What is an Ask-For?
An ask-for is a prompt from the improvisers to the crowd to solicit a suggestion. Then, the suggestion is a prompt from the crowd to the improvisers to inspire a scene or set. The inspiration should come from the suggestion, not the ask-for. Since the improvisers provide the ask-for, it shouldn’t be part of their inspiration. For example, Improviser asks for the subject of your most recent nightmare. The audience says, “Spiders!” The scene starts with an improviser saying, “I had the worst nightmare about spiders.” That’s a no-no. The improvisers are the ones who mentioned a nightmare, and the suggestion is simply “spiders.” But I digress. As someone who has to ask-for quite a bit, I’ve gotten into a bit of a rut in my prompts. Here are some thoughts on good ask-fors.
What Makes for a Good Ask-For?
Make them funny.
Improv is spontaneous and fun, so if it’s possible to make your prompts funny, go for it. If you can make your audience laugh, they’ll be more likely to enjoy the show. It also helps to warm them up to laugh, and to be engaging right off the bat so they’re rooting for your success.
Be energetic.
Ask-fors are usually right at the beginning of a show, so act like you want to be there! Come out with some energy! Smile! Thank the audience for coming to see your show! Be happy to be improvising!
Keep them short and simple.
The best prompts are short and simple. This will make it easier for the improvisers to come up with ideas and start the scene. Also, the show isn’t the prompt (usually). The prompt inspires the show (usually). If your prompt is overly long, it’s likely going to take a lot of effort to parse and have the audience come up with a good response.
Be creative.
Don’t be afraid to get creative with your prompts. The more unique and interesting your prompts are, the better start you’ll get the show off to.
Be specific.
“Can I get a word? Any word?” isn’t the worst ask-for, but here’s why I try not to use it. If you ask an audience for any word, they may think, “Well, I know tens of thousands of words,” and they may have a hard time picking the “right” one. If, on the other hand, you ask, “What is a word that sounds like a curse word, but isn’t?” they’ll usually have an easier time giving you something.
Check with your troupe.
I’ve been fortunate enough to not have to deal with this, but if there’s any inkling in your head that the ask-for might be offensive, either (1) don’t do it (duh), or (2) check in with your troupe and make sure everyone is cool with it. And then probably don’t do it, because how is your ask-for offensive?
Give examples by burning the same-olds.
When I ask for something that you interact with every day, I’m going to get smartphone. If you have any “obvious” responses like that, use them as examples to help your audience, while ensuring you won’t get the suggestions you don’t want to hear again at the same time. “Can I get something that you interact with every day, like your smartphone?” You will then get “Dildo,” and you can go ahead and ignore that. We’ll discuss that in an upcoming article.
Think about your audience.
If you can cater your ask-for to your audience’s tastes, all the better. This might not be easy if you’re opening the night, but if you’re entertaining a specific group or you know there’s a bachelorette party in the audience, don’t hesitate to try to fit your ask-for to them.
Think about your show.
Obviously, if you need specific prompts that fit into the format of your show, get those prompts.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help.
If you’re stuck, ask your friends, family, or fellow improvisers for help. They may be able to come up with some great ideas that you hadn’t thought of. You can also ask us! We love talking about improv.
All right, all right. Just give me a few examples of good ask-for prompts. Okay:
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You’re at a party and you see your ex. What is your opening line to them? OR What is your excuse for leaving the party?
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You’re on a desert island and you have to survive with only one item. What do you bring?
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You’re in a time machine and you can go anywhere in history. Where and when do you go?
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You’re a superhero and you have to stop a bank robbery. What is your name, and how do you stop it?
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You’re the mayor of a fictional town. What is the name of the town, and what is its primary industry?
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You’re a spy and you’re on a mission to infiltrate the enemy’s headquarters. What is your code name, and how do you infiltrate the headquarters?
These are just a few examples, but the possibilities are endless. The most important thing is to have fun and be creative. The audience will pick up on your energy, and you’ll get the show off on the right foot. So get out there and start writing some great ask-for prompts! With a little practice, you’ll be writing great ask-for prompts in no time!