Using Props to Stimulate Your Creativity
- An improv game called Props is an effective tool to help you see humorous connections. It is a game you could play in an improv class, a Toastmasters meeting, a party mixer, a family activity, or just alone while driving your car using your imagination. This exercise could also be used to stimulate ideas for a new product development.
- The game is played by introducing a prop, such as a tennis ball, to the group. The challenge is to come up with as many alternative uses for the prop as possible. The tennis ball could be a satellite, a pill, an eyeball, a globe, a gumball, etc. The players use the prop in some fashion, with words and/or physical actions, to convey a new use or meaning for the prop.
- When playing with a new prop, ask yourself: What else could this be? What else could this prop be used for? How could this prop be used by two people? Does this prop resemble something currently being advertised in a commercial? Can you connect the color or texture of the prop to something else? Does the word which describes the prop sound similar to something else?
- The idea is to look for connections. This exercise stimulates your basic humor skill, which is looking for new relationships between things and ideas.
- Here are some ideas for selecting good props for this exercise.
- A more generic prop is better than a specific prop. A segment of hose is better than a hammer. A rope is probably better than a chain. Although each prop presents its own unique challenges. A more specific prop comes with a larger challenge of thinking outside-the-box. A more generic prop will make it easier to come up with a larger number of creative ideas and might be better from an entertainment point of view.
- Props in matching pairs are better than a single prop. Two hose segments are better than one. This allows for more flexibility in creating connections. This is also helpful because we often have two sensory body parts, two eyes, two ears. Two props could more easily become binoculars or a headset.
- Props that join together are good. I used two hose segments for an exercise. These hoses were from a pool vacuum system. Each hose could be connected to itself (forming a circle), or could be connected to the other hose. Or they could be used separately.
- Look for some totally off-the-wall props which are not specifically used for anything. This week my improv troupe used a prop which consisted of a small segment of wood with some artificial leaves stapled to it.
- Take a prop that is not priceless. In the playing of the game the props tend to get tossed around. Do not use something valuable as it might get broken.
- Good places to look for props. Around the house. The kitchen and garage are good places to look. A toy store. One of my favorite places is a Dollar Store, where everything is a buck or less.
- Use this exercise to sharpen your humor skills AND have fun.
Copyright 2005 by John Kinde
By John Kinde, Motivational Humorist from Las Vegas, NV.
(702) 263-4363 www.humorpower.com