A Joymaker Rebellion field manual
The Fun Formula
Three moves. Any room. Strangers into a moment of shared joy in under ten minutes.
Originally co-authored by Gabriel McCay. Adapted here as the Joymaker Rebellion's in-the-field playbook for hosts, facilitators, and anyone willing to be the first person clapping.
The three moves
Spark. Lift. Gift. That's the whole shape.
The Spark
Start something irresistible
Your opening move. Big, loud, easy to read from across the room. You are not asking permission - you are creating a moment people would feel left out of.
The Lift
Raise the temperature
You have a group. Now you escalate. The ask gets a touch sillier, a touch louder, a touch more visible - so passersby stop and lean in.
The Gift
Co-create a moment
Pull the group tight. Co-create one shared action that ripples outward - a moment that hands joy to people who weren't even in the circle.
Walk it through
Click a step, then a technique. Each one comes with a how-to you can use tonight.
The Spark - Technique
Form a circle
Pull people into a circle - the most level-playing-field shape humans have invented. Loud, short, clear.
How to run it
- 01Find a space with foot traffic
- 02Clap or whoop to gather eyes
- 03Call out: 'Everyone, circle up!'
- 04Stand in the ring, not the middle
- 05Give one short instruction
Pro tips for this step
- - Energy is contagious. If you're at 60%, the room reads 0%.
- - Make eye contact with one human, not the crowd.
- - Your co-conspirator is your first follower. Never let the room see hesitation.
In the wild
The formula adapts. Here's the same three moves in four very different rooms.
Festival between sets
A crowd milling near a main stage.
Corporate offsite
A conference room or hotel lawn with 30 colleagues.
Block party
A residential street, kids, neighbours, dogs.
Wedding reception
Cocktail hour or the dance floor.
Why it works
This isn't vibes
Eight pieces of neuroscience and social psychology stacked under every move.
Now go run it.
The formula is useless on paper. It only works when one human decides to be the first clapper. Tonight, that's you.