Improv for Entrepreneurs and Professionals

This event is still in need of a venue. Previously, we have hosted at Genuine Joe's Coffeehouse and may host again there.

## Session Plan:

• Networking (7 - 7:10)
• 3 Warm ups (7:10 - 7:30)
• 3 Scene starts (7:30 - 8)
• Intermission (8 - 8:10)
• 3 Performance games (8:10 - 8:30)
• Networking (8:30 - 9)

### Networking

• Name tags with name and occupation
• 10 minutes meet and greet
• Discuss basic principles
• Yes
• And
• Embrace failure (YEAH YEAH YEAH)

### 3 Warm ups

• Clap (look at someone in the circle and sync up a clap with them. Then they go)
• Woosh, bang, pow (woosh - pass to person next to you in same direction; bang - change direction; pow - send across the circle)
• Sound ball (look at someone in the circle and make a sound and motion towards them. Then they mimic the sound to catch it. Then they make their own sound and pass to someone else)
• Evolution (one person start with a phrase and accompanying action; Each next person tries to mimic the person before them)

### 3 Scene starts

#### Setup

• Folks will line up in 2 lines and when they reach the front, they pair up with the person from the opposite line. There will always be a scene prompt or a set of parameters to guide their improv.
• Goal is to create a short, spontaneous scene (30 seconds to 1 minute) with a clear business or entrepreneurial theme.
• It is encouraged to incorporate the partner’s occupation (on their name tag) into the scene and for people to play with realities from their actual work life.
• It is encouraged that people make it feel REAL by specifying details from the acronym: Relationship, emotion, action, location.

#### Scene types

• The eager or skeptical prospect
• one line is the proposer of investment, product sale, job opportunity, candidate for job etc. It could just be someone giving an elevator pitch.
• The other line is the prospect who will either be super eager or super skeptical about what the other person is proposing
• The problem solver
• One line presents a sudden, ridiculous business problem that needs immediate attention
• The other line acts as the “ fixer” who must provide an instant, creative solution to the problem
• Hard conversation
• Initiates a difficult conversation, such as giving critical feedback, discussing a project failure, or addressing a sensitive issue.
• Other line receives the conversation, reacting with defensiveness, acceptance, confusion, or a counter-argument.
• Evaluator
• One person plays the customer, manager, VC etc. who is providing a review of the other person’s performance or product or service.
• The other person plays the part of the person receiving the review. They may be a business owner, employee or something else.

### Intermission

• 5-10 minutes break. Encourage everyone to get some tacos or drinks.

### 3 Performance games

• Conference panel - 3 chairs are setup for experts of varying levels and then the audience all sits or stands on the other side viewing them. The panel will start by introducing themselves. The audience asks the panel questions about their topic of “expertise”, Go on like this for 3-5 minutes
• Story in one voice - company mission statement - group stands in a circle and each participant contributes one word at a time to build a compelling mission statement. Another example is an elevator pitch
• Product launch - 3 chairs are setup for company representatives and then the audience all sits or stands on the other side viewing them. The company will start describing the product together. The audience then asks them questions about it. Go on like this for 3-5 minutes
• Eager and skeptical prospects (good cop bad cop) (break into groups of 3)
• The networking event - Direct everyone to each come up with a specific goal they have in mind at the event (find a mentor, recruit talent, secure investment). Then have them move around initiating short spontaneous conversations with different people and groups. The facilitator can add rules as challenges.

### Networking

• Picture
• 10 - 30 minutes networking

About the group:

• What’s the group goal?
• The group’s goal is to have fun while learning work related emotional and social skills and improving stress management and general positive outlook. Work is a massive percentage of our life so we hope to improve it by inviting playfulness into that side of yourself. We believe that play is crucial for growth, so our other goal is to make you more competent at work — leading, relating to coworkers, talking to clients or customers whatever it is. We also hope to create a venue to make friends and professional connections. We hope that after you leave you think to yourself that can’t remember the last time you laughed like that, and that when you go back to whatever you do for work, that you noticably feel more positive and in control.
• Who are you hoping to meet?
• You will meet other entrepreneurs and professionals who have the same mindset for self improvement and having fun.
• What will you do at your events?
• After a bit of networking, the main part of the event will be Improv games focused on business situations designed to let you playfully explore your work life from alternate perspectives. You will be guided through these activities by a trained improv facilitator. Just be ready to engage and bring your own perspective to share with everyone through the scenes.