Ask fors are the name given to questions one puts to audience to get a seed for a scene. In essence ask fors are what differentiates improv from all other forms of theatre. When the improviser asks the audience for a suggestion to start the scene it proves to one and all that the scene is improvised, and often challenges the improvisers to work with content they would have never thought of themselves. Ask fors are improv.
Be nice to your audience. Often making a suggestion is the closest anyone will get to performing in theatre. Never put a suggestion down, it is your job to wrangle it into something workable while making the audience member look good (like any other improvising colleague). It is good form to repeat the suggestion back the audience to make you heard it right. Thank the audience member for the suggestion. And then turn to your team and state “this scene will somehow involve [insert ask for here].”
- A dog is to a cat like a walrus is to a BLANK.
- A poor choice for collateral.
- Can I get a crucial moment in history?
- Can I get a location that fits on the stage?
- Can I get a non-geographical location?
- Can I get a polysyllabic noun that starts with the letter D (F, G, etc)?
- Can I have a relationship between two people?
- Fill in the blank. The -blank- holiday.
- Fill in the blanks. For every -blank- there are seven -blanks-.
- How do we know God is a woman?
- I’m sorry but the dog ate my BLANK.
- If god were an atheist what would god have called religion?
- If Mac’s were actually decent computers what would they be called?
- If money could buy you love, how much would it take?
- If there was no fire what would you use to keep warm?
- If you could change one thing about your life, what would it be?
- If you could defy any natural law, what would it be?
- If you could go on holiday in any year in history, when would it be?
- If you could invent a new human organ what would it be?
- If you could replace your boss with an animal, what animal would it be?
- If you could replace your spleen with something, what would it be?
- If you could work at a Federal Penitentary what job would you choose?
- May I get a backyard activity?
- May I get an occupation that involves no risk of physical injury?
- My post-it notes don’t work, they are covered in -blank-.
- Name a new type of PhD.
- Please describe your favourite physical exertion that is mimed.
- Please fill in the blank. The -blank- family.
- Please name a bad none clothing replacement for pants.
- Tell me what was your favourite toy as a child?
- Tell us the meanest thing a co-worker did to your cubicle.
- They’re not really fighting over oil, they are fighting over BLANK ?
- Those are not tears of sadness they are tears of BLANK.
- We know the seven habits of highly effective people, what is the ninth?
- What am I holding in my hands (hold up hands)?
- What animal does your spouse remind you of?
- What are you planning to do on your next day off?
- What best describes the human mating ritual?
- What did you want to be when you grew up?
- What does it take to wake you up in the morning?
- What food type should have a seven day waiting period?
- What is a lame excuse for NOT being given a speeding ticket?
- What is a room in the house?
- What is an annoying personal habit?
- What is the best thing to have in your pants?
- What is the integral of 3Xcubed?
- What is the name of an unlikely superhero?
- What is the opposite of the colour (blue)?
- What is the thirteenth commandment?
- What is the worst excuse you have heard for missing work (school, church)?
- What is your favourite cereal topping?
- What is your favourite fruit (vegetable, meat etc.)?
- What is your uncle’s favourite hobby?
- What profession should not (should) play with silly putty?
- What should Microsoft’s next “killer app” be?
- What vegetable should a computer be named after?
- Whats your favorite Candy Bar?
- Where is a bad place to take a date?
- Which human virtue would you like to be able to control?
- Why are you limping this morning?