How to play MIC-CHECK!

 

The Goals

 

First player to get 10 points wins.  But the real winner is the one who challenges themselves and improves their speaking skills while having the most fun.

 

250 Cards are included

Challenge Cards (50), Sponsor Cards (50), Script Cards (50), Mic-Check Cards (50),  Umm… Line Cards (50)

What we were too cheap to include

• A notepad and pen (makes speaker preparation easier)

• A timer (use your phone, an egg timer, … a microwave?... etc).

• A Talent Scout token (to keep track of turn order)
   

What each turn looks like

Step 1: A player becomes the Talent Scout for a turn. They do not speak this turn.

Step 2: The Talent Scout reveals the top Challenge Card face up next to that deck.

Step 3: Each player draws 2x Sponsored By, 2x Scripts, 2x Mic-Checks cards (6 each in a hand).

Step 4: Starting with the player to the left of the Talent Scout, players take turns laying down one card from their hand.  You stop putting down cards until you have 4 card types.

Talent Scout reveals the Challenge Card. First Player fills in the first blank (play 1x Sponsor, Script or Mic-Check), Next Player fills in the next blank (play 1x card type not picked by Player A). Next Player (or the Talent Scout in a 3-person game) plays the final card.

[Notes: Because being the first to speak is the hardest, the first player gets to the pick the first card to give themselves some advantage]

Step 5: Every player has 90 seconds or less to deliver their presentation (Talent Scout doesn’t present). Try to speak to all 4 card types played this turn to win points (step 6) based on how well you spoke to the Challenge, the Sponsor, the Script, and the Mic-Check.

Performance Tip: Better to nail one aspect of your performance if you can’t do it all. You can take “inspiration” (direct plagiarism) from other players if it helps out-perform them.

Step 6: Once everyone has performed, the Talent Scout awards the 4 cards played that round as Points. They can give all 4 to one person, or split them up:

• "Jane gets the Sponsor card because she had the best Sponsor related content."

• "Bob gets the Mic-Check card because that yell was terrifying."

• Just like in real life - the Talent Scout’s decision is final and it can be as flawed as they are.

Step 7: Pass the Talent Scout role to the left, repeat Steps 1 to 6 until someone has 10 points.

The Spirit of the Game (Practice Makes Better)

 

Public Speaking is hard enough already.  This game can help super advanced speakers get even better, and it can help people who can’t even get a word out start to speak.  But players must keep the game safe and fun for everyone. Encourage people to speak - and remember that it is encouraged to award points based on people’s relative skills (don’t just always award the best speaker, you can award a beginner’s personal best).

 

Start at the Tutorial to make sure new/nervous speakers get how it works.

 

Tutorial: New / Nervous Speakers try the 4 levels

1. Play 1x Umm… Line? Card and get a new / nervous player to talk for at least 30 seconds about that card. They don’t need to stick to the subject, words just need to come out of their mouth for 30 seconds.  Once they can do that without giving up or going blank - they are ready for Level 2

 

1. Play only 1x Sponsored By card and get a new/nervous player to talk for at least 30 seconds about that card.  We are looking if they can only say words that flow from the Sponsor card (e.g. Cats, my cat, neighbour cat, don’t like cats, dogs, dogs on tv, etc). Once they can talk on topic for 30 seconds, they are ready for Level 3.

 

1. Play 1x Sponsored By card and 1x Script card and get the new/nervous speaker to talk for at least 30 seconds. We are looking if they can talk for 30seconds about the Sponsor Card while organising their throughts in the order shown on the Script card (e.g. For Cats + Small Big: House cats are small and cute. Tigers are cute but not small. Both can potentially kill you). Once they can talk and stick to the script for 30 seconds, they are ready for Level 4.

 

1. Play 1x Sponsored By card and 1x Script Card and 1x Mic-Check card.  We are looking if they can talk for 30 seconds, stick to the script, and move their hands or voice as described on the Mic-check card. Most people take a bit longer to pass Level 4 - and that’s ok. But once they can achieve all 3 cards, they are ready to play the full game!