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The art of the perfect prank The art of the perfect prank
(40 minutes later)
As April Fools jokers hatch their plans, what's the secret to a perfect prank, asks broadcaster Toby Amies. And how far do the very best tricksters go in preparing their practical jokes?As April Fools jokers hatch their plans, what's the secret to a perfect prank, asks broadcaster Toby Amies. And how far do the very best tricksters go in preparing their practical jokes?
This article is not a hoax. I promise you. It's a serious work about the practical joke.This article is not a hoax. I promise you. It's a serious work about the practical joke.
How far would you go to pull off a prank? The dole queue? In 1987, a young British broadcaster called Chris Morris let off helium into the BBC Bristol studio, causing the newsreader's stories to reach a higher and higher pitch. Chris lost his job. And started his career in satire.How far would you go to pull off a prank? The dole queue? In 1987, a young British broadcaster called Chris Morris let off helium into the BBC Bristol studio, causing the newsreader's stories to reach a higher and higher pitch. Chris lost his job. And started his career in satire.
Would you risk prison? Pranks are often protests, against unfairness or authority or reality. And protest is increasingly risky in the 21st Century.Would you risk prison? Pranks are often protests, against unfairness or authority or reality. And protest is increasingly risky in the 21st Century.
As the film director Billy Wilder said: "If you are going to tell people the truth, be funny or they will kill you."As the film director Billy Wilder said: "If you are going to tell people the truth, be funny or they will kill you."
Whether personal or public, the prank has a point to make, but if you're planning on tricking someone, it's best to ensure everyone gets the joke.Whether personal or public, the prank has a point to make, but if you're planning on tricking someone, it's best to ensure everyone gets the joke.
Russian Art Collective Voina might have gone furthest in making fun of the unfair. Two of their members went to prison.Russian Art Collective Voina might have gone furthest in making fun of the unfair. Two of their members went to prison.
Although Voina's manifesto is political, their activities make more immediate (non)sense, from launching live cats at workers in McDonald's to their most notorious "action" - daubing graffiti on a raised bridge opposite the headquarters of the federal security service in St Petersburg, with an enormous, crude phallus that erected every time the bridge did.Although Voina's manifesto is political, their activities make more immediate (non)sense, from launching live cats at workers in McDonald's to their most notorious "action" - daubing graffiti on a raised bridge opposite the headquarters of the federal security service in St Petersburg, with an enormous, crude phallus that erected every time the bridge did.
Perhaps inevitably, two Voina members were arrested - not for the abstract insult of the penis but for overturning police cars. Voina's name means "war" and they see themselves as part of another Russian revolution, one that refuses to take the very serious seriously at all, even if it means loss of liberty.Perhaps inevitably, two Voina members were arrested - not for the abstract insult of the penis but for overturning police cars. Voina's name means "war" and they see themselves as part of another Russian revolution, one that refuses to take the very serious seriously at all, even if it means loss of liberty.
The pranksters have been bailed out of prison by the world's most internationally famous "anonymous" street artist, Banksy.The pranksters have been bailed out of prison by the world's most internationally famous "anonymous" street artist, Banksy.
With its roots in the mythological trickster who mediated between Heaven and Earth - known by many names in many cultures, like Loki, Anansie, Prometheus, Coyote, Eshu or Brer Rabbit - a good prank allows boundaries to be crossed, including the ones between art and crime, or amateur and professional.With its roots in the mythological trickster who mediated between Heaven and Earth - known by many names in many cultures, like Loki, Anansie, Prometheus, Coyote, Eshu or Brer Rabbit - a good prank allows boundaries to be crossed, including the ones between art and crime, or amateur and professional.
When unemployed Mancunian Karl Power became, for a brief moment the 12th man in Manchester United's team against Munich in 2001 by walking on to the pitch at the right moment in the right kit, he turned every fan's fantasy into reality.When unemployed Mancunian Karl Power became, for a brief moment the 12th man in Manchester United's team against Munich in 2001 by walking on to the pitch at the right moment in the right kit, he turned every fan's fantasy into reality.
But it was the result of two years of careful strategy, he said. "We planned it like a military campaign and brought three United kits with us - red, white and blue." The choice of three kits meant Karl the imposter could blend in with the reality of a Champions League match unnoticed till it was too late.But it was the result of two years of careful strategy, he said. "We planned it like a military campaign and brought three United kits with us - red, white and blue." The choice of three kits meant Karl the imposter could blend in with the reality of a Champions League match unnoticed till it was too late.
Legendary American media hoaxer Joey Skaggs has devoted his whole life to the prank. For more than 30 years, Joey's been making up ridiculous lies that get disseminated so far by the mass media we are forced to wonder if the same media might not be fact-checking every other story so closely.Legendary American media hoaxer Joey Skaggs has devoted his whole life to the prank. For more than 30 years, Joey's been making up ridiculous lies that get disseminated so far by the mass media we are forced to wonder if the same media might not be fact-checking every other story so closely.
"I am an artist. To me the media is a medium and I create plausible but non-existent realities and I stage for the news media to make social, political, satirical commentary.""I am an artist. To me the media is a medium and I create plausible but non-existent realities and I stage for the news media to make social, political, satirical commentary."
Joey simplifies the process as "the hook, line and sinker".Joey simplifies the process as "the hook, line and sinker".
The hook has the bait, a ready-written story, so sexy that a journalist wants it to be true so much they don't bother to check.The hook has the bait, a ready-written story, so sexy that a journalist wants it to be true so much they don't bother to check.
