The Purple Guide to Learning Improv Comedy in 10 Days
A no-hype, day-by-day plan to play your first scenes, say 'yes and' without freezing, and know exactly whether improv is for you by day ten.
by Alumigogo Books
non-fiction
A no-hype 10-day plan to try improv comedy, from your first awkward scene to a real two-person performance.
About this book
If you've ever watched improv and thought 'I could do that' — or, more honestly, 'I have no idea how they do that' — this guide is for you. It's not a masterclass, not a theory textbook, and definitely not a promise that you'll be hilarious in a week and a half. It's a grounded, day-by-day plan to actually try improv, starting from zero, with tasks that take about twenty minutes a day.
You'll start by learning what a first improv session really feels like — the nerves, the awkward silences, the surprising moments that make you laugh. Then you'll practice the two core moves that carry almost every decent scene: accepting what your partner gives you (yes, and) and adding new information to keep things moving. By day eight, you'll play a full scene that lasts two minutes — a real, satisfying, slightly terrifying thing you can do. The guide also covers what gear you actually need (spoiler: you have it already), what mistakes beginners always make, and how to find real communities if you want to keep going.
Reader Reviews
Nicholas Torres
★★★★★I was expecting this to be a gimmick but it's genuinely practical. The day one chapter walked me through exactly what to do — I was nervous, did the 'object pass' thing, and actually laughed by minute ten. It's not going to make you a genius, but it's a solid way to test if improv is for you before spending money on classes. I docked a star because day four and five assume you have a partner, and I was doing this solo — the solo alternatives are okay but not as good.
Steven Ramirez
★★★★★The first day chapter hit home — I was the person staring at the floor during the 'sound and movement' exercise, and the book called that exact moment out by name. Felt like a coach was sitting next to me. The checklist on day two was brutally honest about time — I have maybe twenty minutes a night, and it works with that. I'm on day nine now and can actually do a two-minute scene without completely freezing. Worth the price.
Sharon Wright
★★★★★I bought this because I'm curious about improv but terrified of looking stupid. The day one chapter is the most reassuring thing I've read — it says 'you will feel awkward' on page one and then walks you through why that's part of the process. The milestone table on day seven was realistic; I wasn't where I wanted to be, but I could see I was progressing. Good starter guide, though the day ten questions felt a bit like homework.
Jennifer Jones
★★★★★The premise is good but the writing could be tighter. I appreciated the no-nonsense approach — no 'unlock your potential' nonsense. The comparison table for gear was useless for me because it turns out I needed nothing, but the 'Yes, And' exercises on day four were worth the price of admission alone. I'm 3 stars because day eight's narrative was longer than my actual attention span, but the content is solid enough.
Margaret Torres
★★★★★As someone who's been cur0ious about improv for years but never got past watching clips online, this guide was genuinely helpful. Day one's 'small win' — I did the two-line scene with my roommate — actually happened. She said the cat was a dinosaur and I said 'yes, and he's late for work.' We both laughed. It's not a joke book, it's a practice plan. Simple, clear, no fluff.
Cynthia Brown
★★★★★It's fine. The day one chapter is welcoming and concrete, which is more than most guides do. I just felt like it over-explained some things — I get it, say yes and add info, I don't need a whole day for that. The milestone table helped me see I was on track, but I wanted more advanced stuff by day nine. For a absolute beginner going in blind, it's a decent start. I'm just not the target for it by mid-book.
Ashley White
★★★★★Needed something that told me what to DO, not just why improv is great. This delivered. Day one ended with a real 'win' — I made my partner laugh without trying to tell a joke. Day four's step-by-step breakdown of 'Yes, And' made the concept click. The troubleshooting section on day nine was real talk about feeling stuck, which I appreciated. A few typos here and there, but the content is honest and doable.