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Brendan Martin

Brendan Martin
One Floor at a Time

One Floor at a Time

I want to be careful how I talk about this, but it's sobering when two people your age who had the career you want for the past twenty years put out podcasts about how they are struggling with the next stage of their careers to start the new

By Brendan Martin 15 Jan 2026
Things I did on Winter Vacation

Things I did on Winter Vacation

For the past 20+ years*, between Christmas and New Year's, I go on vacation to the Outbanks of North Carolina. My wife and I go with our college friends and those who have glommed onto that group as friends, partners, and minions. We're now regularly seeing

By Brendan Martin 07 Jan 2026
🎭 My 2025 Improv Wrapped

🎭 My 2025 Improv Wrapped

I had the idea of keeping a spreadsheet with all my classes and shows. I realized with some spreadsheet estimation, I could come up with a sort of year-end wrap-up that everyone posts. I thought it could be a good guide for how a person could spend 365 days getting

By Brendan Martin 01 Jan 2026
A Set Aside Prayer For Improv

A Set Aside Prayer For Improv

Today is Christmas and my last post of the year. It's a good season for ritual. There is a tradition in my first AA home group to open each meeting with the "Set Aside Prayer." I've found it helpful to say it whenever I

By Brendan Martin 25 Dec 2025
A Work in Progress

A Work in Progress

If you're like me, you started improvising because you love it. I'm sure some people dip in and out. Maybe they take a 101 class to feel more comfortable speaking in front of people. Perhaps they go to 201 because they're the funniest person

By Brendan Martin 18 Dec 2025
Prove you are a bad ____________.

Prove you are a bad ____________.

Continuing with December's how to get started theme, I am going to start with some top content here: A video of Dan Harmon with his shirt off. It's also one of the best bits of advice for getting started on any creative project. For those who

By Brendan Martin 11 Dec 2025
Again and Again

Again and Again

For December, as we all wrap up another year, I think a series on how to get started and how to keep going is a good idea. I am also thinking that Thursday will be the posting day for now. While I want to have something important to say; my

By Brendan Martin 04 Dec 2025
Give the People What They Want

Give the People What They Want

In his book How to Be the Greatest Improvisor on Earth, Will Hines shares a story from his time in class. The scene was a simple gambling scene, with a couple playing roulette, letting their winning ride on the same number over and over again, winning each time: The couple

By Brendan Martin 26 Nov 2025
Who, What, and Why

Who, What, and Why

I don’t know what I am doing, but I’m a 45-year-old guy in recovery for alcohol and getting started on an improv... something. As I write this, I am just about to turn 20 months sober, which means that I had my last drink on 3/21/24

By Brendan Martin 20 Nov 2025
Coming soon

News

Coming soon

This is The Beat Up, a brand new site by Brendan Martin that's just getting started. Things will be up and running here shortly, but you can subscribe in the meantime if you'd like to stay up to date and receive emails when new content is

By Brendan Martin 12 Oct 2025
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The Beat Up

Thoughts, stories and ideas.