The 8-Count Shakeout

Build physical energy at a conference, classroom, or offsite

Author

Tyler Farley
September 06, 2024

In partnership with

Edition 23

I typically sign-off this newsletter with a ‘happy friday’ of sorts and today it hit me: it is always Friday here at Improv @ Work.

You’ll never get this email on a dreary Monday, nor a rainy Tuesday. It just won’t happen. It will always be on an optimistic, smiling, weekend-hopeful Friday. Unless I change my mind :)

The 8-Count Shakeout is the backbone of improv. I have started every practice, class, and show with a shakeout for over 5 years. It has been used at every theatre and troupe I have been involved with.

Picture this:

It’s 9am on a Tuesday.

You arrive at a conference workshop. You didn’t have time for breakfast so thank god someone dressed as the Salesforce mascot (Astro) handed you a banana 🍌 on the way in.

Who was that guy?

The presenter is immediately talking at you.

There’s a coffee and croissant table on the opposite side of the room.

Your eyes keep wandering.

Is that the guy who posts super personal videos on LinkedIn?

Five critical minutes have passed and you haven’t heard a single word the presenter has said.

Imagine this happened instead:

The presenter took a moment to have you stand up and physically move around your space.

This resets the entire room and brings you all to the same energy level. Even at the lowest of energy levels, a shakeout will get the crowd on your side.

Goal

  • Do physical movement to get the blood flowing

  • Ground the room into the realization that the event is now beginning and they should focus. No more side conversations.

How to Play

  • Stand in a circle and shake your right hand, left hand, right foot, left foot, and count down from 8. Then from 7, etc, until you are done.

    • E.g.: 8, 8, 8, 8, 7, 7, 7, 7, 6, 6… and so on

    • Here’s a video showing how simple it is

Key to success: Try to make eye contact (even if for 1 second) with EVERY person in the room. This helps acknowledge those around you as living beings, just like you!

Appropriate for

✅ Friends & Family

✅ Colleagues

✅ Strangers

🕰️ Time to play

5 minutes (including explanation)

👨‍👩‍👦 Group size

Best for: 2+ people

If you’d like to support my writing! 🙏 

Happy Always Friday,

Tyler

Its Friday GIF by The Office

Now a word from today’s sponsor…

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