AIN in SpAIN - Let Me Explain...

It is impossible not to get inspired by the stories you hear or by participating in the many interactive workshops. You’d be hard-pressed not to find something relevant.

One of my favorites was about the Philippine youth maker space VIVITA, presented by the wonderful Gabe Mercado, founder of Third World Improv. Watch the video on vivita.kiwi to get an idea of the awesome things they do.

The reassuring stuff

Starting an Applied Improvisation practice can be a lonely experience, especially in the beginning, as there are so many things you can’t be 100% certain about. Defining your services, how much they’re worth, how to sell them and client negotiations can be a long process of doubts, fears and uncertainty.

Then, at the conference, you meet people who’ve not only had similar challenges but also found solutions similar to yours. It’s a great feeling and an amazing confidence boost, that can go both ways. Because sometimes you’ve got an answer to someone else’s question, sometimes they have one for yours, and sometimes you find answers together.

Up until the 2019 AIN conference in Stony Brook, New York, I’d spent a frustrating amount of time and energy going back and forth with customers regarding price. I’d give them an offer based on what they gave me: number of people and length of the workshop. Then, these variables would always change. Thirty minutes had to be cut and four people would be unable to attend. The customer expected a new offer with the price reduced, and I felt obliged to comply.

At Stony Brook, I learned how to offer either half-day or full-day workshops with a set price for a set number of people, and how to word my offer to clients: “Yes, it works with a smaller group, but the content and price is the same. Yes, we can shave off an hour and give you the ‘best of’ version, but the price is the same."

The people!

The people you’re meeting for the first time… The people you’ve met before… And sometimes, in my case, the people you’ve met before but you’re not capable of remembering (thanks, prosopagnosia).

Heck, I’ll even throw in the people I didn’t get to meet. I heard so much about what other people were doing, I’m already looking forward to our next conference when we can finally meet.

I attended many seminars and conferences in my previous career as an IT engineer and consultant, but rarely did I meet the same passion, support, and enthusiasm as here! That even includes after the conference.

A meeting in Madrid

A week after the conference ended, I was sightseeing in Retiro Park in nearby Madrid. I heard someone call something that sounded very much like my very Nordic and very unusual name. But that was impossible. This was my first time ever in this city.

It was José, from the conference. He was out on a Sunday stroll with his family, spotted me, and wanted to say hi. He then introduced me to his delightful family, and we spent 15 minutes chatting. We then said goodbye and walked our separate ways into the massive El Retiro. This is the kind of encounter I wouldn’t have had except for the connections we make and the experiences we share at AIN conferences around the world.

Ávila had enough stones to build an impressive city wall and enough churches to host many a saint. It is also where a kaleidoscope of us AIN butterflies gathered for a few days to flap our wings. The ripple effects of surprise and opportunities are just getting started in revealing themselves to us. Like unexpectedly bumping into a friend in an unknown metropole of 3.4 million inhabitants abroad.

I’m excited to find out; what comes next?

About the Author: Terje Brevik

Terje Brevik teaches methods from improvised theater to teams and individuals who want to improve communication, collaboration, and creativity, on or off stage.

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(Last Updated: Tuesday, February 3rd, 2026)