Improv: Enjoy Life and Success with the Power of Yes

Flag Up:They are doing great, this is how improv works, what fun this is, it’s impossible to do this wrong, and perhaps they want more. Once the group is up and moving the next one works a treat with up to 30 people.

Instruction 3: As above but keep changing the “as if ” - so “Hello” as if they are hyperactive, bored, seductive, constipated, French, broke etc.

Instruction 4: Tell them you are going to give them one more “as if ” suggestion which they will use, then three group members will come up with their own “as ifs” which everyone must use, one after the other.

Likely outcomes:laughter, feeling of relief from shy ones, those who made suggestions will feel validated and heard, high energy level in the room, enthusiasm, connections between people, loads of good stuff.

Hello, As If
This is one of my favourite warm ups. Get everyone to wander around the room randomly and tell them they only need one word for this exercise.

Instruction 1:When they make eye contact with someone say “Hello” to them, just hello, nothing else and then walk on and repeat this with someone else. Let this run for a minute or two unless they are really loving it.

Instruction 2: Ask them to keep wandering but this time when they make eye contact to say “Hello” as if they are embarrassed, then walk on and repeat. Again let this continue while the energy is high

Flag Up:Validate the shy ones who have had victories. Remind them that if you can do a three line scene you can do any improvisation. Notice how they wanted to keep going after three lines, how funny we are when we are just being ourselves. It’s impossible to do this wrong.

Business Applications:The opening of this channel of thinking and responding has inspired many companies to apply the learning to interviews, client meetings, brainstorming sessions, presentations and staff training.

Demonstrate this with actor A. Start the first scene yourself, then let them start the next scene. Let them know they are doing well and get the audience to applaud them after each scene. Let them know that it is absolutely fine to go blank in this one and if it happens they should simply say, “I don’t know what to say.”

Demonstrate this scenario too, with one of the actors. Tell them you are going to do a few scenes together, that you will do the first line and their line is always, “I don’t know what to say.” Then throw a few first lines at them, such as,

“ I want to marry you.”

“You are under arrest.”

“That’s my seat.” And so on.

Remind them that it is impossible to do this wrong because if they should go crazy, lose count, get carried away and do four lines by mistake, then we have got an extra line for free. If they are laughing too hard to deliver the third line, which does happen, that is fine too.

Three Line Scene
Instruction 1: Get four people onstage or up in front of the room. Explain that they are going to do some three line scenes which are the building blocks of improvisation. These are the world’s shortest scenes - just two actors with three lines between them. Let’s call them actor A and actor B.

Actor A says the first line, and actor B responds with a related line then actor A responds with the third. End of scene.

Basic Scenes
It is best to start with small steps. Build the confidence and enthusiasm of the group and then add complexity. Remember that you are the driving instructor with your own brake and clutch. Stop the movement and slip the session into neutral when you wish, then get it going again. The next game I learned from the fabulous Lorenzo Aragon, when we worked together in Essential Theatre Playback Company of Arizona. It quickly allows beginners to gain confidence in interacting and creates much laughter and enables experienced improvisers to get into the zone and bond before a show or rehearsal.