For students who are brand new to improv, this is an excellent introduction to the idea of receiving what your fellow performer provides you on stage as opposed to simply pre-planning what your actions and dialogue will be. Type of Activity: Improv; Warm-up; Concentration; Reacting

How It Works:

Students stand in a circle.  The facilitator begins by explaining they are going to send a clap to a student in the circle (similar to the Zip-Zap-Zop exercise). The facilitator steps forward, makes eye contact with a student and sends a clap towards them.  Unlike Zip-Zap-Zop where the clap is immediately sent to another person, the student must first clap inwards to receive the clap before sending it off to another student.  Emphasize the importance of eye contact when sending the clap to the next person.  Once the students have shown they can send and accept the clap at a focused, steady pace, have them stop. Remember who is in 'possession' of the clap. 

At this point, the facilitator introduces a new action (for example, a blow kiss). The 'send' would be making eye contact with someone, and blowing them a kiss.  The recipient would take their cheek and sigh bashfully (the 'accept').  That student would then choose to either send the clap or the blow kiss to another student in the circle. Insist on a rapid pace; this will ensure that students pay attention and react to what they are given with the proper response.  Once the students understand this new element, have the student in 'possession' of the clap continue.

Once the students have succeeded in working with two 'sends', add a third.  When you are up to three or four different 'sends' the students really have to be focused and on their toes so as to keep the pace moving with the proper responses. 

Things to Consider:

  • Often, a student's fear in performing improv stems from worrying about not knowing what to say.  This activity is a simple way of introducing the concept of simply reacting or responding to what your acting partner gives you (also a fun exercise to connect to a Meisner Technique unit).  Although students need to be actively listening to their partner, it seems to remove a lot of the pressue when improv is introduced as simply reacting.
  • Other 'send' and 'accept' ideas 
    • The 'send' - make eye contact, put your hands together and move them forward like a fish swimming through water. The 'accept' - the recipient mimes pulling in the fish with a fishing rod
    • The 'send' - make eye contact, and tickle the air. The 'accept' - the recipient grabs their stomach and giggles.
    • The 'send' - make eye contact, and mime presenting an engagement ring. The 'accept' - recipient brings hands to heart and swoons.
    • The actions are endless.