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Causing a Scene: Extraordinary Pranks in Ordinary Places with Improv Everywhere
A fake U2 concert. A deranged hypnotist.
A book signing by a dead author.
Welcome to the wild world of Improv Everywhere.
From the infamous No Pants Subway Ride to the legendary Grand Central Freeze, Improv Everywhere has been responsible for some of the most original and subversive pranks of the Internet age. In "Causing a Scene," the group's agents provide
...moreHardcover, 272 pages
Published
June 1st 2009
by William Morrow & Company
(first published January 1st 2009)
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This book reflects upon some of the most successful missions completed by Improv Everywhere, a New York based comedy group that stages harmless--though chaotic--pranks throughout the city. Examples include (my personal favorite) an Anton Chekhov book signing at Barnes and Noble, an Olympic Trial synchronized swimming bid in the Washington Square Park fountain, and how they froze time in Grand Central Terminal.
The book is very well-organized with firsthand accounts from the actual agent...more
The book is very well-organized with firsthand accounts from the actual agent...more
David A.
added it
This could have been so much better a book. I bought it after seeing the author present on his experience leading Improv Everywhere, a group that has blown my mind over and over. He showed us video of their missions, ranging from a group of fifty or so dressing like Best Buy staff and loitering at Best Buy, to several hundred people freezing in the middle of Grand Central Terminal, to the annual "No Pants Day" onthe New York Subway, to the very moving bell choir taking over a Salvation...more
While Charlie Todd's accounts of his Improv Everywhere pranks are pretty entertaining (if badly copyedited--why does the publishing world think editing is no longer a necessity? It's embarrassing), my main conclusion is that Todd is kind of an insensitive jerk. Sorry, Charlie. I suspect he even thinks this himself, given how many times he insists his pranks are "victimless." I guess it depends on how you define "victim." It seems to me the cab driver who was absolutely elated...more
Everyone has probably heard of or seen the "freeze" in Grand Central Station from early 2008. (If not, check it out! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jwMj3PJDx...). That prank and many others were organized by the group Improv Everywhere, which was founded by Charlie Todd in the summer of 2001 in New York. While not the first such group, Improv Everywhere is arguably the most successful, inspiring copycat pranks and a worldwide network of "Urban Pranksters."
This...more
This...more
How did I not know about www.improveeverywhere.com? I think this is the most heartwarming experiment ever. Pranks have always seemed somewhat malicious to me, but these are fun and harmless ways to bring a community of strangers together for a shared experience.
My favorite improvs include:
The Time Loop, where you get a group of people together to perform the same scene over and over again for 1 hour, making the onlookers think that they are in a time loop. The example i...more
My favorite improvs include:
The Time Loop, where you get a group of people together to perform the same scene over and over again for 1 hour, making the onlookers think that they are in a time loop. The example i...more
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Absolutely brilliant! This little gem chronicles the antics of New York's "Improv Everywhere," which stages victimless stunts designed to give their impromptu audiences incredible, usually joyful stories to share for the rest of their lives. I was intrigued by the concept, and started reading as soon as the book arrived. Almost immediately, I was laughing out loud and had to share a scene with my family. After the second shared vignette, my family all agreed they wanted to read Causing...more
Craig
rated it
Recommends it for:
Those needing a break from murder, genocide, etc
Recommended to Craig by:
NPR (or was it Bob Edwards?)
After recently reading books about murder, making mistakes, identity theft, genocide, corruption and torturing animals, this was a nice break. It is a VERY light, breezy book. No heavy lifting (or thinking) required. Your head (or heart) will not hurt at the end of it.
It's funny, some reviews say the book is not as good as the videos it talks about. I watched a couple of the videos when I was half-way through the book and thought they didn't live up to what I had read. So, I stuck w...more
It's funny, some reviews say the book is not as good as the videos it talks about. I watched a couple of the videos when I was half-way through the book and thought they didn't live up to what I had read. So, I stuck w...more
I've followed the antics of Improv Everywhere online since I got introduced to them via the wonders of the Best Buy trick. (That said, they're probably better known as the guys behind No Pants Day.)
I have done similar things with flashmobs in San Francisco -- whatever happened to those? -- but there's a part of me who would, if I were ten years younger, pull the freeze trick on Sproul Plaza at lunchtime. %)
Anyway, the book is charming, hilarious, and absolutely wonderful...more
I have done similar things with flashmobs in San Francisco -- whatever happened to those? -- but there's a part of me who would, if I were ten years younger, pull the freeze trick on Sproul Plaza at lunchtime. %)
Anyway, the book is charming, hilarious, and absolutely wonderful...more
This was fun to read, although I think the author could have made it a little easier. I have senn the videos online of different improvs events, such as the people who froze in a train station, or sang and danced to Doe-re-me. There's even one where an impromptu wedding reception is held for a newly married couple. Lots of fun! THis book gives you info on how to create your own scene, but it's a bit confusing. Still good info if you want to do an improv like this!!!
