Trainer & Coach

Improv trainer and coach Ryan Millar giving an improv workshop

Ryan Millar — improv, storytelling and public speaking workshops. PHOTO: Olivier Valiente

Ryan has been giving workshops since he was a camp counsellor. Across countries, disciplines and contexts. Now, he specializes in giving workshops and training to artists, actors, and businesses looking to get more skill and dynamism in the work they do and how they present themselves. Read on to learn more about the types of workshops and training sessions Ryan offers.

Or, go here if you’re more interested in public speaking coaching or transformational coaching.

Types of workshops and trainings

Learn to love public speaking & presenting

Poorly delivered presentations have less impact. Well-delivered presentations get results. But there is no single way to do this; different presentation styles work for different people and in different contexts. This session equips you and your team with a framework and tools and tricks to create (and deliver) successful, persuasive presentations. This workshop can be delivered in-person anywhere and a version of it is also a daylong Guardian Masterclass.

Live event: 16 February 2023, Amsterdam

Charisma & Influence

Charisma is the ability to attract, influence, and charm the people around you. Some people think you either have it or you don’t. But many of the behaviors that make someone charismatic can be identified and learned. In this hands-on and highly interactive session, you’ll develop your personal magnetism, learn to relate to people better, and gain self-confidence. Can also be delivered online.

Live event: 22 March 2023, Amsterdam

Writing & Editing

A good writer has clarity of thought, attention to detail, and the ability to express themselves—all highly valued abilities. Writing better can help an individual get ahead, and can help teams produce better results. This hands-on and practical session focuses on writing and editing fundamentals to build confidence and creativity.

Unlocking storytelling

They say that ‘great stories happen to the people who can tell them’. This session will help you become one of those people. Being able to recognize a story—and the story structure—and being able to build it into an actual engaging narrative can be the difference between getting what you want and not getting anything at all.

Live event: 8 February 2023 (Online)

Improv trainer Ryan Millar gives a workshop

Ryan Millar improv, storytelling and public speaking workshops PHOTO: Olivier Valiente

Applied Improvisation workshops

Applied Improv does just what the name suggests: it applies improv to practical contexts. Like work, our social life or our creative practice. Used this way, improv can help us in developing and harnessing creativity, fostering teamwork and getting better results.

Below are some of the workshops I suggest to clients, although topics can be tailored to suit individual needs.

Group Improv Training

These are a great way to get groups, small or large, together to have some constructive fun. Elements include interpersonal communication, presentation skills, listening, collaboration, and being ‘in the moment’. Through exercises and activities, participants will develop the ability to connect with each other and have fun. Guaranteed to produce creative sparks and deliver strategies to channel innovations into workable ideas. A great way to re-energize a team.

The Big Idea

How does a good idea become a great idea? By being honed, developed and built on! Whether for a product, a short story, or a recipe, this session helps participants learn how to generate ideas and build on them. Individually and in small groups. This session is an exciting way to channel our ideas into workable products (or, just enjoy the process).

Gameplay and you

Playing games has both positive and negative connotations. And so it should. This fun, interactive and challenging session uses the mechanics of Rock, Paper Scissors, to help participants understand the principles behind competition and gameplay in everyday life. Afterward, participants will know how to access their inner competitor (and co-operator), think strategically, and solve problems logically.

Creativity and collaboration

Not everyone wants to learn to improvise. But everyone enjoys an energizing session as part of—or as the focus of—an away day, team-building session, or meeting. Using improv principles, a creativity and collaboration session will get people on their feet and thinking in new and inspiring ways.

In addition to the examples above, sessions can be custom-designed to suit your needs.

Get in touch if you need more info.

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“The skills I learned from those two weekends, which were two of the most enjoyable weekends I’ve ever had, have been an invaluable tool I use to this day in my daily life, both at work and in personal interactions.”

Andy, Brussels

“As a coach Ryan’s ability to zone in and identify the main agenda for each sessions was amazing. His coaching helped me reflect, make decisions and make positive changes in my business.”

