MemeMachineGo!

A friend of mine from has been teaching improv at a place that also has stand-up comedy classes, and has student performances where she sees the products of the different classes.

She describes how the improv people are all happy and energetic, and the stand-up people are... well, her word was 'shattered,' and generally bitterly taking out their need for therapy on the audience.

Last night I went to see Sumana do stand-up at an open mike on campus, and by the standards above, by all rights she should be an improv person. She was very funny and did a great job especially considering she was the only comic, it was a small crowd, most of whom started out indifferent, and an awkward performing space. My favorite bit was likening UC Berkeley's automated course signup to her family dynamic, but I don't know if she'd appreciate my repeating her material here, so I won't.