Improv Salt Lake is dedicated to fostering a welcoming, inclusive, and safe environment for all participants, including performers, staff, and audience members. This Code of Conduct outlines the expectations for behavior and the procedures for addressing issues that may arise. All Improv Salt Lake community members are expected to uphold these standards. Essential Information Summary This Code of Conduct contains numerous critical details. By thoroughly reading and comprehending the following key points, you will be adequately prepared to engage as a valued member or participating performer within the Improv Salt Lake community: Purpose The spirit of improv is acceptance and collaboration. To create great improv, we must set ourselves up to accept offers, build upon these offers, and create experiences that are fun and interesting. Improv Salt Lake prioritizes the inclusion of performers and contributors from diverse and varied backgrounds. Our goal is to provide a supportive, safe, and welcoming environment for all, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, ability, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, or religion.
Safety. Maintaining a safe environment is paramount. Any actions that compromise safety will be addressed immediately.
Respect. Respect for all participants and audience members is required at all times.
Inclusion. We strive to create an inclusive environment where everyone feels welcome and valued.
Show respect in your speech and actions, both on and off stage. Be mindful of our space, your surroundings, and your fellow participants. Consent for Physical Contact. Do not engage in physical contact without the consent of the other party. Always make intentions clear when engaging in physical contact and respect the boundaries of others on or off stage. No Harassment or Discrimination. Do not harass, demean, or discriminate against other members of the community or participating performers. Use community members’ or participating performers’ requested names and proper pronouns. Professional Conduct. Performers and staff are expected to act professionally and treat each other with respect. This includes asking for consent before touching someone in any way.
Community members are encouraged to alert Improv Salt Lake members if they notice a dangerous situation, someone in distress, or violations of this Code of Conduct. Reports can be made to the following contacts:
Instructor/student relationships (dating, sexual relations, flirting, inappropriate messaging, etc.) are not allowed over the duration of a class or workshop. This includes behavior outside of the class environment. If an instructor is already in a relationship with a student before the course starts, this is permitted with the consent of all involved parties in the relationship and must be disclosed to the organization. Coaches/directors/instructors have an inherent power imbalance with their team, theater, and students; therefore, we strongly discourage any of our representatives in this role from pursuing any sort of romantic or sexual relationship with people they are coaching, directing, or educating while under the Improv Salt Lake umbrella as these situations can lead to unfair treatment and exploitation. We aim to create an environment where students and performers are protected from unwelcome sexual attention or advances from instructors, students, or performers, regardless of the setting. We encourage reporting any concerns to designated members within the organization.
The scope and purpose of the Code of Conduct are to create and maintain a safe environment for all Improv Salt Lake community members. The Code of Conduct is not a replacement for the legal process or an avenue to seek or apply legal action. If any member of the Improv Salt Lake community believes that they have been the victim of a crime, they are encouraged to seek legal counsel from a licensed attorney. Likewise, if Improv Salt Lake is made aware of a legal order (such as a restraining order), we will support those orders and follow them as legally required.
We recognize that mistakes will be made and are committed to building a culture of tolerance, authenticity, and acceptance. This means accepting responsibility, apologizing for unintended behavior, and making strides to create a more welcoming community in all of our future actions.
All those who are in an Improv Salt Lake space are subject to this code of conduct, whether they have read it or not. Those who cannot abide by the code of conduct should not come to or hold events at Improv Salt Lake. Safety is the responsibility of everyone in an Improv Salt Lake space. If you feel someone is in violation of the code of conduct, please contact a staff member at Improv Salt Lake or use the reporting structure laid out earlier in the Code of Conduct. Thank you for helping us create a safe and welcoming environment for all.