most incredible thing one can ever imagine. can’t wait till next year.

Man, I think you need to explain it more next time, and emphasize just what we’re doing, like you used to. On every train car I was on today, there were groups of participants standing around talking loudly about the event. Shit was annoying.

I was the leader for Car 3 on the C train. My second year as a car leader, and fifth year overall. As usual, a fun time.

1) The begging was pretty hectic. Due to the improper placement of Group 4, they ended up in front of Car 3 on the C train, and most of my team couldn’t get on to their proper car. This worked out well in the end because we just stayed back on the platform, spread out and caught the next C train. This meant there were much fewer of us on the train, and we got more reactions from the unsuspecting passengers due to a relatively smaller amount of participants.

Perhaps next year we should split up even more and do 2 staggered runs on the lines, as my group ended up doing in an improv fashion this year.

2) I was coincidentally standing in front of a poster ad for the TV show SKINS the whole time on the C Train.

3) People were giving us weird looks and laughing and asking what it was about. I once said that I felt hot, and another time that I forgot my pants.

4) Union Sq as usual was a blast. But I feel that we have to be a little more respectful inside the stores. As crowds started to go through Best Buy, Walgreens and Whole Foods, there were some displays and items that got knocked over, etc. We have to show more respect and restraint.

Also, what’s up with Starbucks not serving pants-less people? Props to “Au bon pain” for serving us!

so much fun. 6 train #9! when i depantsed with the gal with the nice coat someone said “is this really happening right now? ahahaha

There was another guy from Williamsburg taking pictures; he had a ponytail and an Obama cap – and he also took his pants off. I thought he might’ve been an Agent…if he was, will he be posting the pictures too?

Had such a great time, my first IE mission, I hope to do more in the future!! C train, car 7! We also had a bit of a mix up with not catching the first train that half the group was on, but I think it helped spread out the pants-less-ness to even more people!

One lady who sat next to me just before Union Square, “I have to ask you something, I have seen a lot of people in shorts and with no pants, is there something going on?” “Hmm? Oh, I just forgot my pants today, I was in such a rush this morning” “So you don’t know about the rest of these people?” “No, I don’t know anyone else”

The best was that she got off at Union Square with all of us, I wish I had seen her face when she was greeted with the enormous crowd of pantsless people.

This was my first time and I am very self concious so it took a lot of guts for me to do so. I was shocked of how liberating it felt i didnt want to put my pants back on..when i depant some lady asked me what was going on and i told her i had restless legs syndrome, the pants were impeding proper circulation. She just looked at me with a disgusted face. I wanted to crack up so bad. Another guy passing by was like nice legs and then someone else asked me if it was a protest and i was like no, i was just hot when he pointed to the other i was like wow, what a conceidence! I have no idea why they dont have any pants.

Also we got kicked out of filenes basement bc too many people were in there and then starbucks wouldnt serve us so au bon pain made a lot of money…so much they ran out of all sorts of stuff.
Shoutout to pantless group#4 on the 1 train.

This was my second year. I began my trip in the third car on the number 1 train. Some of my memories:

1. Upon reaching the station, when the first train arrived and we began to board, people shouted “ABORT, ABORT!” and “Get off the train!” Apparently, we had forgotten to assign a group to ride the third car! Anybody watching closely might have been able to figure out that we are some kind of organized group. Although, I think a few people suspected that the hundreds of pantsless people might, just maybe, not be a total coincidence. After we rode down to 14th street together, some people moved to the uptown platform, but I think most of the group transferred to the L train. At first I was concerned that I was separated from my group, but in the end, I think I enjoyed that more. There was always at least one other person without pants wherever I went, and I knew I could find my way to Union Square on my own.

2. Since it is the tenth year, some people have heard about this before. When the de-pantsing began, some subway passengers commented to each other: “Oh, this must be that no pants thing.” “I thought that was yesterday.”

3. Although much of this event is pre-planned, there is still opportunity for improvising. (It is Improv Everywhere, not Scripted Subway Theatre.) Upon boarding the next train, I found myself sitting next to another pantsless rider. I began playing a game on my phone, in order to keep up appearances that nothing unusual is happening. A curious woman asked my seat neighbor:

“Excuse me, why is everybody not wearing pants?”

