How to Play the Improv Game Yes But

Improv Comedy is all about working with the other players on stage to create a scene. For anyone that has had trouble with blocking or negation, Yes But is a great game to help teach them the difference between disagreeing and negating. Remember, characters can (and should!) disagree, but the players should never negate each other, and Yes But is a game that highlights this difference.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• An improv troupe.

1. Explain to your players that you will be playing a game to help them learn the difference between character disagreement and player negation. Characters disagree all the time, but players must not negate each other about the reality they are creating.

2. Select two players to start a scene. Give them a location, occupation, or relationship to work with.

3. Tell your two players, before starting the scene, that they must start each thing they say with the words, "Yes, but..."

4. Have your players begin the scene. The first player may start with any line she wishes. After that point, every time a new player speaks, he must begin by saying, "Yes, but..." For example, a conversation might start like this: "It's a beautiful day out." "Yes, but I hear it's going to rain." "Yes, but I just bought an umbrella." "Yes, but you left it in the trunk." "Yes, but the car's right over there."

5. Remind your players that each time they speak, they should affirm the other player's offer (the "yes"), and then offer something new to the scene that complicates that offer (the "but").

6. Continue the scene until it reaches a natural endpoint. Repeat this exercise until each member in your troupe has had a chance to be in a scene.

Tips & Warnings

• Yes But is best used during practice, rather than as a performance game.
• Don't worry about being funny; the purpose of this exercise is to work on accepting offers.