• Log InLog In
  • Register
Liquid`
Team Liquid Liquipedia
EST 15:49
CET 21:49
KST 05:49
  • Home
  • Forum
  • Calendar
  • Streams
  • Liquipedia
  • Features
  • Store
  • EPT
  • TL+
  • StarCraft 2
  • Brood War
  • Smash
  • Heroes
  • Counter-Strike
  • Overwatch
  • Liquibet
  • Fantasy StarCraft
  • TLPD
  • StarCraft 2
  • Brood War
  • Blogs
Forum Sidebar
Events/Features
News
Featured News
ByuL: The Forgotten Master of ZvT29Behind the Blue - Team Liquid History Book19Clem wins HomeStory Cup 289HomeStory Cup 28 - Info & Preview13Rongyi Cup S3 - Preview & Info8
Community News
Team Liquid Map Contest - Preparation Notice6Weekly Cups (Feb 23-Mar 1): herO doubles, 2v2 bonanza1Weekly Cups (Feb 16-22): MaxPax doubles0Weekly Cups (Feb 9-15): herO doubles up2ACS replaced by "ASL Season Open" - Starts 21/0258
StarCraft 2
General
How do you think the 5.0.15 balance patch (Oct 2025) for StarCraft II has affected the game? Team Liquid Map Contest - Preparation Notice ByuL: The Forgotten Master of ZvT Nexon's StarCraft game could be FPS, led by UMS maker Weekly Cups (Feb 23-Mar 1): herO doubles, 2v2 bonanza
Tourneys
Sparkling Tuna Cup - Weekly Open Tournament $5,000 WardiTV Winter Championship 2026 RSL Season 4 announced for March-April Sea Duckling Open (Global, Bronze-Diamond) PIG STY FESTIVAL 7.0! (19 Feb - 1 Mar)
Strategy
Custom Maps
Publishing has been re-enabled! [Feb 24th 2026] Map Editor closed ?
External Content
The PondCast: SC2 News & Results Mutation # 515 Together Forever Mutation # 514 Ulnar New Year Mutation # 513 Attrition Warfare
Brood War
General
BW General Discussion Gypsy to Korea BSL 22 Map Contest — Submissions OPEN to March 10 BGH Auto Balance -> http://bghmmr.eu/ It's March 3rd
Tourneys
[Megathread] Daily Proleagues Small VOD Thread 2.0 [BSL22] Open Qualifier #1 - Sunday 21:00 CET BWCL Season 64 Announcement
Strategy
Soma's 9 hatch build from ASL Game 2 Fighting Spirit mining rates Simple Questions, Simple Answers Zealot bombing is no longer popular?
Other Games
General Games
Nintendo Switch Thread Stormgate/Frost Giant Megathread Battle Aces/David Kim RTS Megathread Diablo 2 thread Path of Exile
Dota 2
Official 'what is Dota anymore' discussion The Story of Wings Gaming
League of Legends
Heroes of the Storm
Simple Questions, Simple Answers Heroes of the Storm 2.0
Hearthstone
Deck construction bug Heroes of StarCraft mini-set
TL Mafia
Mafia Game Mode Feedback/Ideas Vanilla Mini Mafia TL Mafia Community Thread
Community
General
US Politics Mega-thread Things Aren’t Peaceful in Palestine Russo-Ukrainian War Thread YouTube Thread UK Politics Mega-thread
Fan Clubs
The IdrA Fan Club
Media & Entertainment
[Req][Books] Good Fantasy/SciFi books [Manga] One Piece Anime Discussion Thread
Sports
2024 - 2026 Football Thread Formula 1 Discussion TL MMA Pick'em Pool 2013
World Cup 2022
Tech Support
Laptop capable of using Photoshop Lightroom?
TL Community
The Automated Ban List
Blogs
Gaming-Related Deaths
TrAiDoS
ONE GREAT AMERICAN MARINE…
XenOsky
Unintentional protectionism…
Uldridge
ASL S21 English Commentary…
namkraft
Customize Sidebar...

