THE "SHUFFLE"

Despite its haphazard title and haphazard appearance, the "Shuffle" is a very carefully designed procedure for shifting people around and helping them to get partners in a most comfortable and enjoyable manner. Therefore, it is very important that the Shuffle is done correctly and well. The Shuffle is done four times in an evening and is particularly important to the smooth running of the game.

THE FIRST SHUFFLE

The leader begins by saying, "All right, we'll begin in the usual manner. Everyone shake hands with somebody and introduce yourself!" If people hesitate at all, he adds, "It doesn't matter if you already know each other. Just shake hands and say, 'Hello'". He watches to see that everyone has done it, and the moment he sees that everyone has he instantly says, "Great! Now shake hands with somebody else!"

He continues to watch everyone closely, and if he sees anyone hesitating, even slightly, he adds, "You are going to have to stand up to do this; there isn't any other way." Then, the moment he sees that everyone has done this, with no further pause he says, "Good! Find another hand! Shake hands with someone else and introduce yourself!" He continues the same patter, "Find another hand. Good!" etc until most of the people have introduced themselves to most of the other people in the room. (If necessary, now and then he inserts, "Come on, now. Everybody do it!")

It will be up to the leader to be sure that this runs smoothly and well. He must keep it brisk, cheerful, and encouraging, giving just enough time to do it, not too little or too much so that everyone is kept busy without being rushed.but without being allowed a pause. If he sees anyone standing or sitting there doing nothing, he goes over himself, shakes their hand, asks their name and says,"Hello."

Toward the end, he continues to encourage the group with, "Come on, now. There must be a few hands around here that you haven't shaken yet," and as soon as it is obvious that most people have met each other he says, "All right! Now, may I have your attention!" Once he has their attention, he prepares them for the Group set "A" by asking them to take their seats.

THE SECOND SHUFFLE

In the Second Shuffle an entirely new idea is introduced.

The leader says, "All right. Now we are going to get ready for Set Number 1, and here is how we do it. I would like everybody in the room to touch somebody." The leader reaches out and touches someone. "Everybody touch somebody!" he directs. He then watches very carefully to see that everyone, or most everyone, has done it. Usually, the people are seated and everyone has someone nearby he can touch easily. The moment that everyone has done it, without allowing any pause whatsoever, the leader says, "All right, now touch someone else!" briskly encouraging everyone to do it, and continuing, "All right! Now touch someone else! All right! Now touch someone else!" etc. If necessary, he adds, "You'll have to move around." "Come on, everybody do it!" etc. He keeps it brisk, cheerful, encouraging, allows no lulls, and loudly and clearly acknowledges each and every direction with, "all right", "great", etc.

After the first few, "Touch somebody else," commands, the leader finds a convenient chair to stand on, and being sure that he has a pack of Game sheets with him, he steps up on the chair to continue the procedure. In this way he maintains good direction over the group, can watch everyone easily, and is in a good position for passing out the game sheets.

There will come a point where the procedure will hit a high spot. This is the end point for stage one. After the high spot, if the routine is continued it will become overly repetitive and dull. The leader must learn to judge this spot. At the high spot the leader changes the direction to, "All right, now touch TWO people at the same time!...Very good!...All right, now touch two other people!...Great!...Now, touch two other people!...Great!" etc. He continues until a second high point is reached. At the second high point he says, "All right, let me have your attention." At this point he must keep everyone standing in the middle of the room.

When he has their attention he says, "All right, there are three things to do next. First, everyone get a partner. Second, each pair get one of these game sheets (holding up the pack). Third, find yourselves a comfortable spot where you, can sit together and talk."

Give them only a moment to get the idea. Hold one of the game sheets high in the air and say,"All right, who has a partner?" He gives out the sheets rapidly and briskly, encouraging with, "Who else has a partner?"

The moment that there is a pause and there is no one reaching for a game sheet he changes immediately to, "Who does NOT have a partner? Is there anyone who does NOT have a partner?" holding up his hand to encourage them to put theirs up. Rapidly, he puts those people together, trying to put men with women, and not permiting any hesitation. It must be done quickly, without any uncomfortable delays or pauses. The timing on this is important. The leader must let those who are able to reach out get their own partners, and he must help those who are unable to reach out get teamed up before they have a chance to feel left out.

If there is one person left over without a partner, the leader either pairs the extra person up with the host or hands him a game sheet and says, "Fine, I'll be your partner. Please find a spot where we can sit," and teams up with that person on the next set.

THE THIRD SHUFFLE

This starts exactly like the Second Shuffle. By this time people will be quite relaxed for the most part. They will get into it quickly and the first high point will be reached quickly. In fact, some of the people will automatically go into stage 2 of touching two people at a time. As soon as the first high point is reached, the leader might indicate, "I see you're way ahead of me!" and changes his directions to, "Now touch two other people!" Then, when the second high point is reached, he brings in something new. He indicates, "Well, 1^ see you all are quite experienced at this, so let's try something different. Now touch three people at the same time. Great! Now touch three other people." etc. He continues having them touch three others at a time until they are thoroughly shuffled. At that point he breaks for the next set by getting their attention and instructing them to find a new partner.

Again, he has game sheets handy for those who have misplaced theirs, and if necessary, if some people are having difficulty finding partners, he calls for hands of those without partners in order to help get them together.

THE LAST SHUFFLE

The last shuffle is merely a repetition of what was done before. The directions are, "Touch somebody," "Touch two other people," and "Touch three other people." Some of the group will relish it, and some of the others will begin to find it passe. However, the leader should not forget its prime purpose to shuffle the people and encourages them to touch other people until the group is thoroughly mixed.

SUMMARY

The purpose of the shuffle is to mix up the group and help them get partners quickly and easily. It also provides a little motion, a little body contact, a little non-verbal communication, and various other benefits which will be discussed later.

The first shuffle is an introduction which helps to set the mood. The people are directed to shake hands with and introduce themselves to many people around the room.

The second shuffle is the first real shuffle. The people are directed to touch somebody, and somebody else, and finally two people at a time until they are all "lost in the crowd". Then they are directed to get partners and a game sheet.

The third and fourth shuffles are basically repeats of the second.

P.S. Please note that when there is one person left over after all of the people are paired up, it is very important that he or she be given a partner immediately without any hesitation. Either the leader pairs the extra person with the host or hostess or takes the person for a partner himself. In this case, the leader should not "offer" the extra person a partner. He should make it a direction; it's part of the game. As soon as the leader notices there is an extra person, he would say, "Hello. Sally, here, the hostess, will be your partner," or, "Good! I get to be your partner," and hands the person a game sheet. This is important because the "left over" person is very likely to feel "left out" and often tends to feel badly and withdraw. The leader's prompt action would let him or her know that no one is ever left out in a People Game.