Pass Yes
Pass Yes is a warm-up exercise in which players make eye contact with someone across a circle and say "yes" to receive permission before crossing to take that person's place. The exercise practices the fundamental improv principle of seeking and granting agreement. It builds the habit of establishing connection before initiating action.
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Related Exercises
Pass Ball
Pass Ball is a circle warm-up exercise in which players toss a real or imaginary ball around the group while maintaining eye contact with the intended recipient. Additional balls may be introduced to increase complexity. The exercise builds focus, nonverbal communication, and the habit of making clear offers to specific partners.
Accepting Circle
Accepting Circle is a warm-up exercise in which players stand in a circle and practice receiving and building on each other's offers. One player initiates a sound, gesture, or phrase; the next player accepts it fully before adding their own. The exercise reinforces the foundational improv principle of "yes, and" in its simplest physical form.
Ball Toss
Ball Toss is a circle exercise in which players throw a ball to one another while maintaining eye contact and calling the recipient's name. As the pace increases or multiple balls enter play, the exercise tests group focus and communication under mounting complexity. It is one of the most widely used workshop warm-ups.
Cross Circle
Cross Circle is a spatial awareness exercise in which players walk across the circle to swap places with another player, using only eye contact to coordinate. Multiple pairs cross simultaneously without colliding. The exercise trains nonverbal communication, spatial awareness, and trust in shared physical negotiation.
Friendly Hands
Friendly Hands is a trust and connection exercise in which players reach out to shake hands or make physical contact with as many people as possible in a short time. The exercise breaks the physical barrier between participants and establishes a baseline of comfortable touch. It warms up the group's willingness to engage physically.
Silly Stinky Sexy
Silly Stinky Sexy is a warm-up exercise in which players walk around the space and a facilitator calls out one of the three adjectives, prompting everyone to immediately adopt the physicality, voice, and attitude of that quality. The rapid shifting between modes loosens inhibition and expands physical range. The exercise is particularly effective at breaking through self-consciousness.
How to Reference This Page
The Improv Archive. (2026). Pass Yes. Retrieved March 17, 2026, from https://improvarchive.org/exercises/pass-yes
The Improv Archive. "Pass Yes." The Improv Archive, 2026. https://improvarchive.org/exercises/pass-yes.
The Improv Archive. "Pass Yes." The Improv Archive, 2026, https://improvarchive.org/exercises/pass-yes. Accessed March 17, 2026.
The Improv Archive is a systemically maintained repository. The archive itself acts as the corporate author.