Todd and Sordelis' account of the genesis and continued hijinks of a loosely organized group of people willing to make all kinds of scens in public is fun and inspiring! Some of the "missions" they describe are simple, like "get a bunch of people to show up at Best Buy dressed in blue polos and khakis". Some are incredibly complex, like "recreate the same 5 minutes over and over for an hour". All of them are entertaining!
Loved the idea of the book and reading about all the things done. I've long wanted to be involved with something like this so it was fun to read about it.
The writing was not so great. A lot of repetition. Some of it didn't flow very well. A little too gimmicky. I would have preferred the authors just tell the stories - that would have made a much better book.
The writing was not so great. A lot of repetition. Some of it didn't flow very well. A little too gimmicky. I would have preferred the authors just tell the stories - that would have made a much better book.
This is an excellent showcase of Improve Everywhere's most prominent and successful experiments. The stories themselves are hilarious. The book includes 'tips' to pull off similar pranks of your own, and testimonials from key persons within each notorious prank. This is fabulous and entertaining - almost as much as seeing Improv Everywhere at work.
Great read! If you love pranks, viral stunts, guerrilla tactics, or just admire those who can pull them off successfully, this book is for you. Written by the geniuses at Improv Everywhere, best known for getting hundreds of people to simultaneously freeze in place in Grand Central Station.
A great little book that documents Improv Everywhere's pranks & performances. 80+ improv actors / actresses in khakis & blue polo shirts invade Best Buy one at a time. This book made me smile to read the behind the scenes planning and stories of the groups greatest public performances.
I guess I expected more chuckles or inspiration from this book. The videos and such are great, and perhaps discussing them just doesn't have the same impact. Great group - if there was one in my town I'd be a regular participant. But I found this book only mildly interesting.
A fun read, and a great reminder to enjoy interactions and playing around - even if you're grown up and responsible. I'll admit I skimmed over parts; it's mostly great just to get the concepts so you can YouTube the videos and actually see people's reactions.
I've been watching the Improv Everywhere videos on You Tube since the Frozen Grand Central event. It's great, harmless fun. Check them out for yourself.
http://www.youtube.com/user/ImprovEveryw...
http://www.youtube.com/user/ImprovEveryw...
A slight, but fun read. A perfect airplane book. Also, good inspiration for coming up with nice "street" ad ideas, even though just saying that is somehow already outdated. Ah, advertising.
My vicarious thrills from reading about Improv Everywhere's adventures make me long to live in NYC again and participate as an agent. Meanwhile, I continue to make mischief in my own ways.
This book would have been much better if it was not a book. What do I mean? When your subject matter is intricately planned pranks executed on a large scale, why settle for print when most of these "missions" were filmed. This group peaked my interest when I saw their story of "The Best Gig Ever" on This American Life. Wouldn't it have made more sense to release all the footage as a documentary style DVD similar to the This American Life segment?
All that aside...more
All that aside...more
i picked up the book because i liked the cover design, having no idea what i was getting myself into!! enjoying the pranks/performance art & cross referencing it on you tube. a hoot!
An interesting book but with some bad language from bystanders to the pranks. It's interesting to observe the reactions of bystanders and also police.
A must have for every true IE fan... oh, and the guy who took some of the photos is pretty awesome, and gives great book reviews.
This book was a solid 4.5 stars. I don't remember the last time I laughed out lout so many times reading a book.
I love Improv Everywhere! It was so great to read about their missions. Plowed through this in a weekend.
I haven't stopped laughing for two weeks! Read it!
victimless, infectious fun!
improveverywhere.com
improveverywhere.com
A light read, but truly fun.
jainabee
rated it
Recommends it for:
pranksters, tricksters, interactive surrealists
Recommended to jainabee by:
Mechanics Institute Library
Playful accounts of the public shenanigans of those crazy kids at Improv Everywhere, complete with How-To instructions!!
Love the pranks but not the book.
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Charlie Todd is the founder of Improv Everywhere, producing, directing, performing, and documenting the group's work for over seven years. He is also a teacher and performer of improv comedy at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre in New York City.
Author page at Harper Collins
More about Charlie Todd...
Author page at Harper Collins
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