Now that life back in the working world has settled down, I can finally post the list of improv exercises Colin guided us through last Wednesday. Here’s a short sample below, but download the whole Word doc for a complete list of descriptions, plus special bonus exercises!
(Boy, I feel like I’m copy writing a commercial now.)
And as an aside, I was an absolute pleasure to meet all of you. I’ll try and post from time to time on this central blog, but we’re all administrators. Feel free to post items yourselves as well!
-Pam.
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Eclipse
Objective: Energizer, paying attention, spontaneity
The first step in this exercise is to ask participants to secretly choose two people in the group — one person will be the “sun” and the second person to be the “moon”. The moon is the protector, whereas the sun is the enemy. The second step is for the group to imagine that they are at a cocktail party and then are instructed to wander through the room speaking to each of the guests. While each participant is moving through the room trying to strike up a conversation they must also make sure that at all times their “moon” is always between them and their “sun”.
Positive Energy Transfer (PET)
Objective: Concentration, focus, non-verbal communication.
Let the participants form a circle. One person starts the exercise by establishing eye contact with another person, and then transferring energy by an outward-directed handclap towards that person. The receiver accepts the energy with an inward-directed handclap. He / she establishes eye contact with another member of the group and the energy transfer continues. Once the group is comfortable with one PET moving through the group, two, three, or more PET’s can be added.
Hand Guide
Objective: Non-verbal communication, peripheral vision and trust development.
Members of the group find a partner. They name off as partner “A” and partner “B”. Both partners face each other a few feet apart. “A” will start as the “Guide” and “B” will take the role of the “Follower”. The “Guide” will lift the palm of one hand — arm length in front of the “Follower”. Instruct the group to think of an imaginary string that is attached to the “Follower’s” nose — all the way to the palm of the “Guide”. The distance of the string is to stay the same at all times. The “Guide” gently leads the “Follower” throughout the room, being very conscious not to knock into obstacles or other participants. It is important to stress that the “Guide” must move slowly, as the objective is not to outsmart or trick their partner, but rather to gently guide them through the room. After a few minutes the two partners can change roles.
Yes, and
Objective: Non-blocking techniques, story creation, accepting ideas.
Divide the group into pairs. The exercise starts when one person asks the second “Do you remember the time when we…?” and then elaborates on the story until the second person enthusiastically interjects answering “Yes! And…” and continues the story. The story passes back and forth several times with the participants always beginning their response with “Yes! And…”
Banff Bounce 