We had the good fortune of connecting with Jake Jabbour and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jake, what principle do you value most?
Accessibility. I taught special education in Los Angeles for ten years, which was as much a course as it was a vocation. One of the lessons I learned that informs my business is that all individuals who apply themselves can succeed given the appropriate supports. The environment in which someone learns has as much, if not more, to do with the individual’s improvement as their learning style, their aptitude or the content. At WE, I am always trying to improve the way in which folks have access to art and creation. Whether it’s writing curriculum or creating new performance opportunities, I’m mindful to make sure my aim is accessibility. Everything from small group classes to multi-modality instruction to tiered pricing to encouragement and empowerment, is about making sure folks from all backgrounds and with varying learning styles have a place to be creative because that is how the art form evolves.

What should our readers know about your business?
I started teaching workshops out of my apartment and the model I used was the model UCB used for their house teams. I straight up stole the model. But rather than withholding small group instruction and consistent performance opportunities only for those who audition well, I provide those conditions for all students at every level. I offer tiered pricing options so people can access classes based on their resources. This allows for people with more resources to support those with less. Giving more resources and performances to those with more experience while having large classes at high prices with limited performances for the people who often need the most support and experience always felt like tax cuts for the rich and tax increases for the poor. When you level the playing field, more improvisers succeed and the art benefits from the diversity and variety. The model seems to be working as we haven’t needed to take VC money or run a fundraiser…yet 😉

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Well if this was two weeks ago, I’d take them to Here’s Looking at You, but since they recently closed, I’d go for burgers at Petite Tori’s. Then I’d take them to the Venice canals, We’d visit All Seasons Brewery and fit in a swim at The Roosevelt!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would shout out the late Nipsey Hussle, whose music and philosophy has inspired me and reminded me that success is measured by your ability to uplift your community.

And I would like to shout out the book The Inner Game of Tennis by Timothy Gallwey. This book gave me the principles I still use to help improvisers play at the peak of their imagination by practicing non-judgmental awareness and allowing joy to come in.

Website: https://www.weimprov.org

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/weimprov/

Other: https://maps.app.goo.gl/AXcztpHikQzTVGtw8?g_st=com.google.maps.preview.copy

Image Credits
Clay Larsen (headshot)

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