Fortunately Unfortunately
OVERVIEW
A fun game that punches above its weight when it comes to takeaways. Perfect as a warmup, it is no surprise the game has its roots in America’s proud tradition of parlor games. A common exercise for workshops focused on:
Agility
Confidence
Creativity
Listening
Storytelling
REQUIREMENTS
Number of Participants:
Minimum: 6 participants / Maximum: 16 participants
Time Required:
Minimum: 15 minutes / Maximum: 25 minutes
Materials Needed:
None
EXERCISE INSTRUCTIONS
Arrange your group in a circle and explain you are going to tell a story collectively, each player adding one sentence at a time. Anyone can start, but I suggest you as the instructor begin the story, at least for the first go around if not subsequent attempts.
The first line of the story can be anything as long as it is one sentence. To give it the flavor of a story you might want to start with, "Once upon a time..." or something similar. You might also want to ask the group for a suggested topic before beginning as that helps get everyone on the same page fast.
After the first sentence, every subsequent sentence will start with either the word Fortunately or the word Unfortunately. The second person speaking should start with Fortunately, the third Unfortunately, and so on. In this manner the story will progress moving around the circle clockwise (or counterclockwise, if that's your preference).
If your group is small, 8 people or less, you might go around the circle twice or even three times. For groups larger than 12, once is probably enough.
The alternate use of these two simple adverbs typically unlocks a naturally escalating tale, with twists and turns your group is likely to find delightful. For it to work effectively it is important that each new sentence directly connects to the previous one, so be sure to note listening as you move through the exercise.
I would recommend playing the game three times with any group. If it is a shorter workshop and there is a time crunch, maybe only twice. If people are loving it, maybe more than three times.
Switch the order of the circle each time you play.
VARIATION
Prepare notecards prior to workshop, each inscribed with a different adverb. Hand the cards out and run the game just as before, except instead of alternating between Fortunately and Unfortunately have each player start their sentence with their adverb.
INSTRUCTOR DISCUSSION POINTS / LEARNING TAKEAWAYS
AGILITY
Sharp reversals are the nature of this game. Players attempting it for the first time may be inclined to plan zingers. Keep an eye out for that and note it directly, as the first example of it won’t be the last if no correction follows.
Remind them that planning an improv move is like bringing takeout to a cooking class. Self defeating. Instead of trying to say the funniest, smartest thing, try to be in the moment as much possible and say the most unplanned thing. You’ll be surprised at how much more powerful imperfect pertinence is compared to unrelated perfection.
CONFIDENCE/CREATIVITY
When uncertain of what to say next, careful evaluation and review can be your enemy. If addressing a subject you are proficient in, starting to speak is often preferable to pregnant pauses or careful word selection (which can be read as uncertainty or a lack of expertise).
There is no need for that, especially when this game teaches us that our brains are fully capable of creating dynamic, twisting stories by committing to the use of two alternating words. Trust your experience and your brain to lace sentences together that are impactful and wise. After all, it is what you do when you talk to your friends, your family or place a lunch order at a deli.
If you can do those things then you are also capable of extemporaneous speech on subjects you are proficient in.
LISTENING
This exercise is great for focusing on listening skills as it simply won’t work if every new sentence isn’t grounded in the previous one. Be sure to note instances where new additions are unrelated to what came before.
Attendees at workshops like these are likely to have impressive resumes. These are highly capable adults who have been tested professionally and come out the other side of those tests unscathed. So if you ask them if they are strong listeners you will typically hear yes.
How could they not be after all?
Well, this game reveals that while the concept of listening is easy to grasp, listening in the moment is far more difficult than you might imagine. Especially when others are watching you and possibly judging your contributions. To meet the challenge you often need to put more focus on listening than you might assume.
Drive this point home whenever you can.
STORYTELLING
This game has obvious connections to storytelling. Note that by using an adverb before each contribution you prime your mind to move in a certain direction.
Creation/writing can be daunting when we look at a blank page and wonder what the story could be about. By starting with an adverb we narrow options. If your sentence starts with the word, "Unfortunately" you probably aren't going to follow that with "I won the lottery."