Website Feedback

Closed Threads



Active: 1879 users

Impromptu vs Preparation

Blogs > Kenpachi
Post a Reply
Kenpachi
Profile Blog Joined August 2009
United States9908 Posts
October 17 2013 02:16 GMT
#1
I don't know. I guess this is one of those thoughts that just float around in my head. I always had much greater value for the ability to do things without planning. I thought it showed more skill/talent in a way. If you prepare something, you can just simply get used to doing what you are doing and be comfortable that way. Without preparation, you are speaking off the top of your head or acting intuitively and I thought this gave way to who you were more accurately. But sometimes, I feel like my own arguments are irrational because I'm dejecting a way of thought. Because when you do prepare, your best work tends to show. But it's also impractical to rehearse everything in a day and I feel it loses authenticity in your actions.
Just a thought.

*
Nada's body is South Korea's greatest weapon.
jrkirby
Profile Blog Joined August 2010
United States1510 Posts
October 17 2013 02:38 GMT
#2
All of my piano playing is impromptu.
DarkPlasmaBall
Profile Blog Joined March 2010
United States45333 Posts
October 17 2013 02:46 GMT
#3
I prefer being organized and prepared whenever I have the opportunity... I like to consider as many options if possible, and try to choose the best one, rather than just wing it. I've seen far too many people not be prepared for something because they have a "just wing it" mindset and miss out on things they could have had with at least a little planning.

I can be spontaneous, but I'd rather have knowledge ahead of time.
"There is nothing more satisfying than looking at a crowd of people and helping them get what I love." ~Day[9] Daily #100
Jerubaal
Profile Blog Joined June 2010
United States7684 Posts
October 17 2013 03:00 GMT
#4
Once in a high school, I had to give a speech to be nominated for a state club office (HOSA, if you've heard of it). I was unopposed and it was a pretty Mickey Mouse scenario so I thought I'd give some bullshit speech modeled after Creon's first speech in Antigone (some crap about the ship of state). I didn't really prepare though and for my hubris I lost my train of thought and muttered 'oh shit' in front of about 60 other people. There were some titters but I wrapped it up and no one ever brought it up again.

More on topic, what particular scenarios are you thinking of? In important discussions, I think it's important to go very slowly.
I'm not stupid, a marauder just shot my brain.
Kenpachi
Profile Blog Joined August 2009
United States9908 Posts
Last Edited: 2013-10-17 03:14:11
October 17 2013 03:13 GMT
#5
On October 17 2013 11:38 jrkirby wrote:
All of my piano playing is impromptu.

I want to get to that level!

Yeah, I guess it can also be argued that impromptu skills develop in a way if you prepare enough, right?
Assuming you've practiced to be able to do that >>

On October 17 2013 12:00 Jerubaal wrote:
Once in a high school, I had to give a speech to be nominated for a state club office (HOSA, if you've heard of it). I was unopposed and it was a pretty Mickey Mouse scenario so I thought I'd give some bullshit speech modeled after Creon's first speech in Antigone (some crap about the ship of state). I didn't really prepare though and for my hubris I lost my train of thought and muttered 'oh shit' in front of about 60 other people. There were some titters but I wrapped it up and no one ever brought it up again.

More on topic, what particular scenarios are you thinking of? In important discussions, I think it's important to go very slowly.

The thought arose when I was thinking about how I have piss poor conversational skills sometimes. I just blabber something that implies other things (Freudian slips :x).
Nada's body is South Korea's greatest weapon.
jrkirby
Profile Blog Joined August 2010
United States1510 Posts
October 17 2013 04:19 GMT
#6
On October 17 2013 12:13 Kenpachi wrote:
Show nested quote +
On October 17 2013 11:38 jrkirby wrote:
All of my piano playing is impromptu.

I want to get to that level!

