With a hearty laugh you can hear down the block and over a decade of improvisation experience under his belt, Grant Michael Scott has been involved with Bandit Theater longer than almost anyone else. As the first Bandit Theater student ever, Grant now directs the influencer-roasting show Gramworthy and performs in the tarot-reading-based show, The Reader. Grant is a hilarious improviser and someone you can always count on to keep things moving forward. Now you can get to know Grant a little better.
Who are you, where are you from and how long have you been doing improv?
My name is Grant Scott. I grew up in Georgia but have been living in Seattle for over a decade. I first started improv in junior high in my theatre class. I went to college for theatre and have been performing improv in earnest for the last 12 years.
How did you first get involved in Bandit Theater?
I was working with other improv theaters in town but I wanted to learn a different style of improv. I wanted to learn Game. None of the theaters in town were practicing game the way I wanted to explore it until I met Annie in an Improv Game Workshop. She was visiting Seattle and was looking to found a theater here. I had met her through the workshop so when she was starting up classes I was the first person to sign up. I was the first student in Bandit Theatre.
What advice do you have for someone who is unsure of trying improv for the first time?
It sounds scary but just try it. People have this opinion that they can't do improv because they wouldn't know what to say. I hate to break it to you folks, but we're all just making up everything every day. There isn't a script to life and even if there was it keeps changing. Sure it might be scary at first (like everything is the first time) but you will quickly see it’s fun and way easier than you thought.
What’s a recent memory from a show that stands out to you?
Recently I was performing in a Who's High? set with Zak Nelson (fantastic improviser and all-around funny man) and he hit me with the line "You know I just bought a bridge..." A lot to take in. We hadn't established who we were or what we were doing yet. The audience was on the edge of their seats as I stared at him blankly and responded: "...okay...but did you get the groceries I sent you out for???" The audience loved it. Being silly or strange on stage is very fun, but I find being able to respond honestly and react authentically gives the most satisfying laughs.
What tips do you have to get out of your head while on the back line? (Asking for a friend.)
We've all been there on the back line where you feel the impulse to leave but you stop yourself. You sit back and wonder if your idea is good enough or if it's the right move. My advice? Follow your foot. You reacted to leave the back line for a reason. Don't edit yourself. You didn't say 'Yes, and' to yourself before you even had a chance to say it to the person you are playing with. Don't be afraid. Follow your foot.
If someone wanted to come to their first improv show, which should they choose and why? Feel free to be totally biased.
Improv comedy is as diverse as any other genre of performance. Find what looks interesting to you. If a show is about scary movies and you don't like scary movies...then maybe don't go. Set yourself up for success. I know Bandit has lots of variety. The Reader is fun for those who go to tarot readings or anyone curious about them. Swipe Right is great for dating. Find what looks fun and come prepared to have a good time!
If you had to pick an Amazing Race partner from one of the other Bandit improvisers, who would you choose and would you let them drive?
Kevin McVey. I can always trust the man on stage. But also like what a great guy to take on a stressful vacation like The Amazing Race he would be. Kevin would be able to make the best plans and sift through all the spaghetti at the wall I would throw.
Aside from “yes, and”, what’s your next number 1 rule of improv?
Play the base reality. Are you married? Talk like you are married. Are you hurt? Act like you are hurt. Nothing is weird if everything is weird. We need to know what is normal so we can point out the one weird thing. Feel like you don't know what to say next in the scene? Play the base reality. I am not afraid of improvisers not being funny. I am afraid they will forget where to act normal.