Hebert instead presented on how improvisation could be useful outside the stand-up world, specifically in business.
As the winner of the student speaker competition, Hebert will speak at UNC’s TEDx conference on Feb. 7. He will speak about using improvisation as a form of brainstorming rather than a form of entertainment.
“I think a lot of times we tend to judge ourselves or have an idea but not say it because it sounds stupid,” Hebert said. “It really is this process of shutting everything off in your head and allowing things to come out without judging them. What you’ll find as you practice is that you can get a lot more cool ideas out because you’re not censoring anything based on what’s realistic or what’s socially acceptable.”
Hebert began his career in improv in high school when he took classes at the Dirty South Comedy Theater, a comedy club on Franklin Street. There, he learned the art of fast-paced improvisation — DSI’s distinct style, Hebert said.
Hebert trained under Zach Ward, owner, executive producer and artistic director of DSI. A UNC alum, Ward founded the Chapel Hill Players, a student improv group that now occasionally performs at the theater.
“Training is like doing mental gymnastics,” he said. “You get an idea, explore the idea — rapid fire as fast as possible — so that in a situation where you have to operate that fast, you can. Everyone seems to benefit from making strategic decisions at a fast pace.”
Following in the footsteps of his mentor, Hebert has become one of the instructors for the incubator program for CHiPs, training new members to become future performers.
“The basic rule is being positive — saying ‘yes and,’ as we always say,” Hebert said. “That just means you’re buying into a process of agreeing and supporting people so that you’re getting your ideas out faster and building creative confidence.”