Yeah, I guess it can also be argued that impromptu skills develop in a way if you prepare enough, right?
Assuming you've practiced to be able to do that >>



Well, when I first started playing piano, I was forced to take lessons and read sheet music and all that. Then I stopped playing because I didn't enjoy it, and my parents would let me stop. After that I took a music theory course, and started to understand why songs were written the way they were with key sigatures and all that. I started playing a bit again, but this time instead of reading music I just sort of played whatever I felt like. After a while whatever I felt like playing started actually sounding pretty good. Now I play piano whenever I get the chance, and it's all entirely impromptu.
13th Marine
Profile Joined January 2011
United States344 Posts
October 17 2013 05:03 GMT
#7
In my opinion, effective preparation allows for efficient improvisation.
Bomber | BoxeR | Dear | Flash | fOrGG | HerO | INnoVation | Jaedong | Life | MarineKing | Maru | MMA | MVP | NaDa | Polt | Taeja
hp.Shell
Profile Blog Joined April 2010
United States2527 Posts
Last Edited: 2013-10-17 05:42:58
October 17 2013 05:40 GMT
#8
Both are admirable. It's a battle of talent vs practice; hard work beats talent unless talent works hard.

Edit: I have bad conversational skills too, even to the point of unintended double entendres, that sometimes makes stuff with friends super awkward. Sometimes I don't even realize that there even was a double entendre in what I said until days later, so I can't imagine what other people are thinking when I say something like that. I have had people think I'm gay before, and that is probably the major reason. So I'm definitely trying to improve my conversation skills so that others don't get the wrong impression. I'd love to get to a conversational level where I was able to use double entendres with women, though.
Please PM me with any songs you like that you think I haven't heard before!
doubleupgradeobbies!
Profile Blog Joined June 2008
Australia1205 Posts
Last Edited: 2013-10-17 12:22:13
October 17 2013 12:18 GMT
#9
Both are incredibly important, and mutually benefit each other.

Obviously, you can't prepare for every situation (probably not even most situations you expect to encounter in life), but when you are sufficiently prepared you almost invariably perform better than by improvising on the spot. You simply need to be able to do both.

The good thing is, the ability to do things impromptu makes the process preparation/practice much easier and more effective, you able to arrive at the optimal way to do things more intuitively and faster, the rest is just practice to iron out the details. Preparation also helps you improvise, every decision, action, skill that you have prepared will be another tool in your arsenal for improvisation, something you can quickly integrate into your skillset because you have already trod down that path and worked at it.

