Ref Advice Options

[MellRules]

I thought I'd jump in with a new topic... since nobody else is.

Refs seem to me to be the driving force of a show... if the ref sucks, generally, the show sucks. Wait, I take that back. Shows never suck. But they're worse than they are with a really good ref! Anyway... so fellow fans [and players, I guess ]... what advice do you have for our friendly neighborhood refs?

My advice:

I hate it when refs wait for a suggestion they "like" instead of taking the first thing they hear. It makes things seem staged. I've been through some workshops, so I know they're not staged, but to the casual observer, it could seem like you're waiting for the guy you planted in row 4 to say "tomato".

I also hate it when there's not enough meandering through the fans to get suggestions. Sometimes I've got awesome suggestions that are never heard just cuz I end up seated in the back section. That's a bummer.

I love it when refs are original and maintain control of the crowd. You've got a whistle - use it!

[jerilyn]

I agree, Melissa, that a ref can make or break a show. There are times when I think, "Why don't you just take the first suggestion someone gives you?" Then other times I think, "If I have to watch them do Arnold Schwarzenegger one more time I'm gonna barf." I'm sure it's not easy for the refs to make that call, and of course they'll never make all of us happy at one time no matter what they do.

The ref's personalities are so different too. One will be able to get away with sarcasm with the audience, while another comes across as just mean.

Just like real life I guess. Jer

(Thanks for starting a discussion.)

[Rambo]

Portland refs tend to do a pretty good job of giving example suggestions that we get all the time. (For example: "Give me a literature style like Shakespeare") This lets us get past everyone's first response and we are generally able to get something fresh and new.

[brontone]

I always try and make it a point to wander up to the back and make sure every table gets to make a suggestion... it's harder with the microphone though which means we have to get the first couple of rows for Day in the Life etc... bummer

BRON
x

[ManOverboard]

Here is something I don't do enough when I ref (which is rare): make eye contact. When I don't, I am not connecting as well with the audience and I feel like they sense that I am not fully confident and in command.

[High Life Man]

Dave, it's important to wear pants as well.

[JennyCrig]

I love it when the ref has a lot of energy. It's a lot of fun when the ref feels like one of the players, not a random person out to do a job.

[John in the VW bus]

I like it when the ref wears scuba gear.

[DramaQueen]

I agree with jerilyn and the person who started this board post. I really believe that they can make or break a show and I also agree that sarcasm only works for some. I also really support the idea that they should take some of the first suggestions. Althought I was unfortunate enough to watch a show where one team member was supposed to get across to another team memeber that they were wearing an emotion (like, "my shirt is unhappiness") because that's just too off the wall. I've taken a bunch of improv classes from other places...(like high school level) INTAF. I always like Comedy Sportz performances, and I know locally (yeah) that those reading this will know who I am right off the bat. I just want to say that locally we are the smallest town that thinks they are the biggest town and often people are judgemental. I give kudos to the ref in our town (bat-swingin'-blondie) for being a sport(z) person like she is. I also give her kudos for laying off in the sarcasm dept. We do have a judgmental town and it would be hard for a group like my town to deal with a super-sarcastic person...

[Elysse]

Good call, Melissa. The Ref is crucial. In Milwaukee, they seem to rotate among a large group of Refs. In fact, my husband and I not only have favorite players, we have favorite Refs. Some of our favorite guys/gals are amazing Refs and pretty-good players, or vice versa.

The number one thing that I notice that affects the whole show is the pace the Ref sets. At the last show we saw, the Ref was either new or depressed, because everything came out really slow and long-winded. It makes a huge difference to have a confident, in-control, experienced and faster-paced Ref!

[kichijai]

Thanks ,

I thought I'd jump in with a new topic... since nobody else is.

Refs seem to me to be the driving force of a show... if the ref sucks, generally, the show sucks. Wait, I take that back. Shows never suck. But they're worse than they are with a really good ref! Anyway... so fellow fans [and players, I guess ]... what advice do you have for our friendly neighborhood refs?

My advice:

I hate it when refs wait for a suggestion they "like" instead of taking the first thing they hear. It makes things seem staged. I've been through some workshops, so I know they're not staged, but to the casual observer, it could seem like you're waiting for the guy you planted in row 4 to say "tomato".

I also hate it when there's not enough meandering through the fans to get suggestions. Sometimes I've got awesome suggestions that are never heard just cuz I end up seated in the back section. That's a bummer.

I love it when refs are original and maintain control of the crowd. You've got a whistle - use it!