Julian Faid
Having been with Rapid Fire Theatre for over ten years, Improv has taken Julian all over the world. He has travelled for improv festivals in Calgary, Vancouver, Regina, Winnipeg, Toronto, Atlanta, and Los Angeles. He’s also represented the Alberta arts in Washington DC at the Smithsonian Folk Life Festival and was nominated for Best Show at the New Zealand Comedy Festival in Auckland, New Zealand. Julian preforms at Theatresports most Fridays and is a part of two troupes performing at Chimprov – One half of “Like Father, Like Son” with Jessie McPhee, and one third of the fan favourite “The Young Guns” with Joe Vanderhelm and Arlen Konopaki.
HOW DID YOU GET INTO IMPROV?
I entered RFT’s high school improv tournament the Nosebowl. Improv was all we did. Apparently we had a reputation going into the Nosebowl as “that team that does improv in the halls.” It was great. We won and the winning team got to go play the Varscona. That was 11 years ago.
WHAT WAS IT LIKE THE FIRST TIME YOU STEPPED ONTO THE VARSCONA STAGE?
I remember my parents were there and we were playing a game where I had to sell virgin olive oil. So naturally the gimmick I used was to pour it all over myself and rub it around. I was a 17-year-old kid at that time, and it was nerve wracking knowing that my parents were watching.
WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVOURITE MEMORIES OF BEING AN IMPROVISER?
Travelling to do gigs. I’ve been to Vancouver, Regina and Atlanta has a great festival. It’s always fun and exciting to play in front of crowd that doesn’t know what you can deliver. That makes it exciting to be on stage. With that being said, Improvaganza is also amazing. When I play in Improvaganza I’m spreading the word, and that opens the door to playing other festivals, which means representing Edmonton.
CAN YOU GIVE SOME TIPS ON PROVIDING IMPROVISERS WITH GOOD SUGGESTIONS?
The funniest suggestion is not the best suggestion. If you take a blatantly funny suggestion then the joke is already there. The best suggestion is something that surprises the improviser. If I ask for a location and I get a post office or doctor’s office, which I get on regular basis, that’s fine. But if I get something that’s super specific like the back room at an Amazon warehouse, that gives us so much more to work with, because it’s a detailed and specific suggestion.
WHAT DO YOU DO FOR A DAY JOB?
I’m a project manager for Odvod Media, which is a full-service marketing and communications company. I work with a team to develop branding for companies and organizations.
HOW DO YOU USE IMPROV IN YOUR DAY-TO-DAY-LIFE?
Improv influences my life in so many ways. I was extremely introverted though elementary and junior high. I was nervous with very low self-esteem and after I started doing improv I grew so much as a person. Improv has taught me to be creative, work as a team and to accept ideas and build on them, which is a great asset in marketing. It also helps me to bullshit through situations sometimes.
DESCRIBE WORKING FOR RFT IN A SENTENCE.
It’s hanging out with the best group of friends while everyone else watches. RFT is a family that is an absolute pleasure to be a part of.
