school year, students gather in a humid room lined with black curtains to see the best the spontaneous comedians have to offer.
They’ve gotten pretty good, too. Between the warmth of the spotlights and the “All That”-esque Smile and Nod sign, you won’t find a single awkward silence. With the help of games and audience suggestions, Smile and Nod provides a series of organic, scriptless short scenarios.
In an instant, scenes jump from the inside of a grandfather clock to eviction notices.
The key to keeping a steady pace and a happy crowd? Cooperation.
While the audience files into rows of chairs, the 17-member Smile and Nod team prepares for the show like any sports team would: encouraging words and hugging.
According to the managers — architectural engineering sophomore Tim Gachot and mechanical engineering senior Brandon Cunnane — the goal is to instill a good mindset and sense of teamwork.
“We do a quick intense warmup and activities to get us really pumped up,” Gabot said. “Then before the show, it’s very much ‘I trust you, we’re on the same team for a reason, let’s support each other onstage.'”
“We have a hugging thing that we do; we all hug each other,” Cunnane said.
After bouncing onto the stage and introducing themselves, the Smile and Nodders proceed depending on whether the particular show is longform or shortform. Longform shows involve extended story arcs while shortform consist of short, punchy skits.
Shortform is to a commercial as longform is to a television show, Gabot said.
“In shortform, there’s a predetermined structure, whereas in longform it’s harder because you’re walking out with nothing predetermined,” Cunnane said. “Longform is harder to do, but when it turns out well, it’s better.”
Smile and Nod might be a comedy group with a pro-hug stance, but preparing to perform onstage for up to an hour and a half requires commitment and practice. Members meet twice a week to review past shows for mistakes and virtues, while also practicing for shows to come.
“We meet every Friday for two hours and practice longform,” Cunnane said. “Then we meet every Sunday for two hours for shortform.”
But the job requires more than a good work ethic — it also needs a sense of friendship, reliability and cooperation.
“Every day we’re with each other,” Cunnane said.