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 always opportunities 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?
Those interested in participating in Improv Everywhere-style events in their own city should join The Urban Prankster Network. There is probably already a group created there for your city. Join it to get involved. Our one request is that groups do not use “Improv Everywhere” in their name. Come up with your own name! (Ours isn’t that great in the first place, and we’d like to avoid any confusion.)
When is the next event in my city?
We have no idea. Visit your city’s group on The Urban Prankster Network. Upcoming events in cities across the world are posted on the Urban Prankster blog, so be sure to subscribe to it to stay in the loop.
I am visiting New York City. Is there a mission happening when I’m there?
We usually do not set a date for our missions more than 10 days ahead of time, so there’s no point in asking us 3 months in advance. Email us less than 10 days before your trip and we will let you know if there is something happening you can participate in. 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 in New York?
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.
Can you help me come up with an idea for a prank at my school?
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.
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.
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. I got tired of telling the story to friends, so I typed it up and put it on the web. Improv Everywhere was born.
How can you call it “improv”? Your missions are clearly pre-planned!
Whoa! Settle down, YouTube commenter. 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 idea 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 “flash mob” fad. 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 for 7 years 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.
Where can I buy a t-shirt?
We’ve partnered with the Brooklyn-based Neighborhoodies to make a line of really awesome shirts. They’re available in tons of colors, styles, and sizes. Some are as cheap as $5.99! Check them out: Improv Everywhere t-shirts
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.
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
Will you come visit my college or corporate conference?
Yes. Here is some information on our Improv Everywhere Live show.
Is Improv Everywhere on Facebook?
Yes. Official Improv Everywhere Facebook Group.
This FAQ doesn’t answer all my questions. Can I ask more?
Sure can. Just send us an email.
