Do not perform this interaction by reading these instructions alone! Make sure you have practiced ahead of time!
What you will need:
The Mini List card or fake mini list prop (make your own if necessary)
The Mini List folder open in Virtual DJ so you can pick songs from it quickly.
3 Chairs arraigned in a line facing the center of the dance floor, 4’ in front of your booth
3 volunteers (there are 2 ways to perform the mini list, one requires specific kinds of volunteers, read notes on this later).
Prizes prepared for all three contestants (glow sticks/beads)
When to perform:
The mini list takes between 5 and 10 minutes to perform and does stop the dancing; the best time is in the first hour of the dance (for clients who want interaction during the dance). Performing the mini list just after an interactive dance is a great time when guest participation is already happening.
Step By Step:
- Prepare your supplies and props.
- The Mini List Folder Open
- As the previous song ends, compliment the dancers and ask the guests to clear the dance floor for a game!
- Find your 3 contestants, (if playing the standard Mini List, anyone will do, if playing the performance mini list, see additional instructions).
- Seat the 3 contestants in the three seats and get them applause from the guests.
- Announce the name of the game as the mini list and hold the mini list itself up high for everyone to see.
- (Optional), as a fun aside, you can do the “Ooooooo, Aaah” add-on: Hold the Mini List all the way to one side, make a show of stretching out to that side and tell the audience to say “Ooooooo” then move it to the other side and have them say “aaahhh” do this several times speeding up and giving no prompts for each time after the first few. (This gets focus onto the game and is funny).
- Ask the first contestant to stand and give their name, this will be where you explain the rules of the game to the guests.
- Rules: 1. each contestant will choose a number from 1 to 14. That number corresponds to an item on the mini list. Each contestant will then have a chance to act out what that item says to music! 2. You may or may not give prompts or specific moves for some of these. 3. When every contestant has gone, the audience will help decide if they won nothing or “free stuff”
- Have the first contestant pick a number, (if playing the performed version, you will choose which action they do, otherwise give them the one their number corresponds with).
- Load the song, make sure they are ready and have them begin with the music!
- When they are done (15 – 20 seconds), get them a round of applause.
- Repeat the process for contestants 2 and 3.
- Judging portion: Inform the guests that it is now time to vote with applause, no applause = nothing and applause = “free stuff”. Go down the line, getting the applause (everyone will get applause of course)
- Thank everyone for playing, have them give a bow and get back to dance music!
Alternate “Performance” Version:
- The major difference between the standard version of Mini List and This version is that you will be selecting a specific action for each person.
- I personally choose Model Walk First, Kung Fu Fighting Second and Ballet Third. This affects who I get to volunteer.
- The first person needs to be a guy, second is a tough lady and third is the biggest toughest man in the room.
- When they each choose a number, tell them they got whatever piece you want them to do.
- Have 4 or 5 moves you can show them for each of the 3 impersonations the 3 contestants are going to do. Have them watch you do these moves from a “first pose” tell them Not To Move while you do this.
- Once they are prepared by watching you and in their first pose, play the song as normal.
- The rest of the game operates the same.