The general rule, for just about everything, but especially for important things is: be prepared whenever you can, but be prepared to have to perform impromptu where there is a preparation shortfalls (a shortfall which realistically will happen far more often than you being fully prepared for most things you do).
MSL, 2003-2011, RIP. OSL, 2000-2012, RIP. Proleague, 2003-2012, RIP. And then there was none... Even good things must come to an end.
BirdKiller
Profile Joined January 2011
United States428 Posts
Last Edited: 2013-10-18 02:39:06
October 18 2013 02:38 GMT
#10
Preparation reduces the frequency of impromptu/sudden response. Being adept at executing and proper impromptu acts reduces the impact of uncertainties in your planning and removes unnecessary depth and complexities to it. Both are needed. Both are not mutually exclusive.
biology]major
Profile Blog Joined April 2010
United States2253 Posts
October 18 2013 02:56 GMT
#11
I love this distinction, and I think life would be more fun if we did everything impromptu as it comes to us. Practically though we would probably be homeless and jerking off, so a balance of both is the best. When it comes to self expression- impromptu is far superior to planning, because it is no longer authentic in the present. When it comes to goal setting and achieving planning is superior imo.
Question.?
mizU
Profile Blog Joined April 2010
United States12125 Posts
October 21 2013 20:46 GMT
#12
You need preparation, a foundation to improvise with.
You need the basic skills and knowledge down before you can start to improvise anything.
But yes, non-rehearsed performances or presentations are the most genuine, but are normally backed by a ton of preparation.
if happy ever afters did exist <3 @watamizu_
Please log in or register to reply.
Live Events Refresh
Next event in 3h 11m
[ Submit Event ]
Live Streams
Refresh
StarCraft 2
elazer 284
UpATreeSC 161
JuggernautJason104
ProTech56
StarCraft: Brood War
Sea 22358
Shuttle 922
Larva 343
firebathero 123
ggaemo 95
nyoken 33
sSak 19
ajuk12(nOOB) 15
NotJumperer 9
Counter-Strike
pashabiceps2847
fl0m2151
byalli1607
Super Smash Bros
Mew2King111
Heroes of the Storm
Liquid`Hasu352
Khaldor156
Other Games
Grubby3170
FrodaN1090
Beastyqt684
mouzStarbuck366
C9.Mang0177
KnowMe127
ArmadaUGS116
ToD90
Trikslyr56
capcasts52
minikerr2
summit1g2
Organizations
StarCraft 2
Blizzard YouTube
StarCraft: Brood War
BSLTrovo
sctven
[ Show 16 non-featured ]
StarCraft 2
• Hupsaiya 11
• Adnapsc2 6
• AfreecaTV YouTube
• intothetv
• Kozan
• IndyKCrew
• LaughNgamezSOOP
• Migwel
• sooper7s
StarCraft: Brood War
• BSLYoutube
• STPLYoutube
• ZZZeroYoutube
League of Legends
• Nemesis5826
• TFBlade1469
Other Games
• imaqtpie1177
• Shiphtur209
Upcoming Events
Replay Cast
3h 11m
Ultimate Battle
15h 11m
Light vs ZerO
WardiTV Winter Champion…
15h 11m
MaxPax vs Spirit
Rogue vs Bunny
Cure vs SHIN
Solar vs Zoun
OSC
21h 11m
Replay Cast
1d 3h
CranKy Ducklings
1d 13h
WardiTV Winter Champion…
1d 15h
Replay Cast
2 days
Sparkling Tuna Cup
2 days
WardiTV Winter Champion…
2 days
[ Show More ]
Replay Cast
3 days
Replay Cast
3 days
Monday Night Weeklies
3 days
OSC
4 days
Replay Cast
6 days
The PondCast
6 days
Liquipedia Results

Completed

Proleague 2026-03-04
PiG Sty Festival 7.0
Underdog Cup #3

Ongoing

KCM Race Survival 2026 Season 1
Jeongseon Sooper Cup
Spring Cup 2026
WardiTV Winter 2026
Nations Cup 2026
ESL Pro League S23 Stage 1&2
PGL Cluj-Napoca 2026
IEM Kraków 2026
BLAST Bounty Winter 2026
BLAST Bounty Winter Qual
eXTREMESLAND 2025

Upcoming

ASL Season 21: Qualifier #1
ASL Season 21: Qualifier #2
ASL Season 21
Acropolis #4 - TS6
Acropolis #4
IPSL Spring 2026
CSLAN 4
HSC XXIX
uThermal 2v2 2026 Main Event
Bellum Gens Elite Stara Zagora 2026
RSL Revival: Season 4
NationLESS Cup
Asian Champions League 2026
IEM Atlanta 2026
PGL Astana 2026
BLAST Rivals Spring 2026
CCT Season 3 Global Finals
IEM Rio 2026
PGL Bucharest 2026
Stake Ranked Episode 1
BLAST Open Spring 2026
ESL Pro League S23 Finals
TLPD

1. ByuN
2. TY
3. Dark
4. Solar
5. Stats
6. Nerchio
7. sOs
8. soO
9. INnoVation
10. Elazer
1. Rain
2. Flash
3. EffOrt
4. Last
5. Bisu
6. Soulkey
7. Mini
8. Sharp
Sidebar Settings...

Advertising | Privacy Policy | Terms Of Use | Contact Us

Original banner artwork: Jim Warren
The contents of this webpage are copyright © 2026 TLnet. All Rights Reserved.