Frequently Asked Questions answered by Improv Everywhere founder, Charlie Todd
How do I sign up to participate?
If you live in the NYC area and want to participate in our events, sign up for our New York mailing list on our Mailing Lists page.
Our smaller missions are usually limited to those who have been with the group for long periods of time, but there are a couple of opportunities each year to get involved with our larger missions. No experience is required, just a desire to have fun and an ability to keep a straight face.
I live somewhere other than New York, can you help me do something similar in my area?
We do not sanction official branches of Improv Everywhere, but those interested in participating in Improv Everywhere-style events in their own city should join The Urban Prankster Network. There is probably already a local “IE-inspired” group created there for your area. Join it and get involved. We request that groups do not use “Improv Everywhere” in their name. There are no “chapters” of Improv Everywhere. By all means, link to this site and credit us as the source of your inspiration, but also make clear that you are an independent group not officially affiliated.
Can I use your ideas?
With the exception of The Mp3 Experiment, you are welcome to try out any of our ideas in your own town as long as it is not for commercial purposes and you do not imply it is an official Improv Everywhere event. If you do use one of our ideas, please give us credit and link back to our site. The Mp3 Experiment is a project that we often tour, and we therefore ask that you do not create your own versions. If you want to have us bring The Mp3 Experiment to your town, contact a local school, conference, or festival and tell them to hire us!
Do you do speaking engagements? Will you come visit my college or corporate conference?
Yes. Here is some information on the Improv Everywhere Live show.
Would you come to my theatre/arts festival and speak and/or do a mission?
We enjoy traveling when our schedule permits and have been to several festivals in the US and abroad. If you have a budget to cover travel expenses and an artist’s fee for at least two of us, we would definitely consider it.
I am visiting New York City. Is there a mission happening when I’m there?
If you’re planning to be in the NY area, join the NY mailing list and you’ll be notified if there is anything going on. You can easily unsubscribe from the list after your trip. Also keep an eye out on our site for our annual events (No Pants, Mp3 Experiment.) These tend to be announced about a month in advance.
Is there an age-limit to participating?
Improv Everywhere missions are open to people of all ages. We suggest that anyone under the age of 18 have their parent’s permission to participate.
Why do you do this?
Improv Everywhere is, at its core, about having fun. We’re big believers in “organized fun”. Our missions are a fun source of entertainment for the participants, those who happen to see us live, and those who read this website. We get satisfaction from coming up with an awesome idea and making it come to life. In the process we bring excitement to otherwise unexciting locales and give strangers a story they can tell for the rest of their lives. We’re out to prove that a prank doesn’t have to involve humiliation or embarrassment; it can simply be about making someone laugh, smile, or stop to notice the world around them.
How did it start?
In August of 2001, I went out to a West Village bar with my college buddies Brandon Arnold and Jon Karpinos. On a whim we decided to pull a prank where I would pose as musician Ben Folds. Three hours later, “Ben Folds” was drinking on the house surrounded by women and his “two big fans” were thrown out of the bar for “stealing Ben Folds’ wallet”. I had always been a prankster, but this experience enlightened me as to how far a prank could be taken. As an actor new to the city, I discovered I could create my own theatre rather than waiting around for someone to give me stage time. Bored at my temp job the next Monday morning, I wrote the story down and put it on the web. Improv Everywhere was born.
How can you call it “improv”? Your missions are clearly pre-planned!
We are not claiming that what we are doing is improv. The majority of Improv Everywhere Agents met each other through the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre in New York, the nation’s most awesome improv theatre and school. The name reflects our idea of taking some of the skills we learned at UCB and bringing them to life in public places. We stay in character at all costs and interact with members of the public with no script beyond the mission’s idea. We have no clue how people are going to react to us, and that is where the improvisation comes in. Sometimes people misread our URL as “Improve Everywhere.” We think that’s probably a better name for what we try to do.
Aren’t these flash mobs?
No. Improv Everywhere was created about 2 years before the first “flash mob.” While some of our missions may have certain similarities to a flash mob (large numbers of people appearing in a public place and then disappearing suddenly), we really don’t have anything to do with flash mobbing. Some missions use just a few folks while others might use hundreds, depending on the idea and depending on how many people show up to participate.
Have you ever been in trouble with the law?
We’re not looking for legal trouble, but on occasion it has found us. See Even Better Than The Real Thing, No Pants 2k6, and Best Buy for examples of missions where the police got involved. We may break store policies or park regulations from time to time, but we do not break the law. It’s unfortunate whenever a cop has his time wasted responding to something we do.
How will I know when you update the site with a new mission?
Sign up for our Mailing List. We only send out emails when the site has been updated, and we will never share your email address with anyone else. You can also stay informed by subscribing to our RSS feed and subscribing to our YouTube Channel.
I have an idea for a mission for you guys. Do you want to hear it?