Tracy, Dublin

“Plenty of energy, enthusiasm, good clear guidance on how to make the scene ‘deliver results’ without killing the improviser… Ryan’s enthusiasm for improv is infectious.”

James, Brighton

“I loved loved loved your workshop. I liked the way it was structured and meaningful. Time flew unnoticed. I liked the shortness of the exercises, the surprise and fun, and the fact that you gave me so much to explore. I now can be in an empty prison cell or in a desert island and never feel alone or bored anymore. Now I can expand my world.”

Elsa, Lisbon

“I thoroughly enjoyed the workshop. I learned how beautiful authenticity is, with such little moments as sharing your breakfast. Being in the moment is so amazing to see and to feel.”

Laura, Amsterdam

“I’ve benefitted immensely from this journey which I would recommend to anyone looking to learn more about themselves in a fun, immersive way.”

Simon, Amsterdam

“Very inspiring and useful workshop. Picked me up from where I’m at and helped me develop strategies to improve developing scenes and my performance skills.”

Anonymous, Switzerland

“Ryan is a great teacher, very serious (and very funny!) gives great coaching during scenes! I had a great time studying with him!!”

Alon, Tel Aviv

“Thank you for your positive spirit, energy and creativity. Your public speaking sessions really helped me feel more comfortable standing in front of a group of people.”

Serena, Amsterdam

“Because of you my fear of speaking or presenting in front of an audience has lessened a great deal.”

Samora, Amsterdam

“Ryan is a natural at teaching and you get the feeling he puts his heart and soul into helping others. I look forward to doing more workshops with Ryan.”

Shauna, Tunbridge Wells

“I’ve learned so much from you and thank you for giving me that nudge to get out of my comfort zone.”

Imaan, Amsterdam

“Ryan seemed to know just what to do to get the best from everyone. I would jump at the opportunity to do another workshop led by him.”

Calum, Brighton

“Ryan’s improv workshop is incredibly fun but also ruthlessly effective. Participants are taught to drop their inhibitions, let their imagination flow and and embrace the positive attitude at the heart of improv. They are also treated to Ryan’s personal blend of enthusiasm, wit and generosity.”

Jeremy, Brussels

“Absolutely brilliant! Exceptional work!”

Anonymous, Impro Hotel

“Working with you was an absolute blast! I’ll take your writing advice with me wherever I go.”

Marton, Budapest

“I LOVED the fucking GREAT and positive energies in the workshop. They so got me going. Perhaps the highest moment during this festival was laughing in the workshop (to the dances… :)).”

Ben, Tel Aviv

“I really admire your energy, creativity and knowledge and I’ve learned a lot from your training sessions.”

Natasha, Amsterdam,

“Ryan really made the most out of the workshop. No time-wasting. He gets to the point quickly, in a clear and effective way.”

Pedro, Lisbon

“Ryan is the most enthusiastic, positive workshop leader I have ever had the pleasure of working with. I’ve been to several of his workshops and after each session I came away with a sense of achievement and feeling that I had learnt something new.”

Chris, London

“I especially enjoyed the clarity in all of what you were doing – I always understood what it was that you were teaching. I never felt lost. That was really awesome.”

Martin, Tampere

“Ryan is an extremely qualified, talented, and professional teacher and coach. I’d recommend Ryan’s services to anyone!”

Derek, Amsterdam,

“Your Taking It Easy session helped me relax more into the truth of a scene and let it grow more organically instead of pushing too hard to make it funny or dramatic. I loved that you were really clear about what you wanted us to get and how the exercises played into the scene work we did later. I really got a lot from one short session.”

Andrew, Brighton

“Ryan is an incredible teacher. He took a straggling group of beginners and turned us into a viable company of improvisational actors who regularly perform together – in front of actual, paying, repeat customers.”

Carrie, Brussels

“Ryan’s coaching sessions really improved my public speaking skills and made my presentations much more interesting for my audience.”

Furio S., Berlin

“Thank you so much for passing your writing knowledge onto me. I learned a lot and had a lot of fun too.”

Larissa, Amsterdam,