Meet Tiffani Sierra

Today we’d like to introduce you to Tiffani Sierra.

Hi Tiffani, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
As a child, I loved to play characters. Mainly because I wanted to be anyone but me. I grew up in a home that wasn’t always safe. My mother had a prescription drug addiction, and I often would have to take care of her. I loved playing characters and acting so I followed my heart most of my life through acting schools in SF, NY, and LA. After getting into the prestigious Second City in Hollywood my life changed in my improv class. My mother’s prescription drug battle ended and so did her life. It was during this time that Improv became my therapy. I had been teaching acting and arts along the while to kids in juvenile halls and in underserved communities. So it made sense that I would now embark on teaching improv. I began an adult Improv class in my church basement at St Victors in West Hollywood.

Little by little non actors were coming to my class extending the same sentiment about improv that I experienced, how healing it was to be accepted and connect with your inner child and be free. Improv It Up was born in 2012 as workshops to build to an LLC in 2016. We now work with school districts helping teachers use Improv and Social Emotional Learning in the classrooms, we have several programs that are led by our drama therapist that include a healing way to use theatre to express yourself and we work with very large corporations teaching communication, team building, and presentation skills. We have 5 facilitators and a program coordinator as a part of our ensemble. Never did I think the thing that kept me going as a child would become my career path and help people.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Starting a business from scratch is not for the faint of heart. When I began, I went to every local networking meeting, made cold calls, showed up where principals and people of influence would be.

Some folks didn’t believe in my business model and that’s ok. My husband has been my ongoing cheerleader and without his encouragement, I wouldn’t be able to do this.

Money…is a problem when you begin so there’s that, lol.

Lots of failing……I tried doing just public classes. I had to hustle so hard to get 3 students and make NO Money because I had to pay for space. Needless to say, it changed our business model and we now only work with businesses and corporations, and schools.

Failure is needed for sucess and it’s a component of Improv!

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
What sets Improv It Up apart is the mental health and whole person component we bring to all of our work. Change can only occur when a person feels loved and accepted then they on their own decide to make a change. We have heard from people that our program changed their life…it’s not just Improv we are teaching.

What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
To fail and get back up and try something different until it works. To not be afraid to knock on doors. To show up with confidence even when you don’t feel it

Contact Info:

• Website: www.improvitup.com
• Instagram: @improvitup
• Facebook: @improvitup

Image Credits
Alissa Hill Photography