Bazaar Bizarro is a participatory activity that energizes the group and unleashes their creativity. Participants select unusual objects from a box and present them as products to “sell” to other members of the group. This exercise encourages imagination, improvisation, and persuasive skills while creating a relaxed and fun atmosphere.
Preparation
- Define the purpose:
- Encourage creativity and improvisation among participants.
- Foster a playful and relaxed environment as a group energizer.
- Develop persuasive and oral communication skills in a dynamic way.
- Prepare materials:
- A large box with more objects than participants, such as bathtub stoppers, candles, oversized clips, corks, small toys, etc.
- Paper or sticky notes to label objects, if needed.
- A spacious area where participants can move around and present their “sales.”
- Set up the space:
- Place the box with objects in the center of the activity area.
- Arrange seats or a circle where participants can watch the presentations.
- To conduct the activity virtually:
- Ask each participant to choose an unusual object from their home (e.g., interesting texture or shape).
- Organize presentation rounds where each person promotes their object via video call.
- Use a virtual whiteboard or chat for participants to vote on the most creative “sale.”
Step-by-step instructions
- Introduction to the purpose
- Explain that the goal of the activity is to use creativity to turn an ordinary object into something extraordinary and persuade the group of its value.
- Emphasize that the focus is on having fun and experimenting with improvisation.
- Object selection (2 minutes)
- Ask each participant to choose an object from the box that they find interesting or unique.
- Give them 2 minutes to examine their object, noticing its texture, shape, color, and unique features.
- Presentation prep (3 minutes)
- Invite participants to think about how to present their object as a product for sale. They can invent extraordinary features, creative names, or unique benefits.
- Presentation round
- Each participant has up to 1 minute to “sell” their object to the group. They can use humor, storytelling, or persuasive descriptions.
- The rest of the group acts as potential buyers and can ask questions or comment on the “sale.”
- Reflection and closing
- Lead a group discussion about which presentations were most effective and which creative strategies stood out.
- Reflect on how the skills explored can be applied to other situations, such as public speaking or problem-solving.
