Greetings

The Basics:

Have players mill about the space, walking in and out through the center. The leader calls out a style in which people are supposed to greet each other, for example, the leader might say: Greet each other too enthusiastically” and at that point the players find a person near them and greet him or her in that way. After a short time the leader might yell out “OK, now as if you are at a funeral!” and the players then find a different person and act out this greeting. Continue this for five or six more rounds! (Other possible greetings: Distracted, “Bitter business rivals trying to be polite,” Hyper-active children, “Your a big fan, but your trying to be cool, you don’t want to be there but your parents forced you on a play date,” etc.)

In the Classroom

• This is a great “getting to know you” warm-up! It gives players permission to interact in a silly way, with lots of high energy.

• I’ve had lots of success with this at the beginning of an adult workshop!

Attribution:

The Improv Handbook by Tom Salinsky and Deborah Frances-White. (page 399)