How to handle drunken idiots at your improv show
All it takes to ruin a perfectly good improv show is that one drunken idiot. And, a lack of routines for how to deal with them.
Here are a few suggestions for some simple, yet effective routines that might apply to your community. These suggestions are based on my experience as co-founder and leader of the Impro Neuf community in Oslo, as well as a decade of ushering at various theaters, concerts, and shows.
Step 1: Establish the role of MPIC.
Step 2: Establish a simple set of actions to deal with drunken idiots.
Step 1: Establishing the MPIC
The MPIC is the Main Person In Charge of your show. And everyone who is a part of it should know who that person is on the night of yout show. This could be your stage manager or team captain, depending on the size of your operation.
Without an MPIC you’ll get a crash course in the bystander effect and how one drunken idiot can make a whole group feel insecure. Not just the audience but also the performers on stage. We’re all waiting for someone to deal with the situation because we’re afraid to get involved ourselves.
The MPIC is responsible for knowing the routines, inform those who need to know about them before the show, and implement them if and when it’s needed. In other words, to step up when drunken idiots are causing a disturbance by doing or delegating accordingly.
The MPIC is also responsible for making themselves available before, during, and after the show.
Step 2: Establishing a simple set of actions
The following are based on the routines I made for Impro Neuf and the Oslo Impro Festival. Every show had an MPIC, a host/MC, one or more performing teams, volunteers selling tickets and ushering, plus sound and light improvisers (tech). The routines were available in paper format to all roles.
A general summary for what do do when people can’t behave
The MPIC has the main responsibility for dealing with people who can’t behave and is your go-to for all safety concerns! Our venue is OUR playground and we decide what goes or not!
The First Line of defense: Ushers/Ticket Sales/Volunteers
- First Line informs the MPIC about the situation if possible.
- First Line is encouraged to politely ask the disturbing party to quiet down. If they can reach them, that is. Some theaters have seating that makes that difficult. If so, wait for the break to approach them. Most people will apologize and quiet down if asked nicely.
- First Line has the authority to deny entrance before or during the show, as well as to ask people to leave.
- Inform the MPIC if they refuse to quiet down or leave.
The Second Line of defense: Performers/Host
Acknowledge their ramblings and make it a part of the show if you want to, but don’t feel obligated to placate to the drunken idiot. Again, this is OUR playground. I’d suggest approaching this with a friendly and playful attitude if you can, because the drunken idiot’s friends might turn on you or the idiot can go from friendly drunk to hostile drunk.
One or more of the improvisers can also sneak off the stage to confront them during the show to let them know that they’re disturbing the show, the rest of the audience and that they’ll be asked to leave if they don’t quiet down.
There are many tricks for dealing with unruly audience members, but they’ve been left out of because I want to keep the routines as short and readable as possible.
The Third Line of defense: Sound/Light
Cut to commercial. Or in this case, consider an early intermission, giving the MPIC room to deal with the situation. Whatever time lost can be reclaimed after the break, when the drunken idiot have been kicked out.
The Fourth Line of defense: MPIC or Other Authorities
Contact the appropriate authorities if the drunken idiot is refusing to vacate the premises.
Tradition dictates that the show must go on, but the MPIC has the authority to pause or stop the show to protect the health and safety of everyone in the room, even the drunken idiot. If so, inform the audience about what is happening and consider establishing a dialogue to answer any questions they might have, as well as offering them free tickets to the next show.
Some additional stuff:
Address the elephant in the room if the situation calls for it. There are many ways to do this but the only thing you risk is making everyone in the room feel safe by showing them that you know whats going on and that you’re dealing with it, so they don’t have to.
Update your routines regularly and keep them simple, available, and readable. Simple routines are easier to follow, available routines are more likely to be read by everyone and readable routines are more practical in a dark theatrical venue. So try to keep it to one A4 page. Print, laminate or put it in a binder (don’t forget the link to the pdf) and find the right font and size. And keep flashlights available.
Be clear when asking for audience suggestions. It’s our job to train our audiences. Be careful that you’re not training yours to be hecklers.
Debrief after incidents. And update your routines.
Take turns being the MPIC. Safety is always our shared responsibility. And I can guarantee you that always having to be the person who steps up is lonely and tiring work.
Terje Brevik is the founder of Tøyen Impro and the Oslo Impro Festival. He’s also the co-founder and former director of Impro Neuf, Norway’s biggest and most inclusive improv community. Terje teaches and performs improvised theater on and off stage and he loves to travel. Check out his stuff and connect at terjebrevik.com
