Tactics For Difficult Collaborators

I've had a couple conversations recently about improvising with people who have a wild energy, a different style, a singular perspective, a tenacious approach, and I've synthesized my thoughts into these four actionable ideas.

Appeasement- Sometimes you'll play with a person who likes to do a particular type of scene: a relationship, a transaction, parent-child etc. Or play a particular type of character. Set them up to do that thing that they like and do well. Having a good scene or memorable character under their belt will make them happy and less likely to walk-on, tag-out, or whatever other distracting thing they do that disrupts your scenes or show.

Aggression- If you're dealing with someone who is a non-stop talker or who drives their scene idea with a lot of force do the same thing back at them. There is a politeness sometimes where people simply wait for the other person to stop talking before they start talking. With someone who doesn't shut up you could wait forever. Talk longer and louder than this type of person, interrupt them, they will eventually shut up, if they don't they will at least know what it feels like and you will feel more empowered knowing you fought for your share of the focus. The other tactic is to start a scene with a thick initiation and narrative then drive it home. If this person contradicts you or attempts to steer the scene in another direction, call them out, clarify, lay out so much information they have no choice but to do your scene.

Avoidance- If you're having a problem with an individual you can straight up avoid doing scenes with them. If they walk on to your scenes tag them out. If they tag in to your scenes tag back in. If you feel like it's going no where edit from within. If they cross initiate call them on it, if they contradict themselves call them on it, if they come on with something out-of-this-world crazy do not justify their behavior play the scene however you want, if someone comes into a scene with an incomprehensible idea it is not your job to make sense of them, it is your job to have fun, if that means making them the bad guy so be it.

Altruism- Talk to your coach or talk to the individual directly. Be positive and frame everything in a personal way i.e. "I feel..." Listen and support the other person in your scenes and shows and hope they get the message acknowledging the consideration and thoughtfulness with which you play with them. I've found this to be the least effective and most frustrating.