Improv Everywhere

Imagine walking around in your local Home Depot in an oh-so-everyday quest for eco-friendly lightbulbs when all of a sudden, 225 of your shopper buddies go slow-mo. A ten-second step with the left foot, and a ten-second step with the right. Five minutes later, the phenomenon stops and everything's back to normal - for five minutes. Then, after a brief stream of normalcy, the 225 who freaked you out a moment ago decide to take it to a stand still right where they're shopping in synchronyzed blink.

It's not a protest, it's not a sudden epileptic plague, and oh my gosh your not an extra on a new episode of the twilight zone. (even though your dissapointed) Unknowingly, you've been a witness to one of the many missions of a large-scale acting troupe called Improv Everywhere.

Improv Everywhere is a group of improvisational artists headed by a man named Charlie Todd. Prior to the Home Depot headlock, the group of 225 "agents" probably met in a park where Charlie adressed them via megaphone and they synchronized their watches so that all would go as planned on their secret "mission." Stopping time in superstores however, isn't all they do.

On their website and on YouTube.com, there are documentations of dozens of missions where masses of seemingly ordinary characters in ordinary places do out of the ordinary acts. They create scenes in subway stations, (a surprise birthday party, the no pants project, and an interactive wedding proposal) food courts (where they did an all-out spontaneous musical production - which hold the title as my personal favorite) and even places like public fountains and fast food restaurants.

Recently in my history class, we examined one of thier missions. It was called "The Best Gig Ever." The idea of the mission was to take an unpopular, nobody, never-happening band from Vermont and give them the feeling of having the best gig ever at their predetermined "lame" Sunday night show in a New York City club.

To accomplish this mission, the troupe prepared before the show by making t-shirts, reving up their dance moves and memorizing all the words to the songs on the album. At the show, the throng of fake fans acted as if they were the bands biggest fans. EVER. Shouting out requests, jumping on stage, and shouting out lyrics.

The band had no idea. They we're still under the impression that their dreams had come true. Fans from a place they don't habitate, a packed night club and autographed CDs. They'd waited their whole lives for a feeling like this.

Weeks later, courousing through the web of wireless, they found the disclaimer: Improv Everywhere had staged everything. Their excitement went to the backlash. They finally felt like they were going somewhere and now everyone knew they were a joke.

It brought up the question of whether or not what they had done was artistic display of support and a wish granted unexpectedly, or a massive insensitive prank. It seems harmless and it made the band feel good- which was thier goal. It was a good idea at the time, but I think that the consequences should have been considered a little more carefully.

Although the fame-high was nice for a week or so, the end result was painful and humiliating. I'm still out on what I think of the whole thing. It was a good idea in theory.

Anyway, no harm was done by the agents who only wore their underpinnings on the subway.
Improv Everywhere: I approve.

*for additional procrastination, check out the links