Yes! Many of our greatest conquests have come from ideas from other people. Feel free to email us your ideas. Contact us here. Please remember that we have been doing this since 2001 and probably have thought of your idea or had it sent to us already by someone else. That said, no harm in sending one in. It may wind up being the inspiration for our next great mission.
Are there any ideas you get all the time?
Yes. Here are a few ideas that we have heard many, many times:
- Get a bunch of people to stand behind someone and pretend they are the Verizon “network,” like in those commercials.
- Recreate that “banned xbox” commercial from YouTube where people use their fingers as guns.
- Get a bunch of people to stare up at the sky and pretend like they are looking at something amazing.
- Act like a stranger (or an agent) is someone important by putting secret service agents all around him.
- Act like a stranger (or an agent) is famous and have a fake paparazzi mob him.
- Do something involving zombies and/or the Thriller dance.
- Have tons of people go into a store and buy the exact same thing. (Or request an item that doesn’t exist. Or everyone pay in pennies. Or order the same small item in a fast food chain.)
Is there a dream mission idea that you’ve thought about doing but haven’t yet pulled off?
Not really. When we get excited about an idea, we do it. We usually have a short-list of possible upcoming ideas, but if something is truly great, we pick a date and make it happen.
Can you help me come up with an idea for a prank at my school? Can you tell me if you like my idea? Can you give me tips?
There is a discussion forum on The Urban Prankster Network where you can ask questions and brainstorm ideas with Improv Everywhere fans all over the world. If you need inspiration, why not buy and read our book?
Can you do a prank that draws attention to my cause?
No. Even if it’s a noble cause we personally support, Improv Everywhere does not stage missions to draw attention to an issue. We are focused on creating comedy for comedy’s sake and staging events that purposefully have no explicit reason behind them, other than the goal of spreading chaos and joy throughout the world.
Can you play a prank on my friend / help me propose to my girlfriend?
No. Improv Everywhere does not do missions that are “set ups.” We also simply do not have time to act on personal requests.
I work for a brand / marketing firm / advertising agency, can we hire you?
Maybe. We do not stage official Improv Everywhere missions that advertise a brand. However, we have in the past worked with companies as creative consultants helping to develop campaigns and as video producers creating content for a brand. We have also staged pranks at internal meetings and conventions for corporate clients. We do this work independent of Improv Everywhere, and will not use this site or its resources to promote it.
We also take on sponsorship from time to time. If a company wants to hire us to simply do a mission we already want to do (with their brand having nothing to do with the content,) we would consider sponsorship. We think this video is a good example of a brand sponsoring a project.
Why would you ever work with a brand? Isn’t that against the spirit of IE?
Taking on occasional corporate gigs helps us continue to do what we do. Doing a small amount of corporate work (while keeping it separate from Improv Everywhere,) allows us to pay our New York City rents and fund future Improv Everywhere events. In terms of taking on a sponsor, we see it as no different than a television show being supported by commercials. So long as our content is not influenced by the sponsor, we think it is a smart way to fund our work.
I’m a journalist. Can I come to your next mission and cover it?
We make it a policy not to have the media along for missions as it tends to complicate things and take away the element of surprise. We make some exceptions but they are very rare. I’m usually happy to do an interview if it fits my schedule, and we can usually provide footage or photos of past missions for your story.
Do you have a day job?
I teach improv at the UCB Theatre in New York. I also perform there weekly with my improv team Reuben Williams and with my ridiculous wrestling league UCBW.
Have you ever considered doing this for television?
We made a pilot for NBC in 2007. It was a blast to make, but unfortunately it was not picked up. We may give it another shot one day if the right opportunity comes along. If you are a producer and want to get in touch with us, please give us as much information about yourself as possible (credits, etc.) We get contacted by lots of producers.
What is your all-time favorite mission?
It’s very hard for me to pick a favorite. When asked, I usually respond with The Moebius, Look Up More, or Even Better Than The Real Thing, depending on my mood. As a participant, the most fun I’ve had was running around in The Mp3 Experiment Four and playing Ben Folds’ piano in Ben Folds Fake.
Can I buy some stuff?
Yes! We have t-shirts, a DVD, and a book.
Is Improv Everywhere on Facebook and Twitter?
Yes: Official Improv Everywhere Facebook Page. Official Improv Everywhere Twitter Account.
How about some maps?
We have a map that shows you the location of all of our missions to date: Improv Everywhere Mission Map. We also have a Frappr map where Improv Everywhere fans can add their own location: Global Agents Map
What is Urban Prankster?
Urban Prankster is a blog I write that covers pranks, hacks, participatory art, flash mobs, and other creative endeavors that take place in public places in cities across the world. If you’re interested in that type of stuff, subscribe to it! New content is posted regularly.
I’m doing a paper on Improv Everywhere for a class assignment, can I send you some questions?
Unfortunately I have to say no to interview requests for student class assignments. I get multiple requests a week, and I just don’t have time to deal with them all. There are links to many articles that have been written on us in the press section of the site, which you can quote for your paper. You can also quote my words anywhere on this website.
