Pass the message is a relay game where a starting message travels down a line of players and the last person reveals what they received. The fun is in watching how the message changes along the way. The suggested version below uses a small volunteer line, a private prompt and a clear cue for each turn. Larger groups can use parallel teams.
There are two main formats. In the whispered telephone version, a word or short phrase is whispered from one person to the next. In the gesture relay (sometimes called pass the action), each player acts out the message silently and the next person watches, then reproduces what they saw for the person after them. Only the last player guesses aloud. The gesture version gives the audience a visible relay to follow.
How to play the gesture relay version
The following is a suggested stage or table format. Adjust it to your space, volunteers and programme; it is not a fixed rule set or a hosting-package inclusion.
What you need
- A line of about five volunteers (adjust to four or six depending on stage space and timing)
- A way to show the prompt to the first player without the others seeing it (a card, a phone screen or a whisper from the host)
- Suggested timing: roughly two to three minutes per round, though the host can adjust on the spot
Step-by-step rules
- Arrange a line with enough room for participants to turn comfortably. At the start, only the first player faces the hosting area; later players face away.
- Show the prompt privately to the first player, then put the card or screen away.
- The host invites the second player to turn, using their name or an agreed visual cue. No physical contact is needed.
- The first player acts out the prompt without words, sounds or mouthing. Only the second player watches this handover.
- The first player steps aside. The host then cues the third player to turn towards the second.
- The second player acts out what they understood, without seeing the original prompt.
- Continue one handover at a time. Later players watch only their immediate predecessor; earlier players do not coach or correct.
- The final player says what they think the starting message was.
- The host reveals the original prompt. If you agreed scoring, apply the rule explained before the round; otherwise compare the two messages and thank the volunteers.
Optional seated version for large groups
For a seated version, arrange a relay along each table row. The organiser can give each table a folded prompt card for its first player only; put the card away before starting. Keep later players facing away from earlier handovers. The final player can announce a guess from their seat. Agree any scoring before the round, or simply compare the original and final messages.
Participation ground rules
- Volunteers can pass at any point; no one should feel pressured to perform.
- Avoid prompts that require physical contact, running, private jokes or anything that singles out a specific colleague.
- No physical stunts, food props or alcohol are needed. The comedy comes from misinterpretation, not dares.
Download the printable host sheet and 20 prompt cards (3-page PDF). Print the cards and show your chosen prompt to the first player only.
20 ready-to-use prompts
These original prompt ideas are starting points. Choose one per round, keep a few spares and check they suit your volunteers and company setting.
- Ironing a shirt
- Waiting for a lift and realising it is going up instead of down
- Trying to open an umbrella in the wind
- Pouring coffee and spilling it on the desk
- Walking a large dog that keeps pulling ahead
- Fishing a coin out of a vending machine slot
- Carrying a tall stack of files through a narrow doorway
- Hailing a taxi in the rain
- Blowing up a balloon and it pops
- Peeling a stubborn orange
- Brushing teeth while half asleep
- Fanning yourself at a bus stop on a hot day
- Trying to thread a needle
- Photocopying a thick stack of papers
- Wrapping a large awkward gift
- Catching a fly with chopsticks
- Taking a group photo and someone keeps blinking
- Squeezing into a crowded MRT cabin
- Searching for your keys at the bottom of a bag
- Trying a presentation clicker with flat batteries
Sample host intro and closing
These are illustrative wording suggestions for briefing your host or emcee. They are not a script that James Yang has used at a specific event, and actual delivery will depend on the host, the audience and the programme.
Opening
“Would five volunteers like to try a message relay? You can pass if you prefer. Each person will act out what they saw for the next player, without speaking. Only watch the handover immediately before your turn. Our final player will tell us their guess, then we will reveal the starting prompt.”
Closing
“Our starting prompt was [original prompt], and our final guess was [final guess]. Thank you to our volunteers. Let us give them a round of applause.”
How to brief the organiser or emcee
- Share the prompt list in advance so the host can pick prompts that suit the audience and drop any that feel too niche.
- Confirm stage space: the relay needs a clear line where each player can turn around without bumping into furniture or AV equipment.
- Agree the number of rounds and a time limit before starting. For example, try two short rounds and allow time to reset the line and reveal the prompts.
- Agree whether you want a prize or scoring at all. If you do, explain the scoring and any tie rule before players start.
- For parallel table relays, prepare private prompt cards for the first players; do not display the answer on a screen visible to later players.
A verified example at a Singapore company dinner
PCS’s fourth-quarter 2022 staff newsletter (page 18) names James Yang as the emcee at its 19 November 2022 Dinner and Dance, held at Regent Hotel’s Royal Pavilion Ballroom. Page 19 of the same newsletter describes the emcee calling five table leaders on stage for a telephone-style game where a word or phrase was passed by acting it out. The instructions and prompts in this guide are our own illustrative version; they are not the script used at that event.
Frequently asked questions
How many players do you need for pass the message?
Five volunteers is one suggested starting format, not a minimum requirement. Adapt the line to your space and time. For a larger group, consider parallel small relays rather than one very long line.
How do you set up the gesture relay so later players cannot peek?
Ask later players to face away until the host cues their turn by name or an agreed visual signal. Show the starting prompt privately. Each new player should watch only the person immediately before them; earlier players then step aside without correcting the message.
How do you keep the game moving if a player freezes on stage?
Pause and offer the player a choice to continue, simplify the action or pass. If they pass, move on without making them the joke. An agreed short time limit can help the host close a round when needed.
How do you adapt pass the message for a seated group?
Use a private prompt card for the first player at each table, then put it away. Run each handover one at a time, with later players facing away. The final player can give their guess from their seat; agree any scoring in advance.
How do you pick prompts that work for a mixed corporate audience?
Choose everyday physical actions that do not rely on pop-culture references, language-specific puns, or anything that could single out a colleague. Check the prompt with your organiser: is the action familiar to these volunteers, can it be mimed without touching anyone, and is a seated or simpler option available if needed?
Planning a company dinner with live games?
James hosts corporate Dinner and Dance events in Singapore, leading in English with conversational Mandarin where it fits the room. Games, materials, prizes, AV requirements and preparation are agreed with the organiser before booking; do not assume these items are included without an agreed quote. See his D&D emcee page for scope, or browse the broader five dinner and dance games guide for more activity ideas.