Creating A Scene - The Improv Everywhere story

Charlie Todd was just another aspiring actor in NY City. Todd's aspirations took on a different trajectory one night when he received a friend in his apartment. "Hi Ben Folds!"
Todd decided that as a gag, he and his buddy should put their acting chops to the test by posing as Mr. Folds and a dedicated fan in a bar. Ten minutes after they enter separately, Todd's buddy approaches him at the bar and calls him "out" as the pop pianist. Amazingly, it succeeds and the two become the toast of the bar. From such humble beginnings was Improv Everywhere spawned.

Their Youtube channel has recieved millions of views for their "Food Court Musical" (People stand and add verses with no seeming connection between performers' lives), "Frozen Grand Central" (Agents are planted in the infamously busy terminal and pause in position for three and a half minutes, drawing the attention and curiosity of the daily commuters), and the awkward "No Pants Subway Ride" held annually (It is what it sounds...).

This book, "Creating a Scene" is an insider's view of the work that goes into these "victimless" pranks, and first person accounts, views, tips, and suggestions for how to pull them off on as smaller level in your community. My favorite one to read about was "the Moebius," a mission that revolved around a group of 7 "agents" performing the same series of actions for an hour of 5 minute loops. By the third iteration, people began to notice the pattern. The video quality for the prank (found on Youtube) was spotty, grainy, and sounded mostly of murmurs. Still the person carrying the boombox blaring "Shiny Happy People" was pretty funny!

Good book, though odd. These NY pranksters have greater plans for the entertainment and bemusement of Big Apple natives and tourists for years to come - It is New York! A crazy country all to itself. From "McDonald's Bathroom Attendant" handing out mints and cologne to cheap eatery visitors to "Dead Author Meet and Greet" with a fake Anton Chekhov at Barnes & Noble.