He gave a dismissive reply, something like, “I don’t understand the question.”

Responses like this seemed to frustrate the curious riders. Later on, in the Times Square station, a woman approached me:

“Um, can you tell me what is going on?”

I wanted to respond in a way that acknowledges that her question is reasonable, without actually spoiling the magic of the scene. But before I could respond, a woman runs up to us, saying to my new acquaintance:

“None of them will tell you! If you ask, they say it’s laundry day, or they forgot to wear pants. It’s so weird!”

Well, I don’t want to prove her wrong…

“I forgot to wear pants.”

“Ugh, you won’t tell us either!”

Sorry lady, a magician can never reveal how the trick works.

Back on board the train, another curious rider asks me: “So, what’s the reason for this?”

“I don’t know. Everything happens for a reason, but only God knows.”

“Uh huh.”

I don’t think she believed me.

Me: “It’s the most amazing coincidence, though, isn’t it?”

“Oh yeah, sure.”

4. One rider seemed to know the vague outlines of the event, but did not actually mention Improv Everywhere. So, I decided to have some fun with that.

Seated Rider: “Hey, is this is that flashmob thing?”

Me: “Oh, no. It’s a weird coincedence. I don’t know these people.”

“Yeah, I heard about people using the Internet to do public performances.”

“Oh yeah, I’ve heard of that too! Last year, I did one where everybody listened to the same MP3.

“When Michael Jackson died, people did flashmobs where they did the Thriller dance in public places.”

“Wow, that sounds really cool!”

5. There is one spot in the Times Square station that always has someone performing there. Normally, I think it is a bit annoying, because they block the walkway with their crowd. As I approach the crowd, I notice a few pantsless people have stopped to watch the band, which made me curious. The band’s singer has pulled his jeans down to his knees! Some pantsless folk were dancing to the music. Smiling faces all over.

6. Some people are not observant. While trying to navigate the subway, I stopped to view a map on a platform. A woman who had been reading the map turned around and asked me,

“Does it matter if we take the N, Q, or R to get to 14th street?”

“No, all of them will take you there. It only matters if you ride it past Canal Street, here.”

“Okay, thanks!”

She never noticed that she had this conversation with a pantsless guy.

I had such a great time at my first event and will certainly be doing it again.

Because my group was in the 10th car and it was such a long walk on the platform to get there, we didn’t (unfortunately) get too many ‘normal’ people to join in our cars, but that certainly didn’t take away from anything.

The most memorable moment was a little unamused old man. I’d have to guess that he had wanted to get on an earlier car, saw what was going on, and kept walking to hopefully avoid it. He shuffled onto our car and, without looking around, loudly stated, “There are a bunch of weirdos on the trains today… Aww, Jesus Christ, you’re here too!”

Overall, it was an incredible time to be had, but I do have one big gripe…

After the event ended at Union Square, left without command or direction, it wasn’t long before mob mentality took over, and the spirit was lost. A couple thousand people singing and dancing in a park is one thing, but when a few hundred make begin disrupting traffic and bursting their way into stores, it gives the entire event a bad name.

Unfortunately, I can’t put the blame completely on the ones involved in the mayhem. They were looking for an way to continue the celebration, didn’t have an outlet, and once mob mentality was in charge, they didn’t seem to know any better.

I’d have preferred to see the celebration at Union last about 30 minutes, then have people with megaphones disperse the group… give them options of places to go (local bars offering specials and such), but tell everyone that they have to leave- so it can’t get out of hand.

Thank you so much!! Seriously guys – I look forward to this all year! I’m way down here where mass transit is practically unheard of. One day, I’ll haul my southern tail up there for a No Pants Ride!
Keep it up!

Hey everybody this is LJ! I was the group leader for the E train group 2! Just wanted to say that everybody did an amazing job yesterday staying in character! Thanks for showing me another amazing year. So much fun!
Always,
LJ

Kudos to the girl on the 6 who locked her feet on the rail and hung held upside down pantsless by a stranger!!! Can’t wait for next year!!