Improv is a type of acting where you come up with material based on your environment and ideas from other people acting with you. You don't use scripts and you don't rehearse what you're going to do. It may sound scary, but the funniest things come out of acting on the spot. Many comedians use improv to make their performances new and different by include their audiences in their jokes. It's hard to go up and just act, so improv is known for having lots of warm ups and exercises to get the mood fun, creative and unusual. I used to do improv in junior high and learned so many fun games that I'd like to share with you.

1. What Are You Doing?
   This is an awesome fast paced exercise that helps you think on your feet. You'll need 4 or more people.
• Have everyone stand around in a circle.
• Pick one person to start off. Then they should act out something like tying their shoe or reading a book.
• The person on their right then asks, "What are you doing?"
• The actor responds with something completely different. If they were tying their shoe, they could say, " I'm shopping"
• Then the asker starts the acting out something. The person on their right asks them the same question, " What are you doing?"
• It circles around after that, but if a person makes a mistake, then they're out! Try and see how fast you can do it.


2. Hello There
   This is a good "get to know" activity to use.
   All players start walking around the room. Ask them to greet each other or shake hands. Then ask the players to greet each other in a more specific way. You can up with whatever situation you like:
   • Greet someone you're really afraid of
     - Greet someone like they're your favorite actor/actress
   • Greet someone that's an astronaut
   • Greet someone that's a cowboy
   
   
3. It's All in the Family
   This is a hilarious game to play that you'll need a lot of creativity for--definitely something you'd want to get on camera! Have about 5 people for this one. Players are going to act out family portraits. One person is the "photographer" that calls out the type of family portrait to everyone should make, like:
   • A family of skydivers
   • A family of farmers
   • A family of supermodels
   • A family of mad scientists

You can tell the players who`s who in the family or let them come up with it on their own, just make sure everyone's gets to play a part.