Celebrate failure - as a group

The facilitator leads the group through the protocol, reading and then carrying out each point, one after the other.

Gather all the players in the playing area, standing in a circle.

• Gather all players in a circle in the playing area.

• Tell participants that the goal of the game is to fail, and to celebrate when that happens. There is therefore no pressure to succeed. Also, point out that there will be no physical contact, but physical movements. Anyone who does not wish to participate can of course simply watch or leave.

• Ask participants to count to seven in a loop, each saying a number and turning clockwise. When one person says a number, she touches her shoulder on the side of the person who has to say the next number (her left shoulder, since we're turning clockwise).

• The aim is to keep the rhythm fairly steady and regular. Any hesitation or pause is considered a failure.

• When a person fails, they run around the circle, arms in the air and repeatedly shout  “I screwed up” in a cheerful and playful manner, while the others continue the count, then regain their place in the circle and continue the exercise.

• After the count has gone around the circle a few times (or just once for large groups), add the option of changing direction by touching the shoulder of your choice when you say your number.

• Let the group take advantage of this possibility, and continue to celebrate failure when it occurs.

• Add the following constraint: instead of saying the numbers “three” and “seven”, say nothing. Instead, the person who should say it puts both arms out in front of them, one above the other, like an “=” sign. The hand of the arm above designates which way the count continues (e.g., if my left arm is above, my hand points to the right, the person to my right continues).

• Let the exercise run for a while, continuing to celebrate failure as it occurs, until the failure rate drops.

• Add the following constraint: the person who has replaced saying 3 with the hand gesture starts saying 7 and vice versa for the person responsible for number 7 who starts saying 3. 

• Let the exercise run its course, while continuing to celebrate failure as it occurs, until the failure rate drops.

  From this point on, additional constraints can be invented and integrated.

Celebrate failure in pairs.

Adapted from The iO Theater, a school of improvisational theater in Chicago founded in 1981 by Del Close and Charna Halpern.