Improv Zip Zap Zop
Stand in a circle. A player sends energy to someone with a sharp clap-and-point and "Zip". That person passes it on with "Zap", the next with "Zop", then back to "Zip" — always in that order. The energy flies around the ring, faster and faster. It's the first warm-up for a reason: it asks for nothing but eye contact, a clear gesture, and the nerve to commit out loud. Nobody has to be funny — they just have to be present and awake.
🎓 Tips
Commitment beats speed. A slow, sharp "Zip" with real eye contact is worth more than a fast mumble — coach volume and clarity before pace. When someone fumbles the order, keep it moving. The point is presence, not perfection. Add rules once it flows: reverse the direction, or a "Boing" that bounces the energy back to the sender.
Spotted a mistake, a missing variant, a better way to run it? Change it.