Improv Improv warm-up games
A warm-up is not a filler while the latecomers arrive. It decides what the group will be capable of for the next two hours: how loud they dare to be, how fast they say yes, whether they look at each other. These are the games we run first — most need no props, most work standing in a circle, and none of them requires anyone to be funny.
Big Booty
Rhythmic chanting circle. Each player has a number; on your turn chant your number plus someone else's without breaking rhythm. Mistakes send you to the end. Joyful chaos.
Bunny Bunny
One player does 'bunny bunny' hands at a neighbor who becomes the bunny, while both neighbors flap ears. High-speed silliness that kills self-consciousness.
Categories
A category is called (e.g. breakfast cereals). Going around the circle, each player names one item on the beat. Hesitate or repeat and the category changes. Trains fast access under pressure.
Crazy Eights
Shake out right arm 8 times, left arm 8, right leg 8, left leg 8, then 4 of each, 2, 1. End with a group cheer. Physical wake-up in ninety seconds.
Enemy & Defender
Everyone secretly picks an 'enemy' and a 'defender' in the group, then moves to keep their defender between themselves and their enemy. Chaos with a hidden pattern. Great to shake off the day.
Follow the Follower
The circle mirrors one leader, then leadership passes silently, then nobody leads and everybody mirrors everyone. The group moves as one organism. Deep group-mind builder.
Gibberish Circle
Pass a gibberish phrase around the circle; each player repeats what they heard and transforms it. Then hold short gibberish conversations in pairs. Frees players from clever words.
Group Counting (21)
Eyes closed or looking down, the group counts to 21 — one person per number, no order, no signals. If two speak at once, restart. Pure group listening.
Hot Spot
One player jumps to the center and sings a song; the group supports loudly. Anyone can tag them out with a new song at any moment. Teaches supporting your teammates and jumping in before you're ready.
Kitty Wants a Corner
One player in the middle asks 'Kitty wants a corner'; others reply 'Ask my neighbor' while players silently swap places behind their back. The kitty steals an empty spot. Playground energy.
Mind Meld
Two players count '1, 2, 3' and simultaneously say any word. Then both try to say the word 'between' the two previous words. Repeat until the group converges on the same word. Celebrate when it happens!
Name Six
A ball or beanbag passes around the circle while one player in the middle must name six items in a category before it returns to the starter. Fast, sweaty, fun.
Pass the Clap
In a circle, two players clap at the same time to pass a clap around. Aim for perfect synchronization. Speed up, reverse direction, send it across the circle.
Samurai
One player 'strikes' at another across the circle with a loud 'HA!'; the target raises their sword with 'HA!' and their neighbors strike their sides with 'HA!'. Big voice, big body, zero hesitation.
Sound Ball
Throw an imaginary ball around the circle. The thrower makes a sound; the catcher repeats it, then throws with a new sound. Add more balls, change sizes and weights.
Walk Stop Jump Clap
Players walk the space obeying commands: walk, stop, jump, clap. Then reverse the meanings — 'walk' means stop, 'jump' means clap. Excellent brain-scrambler and focus reset.
Whoosh Bang Pow
Energy circle with commands: 'Whoosh' passes energy, 'Bang' blocks it back, 'Pow' sends it across the circle. Add your own commands as the group learns.
Word Association Circle
Around the circle, each player instantly says the first word triggered by the previous word. No judging, no planning. Variation: 'and that makes me think of…'
Yes Let's!
Anyone calls 'Let's all… paint a fence!' Everyone shouts 'YES LET'S!' and does it fully until someone offers a new activity. The purest yes-and drill there is.
Zip Zap Zop
Stand in a circle. Pass energy with a clap and point, saying 'Zip', then 'Zap', then 'Zop' in sequence. Eye contact and commitment matter more than speed. Great first warmup for any group.