When it comes to scene starters, you are never constrained by time, space, or any other mundane concerns.
As we mention in our book, The 5 Elements of Improv, “The point to be made here is that with improv you are limited only by yourself. You can quite literally do anything in a scene. You can be anything. You can go anywhere.” Keep this in mind when considering scene starters.
That being said, it’s a rather sweeping non-answer to the question, while at the same time answering it completely.
Potential improv topics are, quite literally, limitless. Depending on the style of improv you are performing, a great deal of the choice in the matter may be left up to the audience and their answers to your ask-fors. Their suggestions will guide you, but you have the power to guide them with your requests. The more specific your ask-for, the more interesting the answers will tend to be.
Some of our favorite ask-fors:
- What is the manliest thing you’ve ever done? (Usually, but not necessarily, asked of a female audience member)
- What is it about your grandchildren that baffles you?
- Think of a favorite action movie. What is a location in that movie?
- What’s the last thing you bought online? (A potentially dangerous question depending on your audience)
- What is something you regret not doing?
- What is something too dangerous for you to try?
- Name one of your pet peeves.
- What is something you enjoy that would surprise the people who know you?
The list could go on and on, but you get the point. If you are looking for specific suggestions for scene starters, try the book, Improvisation Starters (revised edition) by Philip Bernardi. With this book in hand you can riffle through the pages and randomly pick any of 1000 different situations as improv topics.
Keep your eyes and ears open; everything around you is fodder for your art. Don’t look for the funny, look for the interesting. Funny gets old fast; interesting is always…interesting.
The 5 Elements of Improv – How to Take Your Improv to the Next Level