I’m not a seasoned improviser–yet. But I’m completely aware of improv’s golden rule, “Yes, and…” Simply stated, “you are not allowed to negate other people’s statements. Instead, add on to them.”
The first time I heard about the “Yes, and…” rule, I knew it was my career’s guiding principle. I’ve always striven to find a way to get things done, but now that effort has a name!
Jeff Cohen, president and creative director of NY-based Model Management Group, is a “Yes, and…” kind of guy, too. In a press release at PR-USA.net, I read that the Golden Rule landed Jeff”s company with key production and post-production roles in a number of TV and film projects including “Sex and the City,” “The Cosby Show,” and “Spin City.”
According to the PR, landing the post production and voice over work for “Sex and the City” was one Jeff will remember forever. Using his creativity along with unrelenting determination, Jeff realized that he could get the show if he helped the producers solve an annoying problem: the show was being filmed at the world-famous Silvercup Studios, and every time they needed to fix one of Sara Jessica Parker’s voice overs, she would have to trek over to another studio in NYC. Instantly, it became clear to Jeff that he could get the show if he built a voice-over studio for SJP at Silvercup. He immediately contacted the president of Silvercup Studios and proposed building a co-owned voice-over studio right on their lot.
The rest is history.