In Fall 2000, I took my first long-form improv comedy class at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre. I was fortunate to have a living legend of improv as my teacher, Ali Farahnakian, who later founded The PIT. One of the things that made Ali a great teacher was that he had a fairly hands-off style. He mostly just asked us to get up and do scenes, and then he'd give us his advice after we were done.

Frank Black was by far the least talented performer in the group. We discovered this quickly because Frank Black was also the most eager performer of the group. Whenever Ali would ask, "Ok, who wants to do a scene?" Frank Black would be up out of his seat to volunteer before most of us had finished hearing the question.

So, by about the third week, the rest of the class realized that if we weren't as hungry as Frank Black, we'd be doomed to sit through another of his horrible scenes.

If you hesitate to get off the bench because you're afraid that you're not ready or you don't have the skills, just remember that there's always someone less talented an more eager waiting to steal your opportunity.