XVR27's Whose Improv Is It Anyway? Page - About "Prompts"
Whose Improv Is It Anyway? : Original On-The-Spot Satire
What Are "Prompts"?
What are "prompts"?
- Prompts are ... suggestions on how to make an improv game unique.
- Prompts are ... original ideas that should add flavor to an improv game.
- Prompts are ... the one part of an improv game that changes every time it is played to make it fun and exciting each time.
Where do prompts come from?
- Prompts can be suggested by the audience or group of spectator.
- Prompts can be chosen by a moderator.
- Prompts can be accumulated over time and stored in a container for random selection later.
How (and when) are prompts collected?
- Some prompts can be called out by the audience/spectators.
- Some prompts are collected before the games begin.
- Some prompts are written down ahead of time on small, folded-up slips of paper.
When are the prompts announced?
- Some prompts are revealed as the game is being described as part of the directions.
- Some prompts are revealed just as the game begins.
- Some prompts are revealed once the game is under way.
- Some prompts are revealed after the game has been completed.
How should prompts be chosen?
- Prompts should be chosen because they are appropriate for everyone present.
- Prompts should be chosen because they are unique and original.
- Prompts should be chosen because they are NOT impossible to act out, use, etc.
What are the different types of prompts?
- Character prompts ask for a particular character or character trait that one actor will use throughout an improv game.
- Character prompts can be a specific character/historical figure, or taking a general (or specific) character (or person) and putting them in a specific situation.
- Examples: "Robin Williams" or "Superman" or "A chimpanzee" or "A farmer who just caught his daughter in a hayloft"
- Music Style prompts ask for a style of music to be utilized during the improv game.
- Music Style prompts can be a general music style or a specific band or musician.
- Examples: "Grunge Rock" or "Classical" or "Red Hot Chili Peppers" or "Madonna"
- Scenario prompts are a plot or stoyline that the game will follow.
- Scenario prompts include the setting (time and place) and change the way the actors react to different things happening.
- Example: "A dragon (actor 1) is attacking the castle while the knight (actor 2) attempts to save the princess (actor 3)"
- Example: "Two members of a motorcycle gang (actors 1 and 2) are running from a traffic cop (actor 3)"
- Topic prompts are very specific and different for each type of improv game.
- Some topic prompts are simple ideas, like "a letter of the alphabet" or "two unlikely roommates"
- Some topic prompts are general ideas, like "a type of profession" or "a group of people" or "something you hate"
- Some topic prompts are similar to character prompts, only they're assigned to a prop instead of an actor (See "Multiple Personalities")
- Some topic prompts are similar to scenario prompts, except that they do not include a full plot to be acted out (See: "Scenes From A Hat")
- Written prompts are a apecial form of topic prompts that are recorded on slips of paper.
- Written prompts are written down (and collected) ahead of time and stored in a container of some sort.
- Written prompts are usually short and often used for just a part of a game.
- The two basic types of written prompts are "a line of dialogue" and "a scene to act out". Always keep these two types separate and know which is which.
- Examples (lines of dialogue): "Let's get jiggy with it!" or "My poodle's caught in a heater vent!"
- Examples (scenes to act out): "Ways to describe your boss but not your new car" or "What musicians would be like sober"
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