Today we’d like to introduce you to Jeff Braine.
Hi Jeff, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I came to LA as a teen with the grandiose and wholly unique vision of being a film and television actor – I found improvised comedy early on and dove into studying, performing and eventually teaching the craft for years. Over time, I had an internal shift to crave a professional life that had more consistency and predictability, partly because performing was all I had ever known so I wanted to see what else was out there, and partly because I wanted to propose to my now wife and residuals from a Jack in the Box spot could only take me so far. I was in the corporate world for almost a decade and was pretty good at balancing work-life with artistic side projects at first. I’d invite colleagues to shows and even brought improvisers to work events to perform. Years later, that balance had shifted to the point where performing comedy became a really rare occurrence for me and I felt that stifling in my creative soul. That stifling feeling coincided with the unexpected passing of my beloved mom in 2021 and those catalysts made me open the door to live comedy again, eventually founding Giant Improv.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The jitters that initially came with improvising live comedy to an audience were intense – I still remember my first performance feeling like I was going to be physically sick while walking onto the stage. Bouts of extreme performance anxiety have come and gone in different seasons of my life. It’s pretty well contained at this point and I’ve learned a little dose of nerves is healthy – it shows I’m emotionally invested in the performance and care about it going well.
My biggest struggle was the loss of my mom in 2021. We were so close and she was a support system I could always depend on. I describe her as my biggest cheerleader. This was the same time I had just started confiding to friends I was really missing the live comedy scene and wanting to get involved again. Balancing the exciting re-entry to a craft I love with a grief I was experiencing was a challenge.
When I’d get on stage or teach a class, I’d try to find an empty seat if I could and would envision her sitting in it cheering me on with a big smile and laughing a lot – which is what she’d always do.
When my job as senior manager of operations at a startup ended in 2025, I thought about what my pie-in-the-sky creative endeavor would be and founded Giant Improv. It’s the result of listening less to the voice of the inner critic that wants you to be satisfied being small, and listening more to the quieter, radical voice that will remind you of the healthy, emboldened and confident ways you want to live – then putting that to action.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Giant Improv’s mission statement is simple: we exist to empower students and entertain audiences through the art of improvised comedy. Our stance is whether you’re a traditional performer or not, learning the principles of solid improv scenework will benefit your life. Things like listening better, how to be present in the moment and how to get comfortable trusting your gut instincts go beyond the bright lights of a stage and permeate day-to-day life. We want Angelenos to experience this firsthand and are so passionate about it our first workshop of each month is FREE. We want to remove any barrier or excuse to not try out improv. If the enormous benefits of improv resonate with a student, we have (very) affordable weekly workshops to help you in your journey. And because laughter really is the best medicine, we provide quality live shows around town featuring Giant Improv alumni.
We love improv and pair that with strong community. That’s reflected in each workshop ending with an optional exercise we call “I’ve Got Your Back.” Anyone inclined can stick around for a few minutes and give a brief share on something they’re going through – each share ends with “who’s got my back?” and the group shouting in unison “I’ve got your back.”
www.giantimprov.com
What were you like growing up?
Surprisingly not as involved in theater as you might expect for a kid who’d grow up to be a live performer – my bigger hobby was sports and I played almost everything under the sun for at least a season. I’d find ways to steal focus and be center of attention from time to time, usually by being the designated class clown. If there was ever a window to do so, I’d turn school assignments into sketches and performances. Maybe it’s tied to being the youngest of 4 kids, but I was usually ready and willing to try and hold an audience’s attention in some way or another.
Pricing:
- First Sunday of the month is FREE
- Every remaining Sunday is only $15 for our class and students can enroll on our site under “Schedule”
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.giantimprov.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/giantimprov/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/giant-improv/about/?viewAsMember=true