The line is a record of the process. Joey uses clippings services and devices like Google alerts help him chart the reach of the hoax. "I watched how the news media would change the intent, content, meaning of the message to suit their own agendas."The line is a record of the process. Joey uses clippings services and devices like Google alerts help him chart the reach of the hoax. "I watched how the news media would change the intent, content, meaning of the message to suit their own agendas."
Joey has duped the media into covering an embarrassing number of weird but wonderful stories, from his canine brothel, The Cathouse for Dogs, to his celebrity sperm bank, and probably several other stories that are works in progress that have yet to be revealed.Joey has duped the media into covering an embarrassing number of weird but wonderful stories, from his canine brothel, The Cathouse for Dogs, to his celebrity sperm bank, and probably several other stories that are works in progress that have yet to be revealed.
The sinker is the reveal, the moment when the lights go on and we all realise how easy it is to be fooled.The sinker is the reveal, the moment when the lights go on and we all realise how easy it is to be fooled.
It's hard work to overturn reality. Joey creates shell companies, puts out official press releases, hires actors, installs dedicated phone lines, whatever it takes to make the false seem real. It's a wonder he hasn't been headhunted by the financial services industry. The prank on his scale is an artform and consequently a mix of inspiration, craft and industry, imagination and talent is needed.It's hard work to overturn reality. Joey creates shell companies, puts out official press releases, hires actors, installs dedicated phone lines, whatever it takes to make the false seem real. It's a wonder he hasn't been headhunted by the financial services industry. The prank on his scale is an artform and consequently a mix of inspiration, craft and industry, imagination and talent is needed.
False realityFalse reality
Even so, pranking has proved extremely popular as a form of television, the hidden camera pioneered in Allen Funt's Candid Camera in the US allowed the delicious dramatic irony of watching a carefully planned plot unfold from several angles.Even so, pranking has proved extremely popular as a form of television, the hidden camera pioneered in Allen Funt's Candid Camera in the US allowed the delicious dramatic irony of watching a carefully planned plot unfold from several angles.
Television turned the prank into an expensive business with millions at risk. The budgets of TV and film allowed for exactly the kind of careful dramatic plotting that a good prank needs, fortunes were spent in creating versions of reality that were are at once, ridiculous to the viewer and plausible to the victim.Television turned the prank into an expensive business with millions at risk. The budgets of TV and film allowed for exactly the kind of careful dramatic plotting that a good prank needs, fortunes were spent in creating versions of reality that were are at once, ridiculous to the viewer and plausible to the victim.
Nigel Crowle, an associate producer for Noel Edmonds and Jeremy Beadle, describes it as creating "layer upon layer of absurd situations, build it up, to a climax, which really if you analysed it make absolutely no sense whatsoever".Nigel Crowle, an associate producer for Noel Edmonds and Jeremy Beadle, describes it as creating "layer upon layer of absurd situations, build it up, to a climax, which really if you analysed it make absolutely no sense whatsoever".
You almost need to bully your target into accepting a false reality, by not giving them the opportunity to consider the alternatives. Of course this is how advertising works.You almost need to bully your target into accepting a false reality, by not giving them the opportunity to consider the alternatives. Of course this is how advertising works.
Pranksters are the special forces of comedy, getting out into the field to tell truth through laughter and using the public space as a theatre.Pranksters are the special forces of comedy, getting out into the field to tell truth through laughter and using the public space as a theatre.
Charlie Todd's Improv Everywhere most famously froze time in New York's Grand Central Station in a performance that has received millions of views on YouTube. He has used social media as effectively as revolutionaries in the Middle East for feelgood pranks.Charlie Todd's Improv Everywhere most famously froze time in New York's Grand Central Station in a performance that has received millions of views on YouTube. He has used social media as effectively as revolutionaries in the Middle East for feelgood pranks.
If nothing else, the advent of social media has helped the prank become the perfect art for our times. It's anti-authoritarian, hard to commodify or monetise, full of social comment, anti-violent and revolutionary. The opposite of the kind of art a billionaire would buy.If nothing else, the advent of social media has helped the prank become the perfect art for our times. It's anti-authoritarian, hard to commodify or monetise, full of social comment, anti-violent and revolutionary. The opposite of the kind of art a billionaire would buy.
But as I write this, I wonder if I've been unfair to authority and the status quo: the bosses, the parents, the teachers, the politicians, the forces of darkness who would stop us laughing and joking.But as I write this, I wonder if I've been unfair to authority and the status quo: the bosses, the parents, the teachers, the politicians, the forces of darkness who would stop us laughing and joking.
On reflection perhaps not, because you might say they've been playing the most terrible joke on us 364 days a year.On reflection perhaps not, because you might say they've been playing the most terrible joke on us 364 days a year.


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Sorry, but you cannot write on this topic while ignoring the students of MIT. A hack historically and by rights is a harmless prank, not to be confused with the current usage. MIT students have extensively hacked the university, the city of Boston, and visiting heads of state. See hacks.mit.edu/Hacks/by_year/ and the book "The Journal of the Institute for Hacks, TomFoolery, and Pranks at MIT". This comment is awaiting moderation. href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/moderation.shtml#appear" target="_blank">Explain.
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    • I remember getting woken up by my radio alarm one saturday morning to the sound of the usual weekday DJ doing his usual weekday show. Apparently there were a number of people who were so conditioned to going to work when they heard him that they automatically went to work on Saturday 1st April.I wonder what havok could be caused by radio stations pretending that tomorrow morning is Saturday! The best prank ever was surely when one team of Oxford students told some workmen who were digging up the road that other students, pretending to be policemen, would try to arrest them as a Rag Week joke; meanwhile another team told the police that some students, pretending to be workmen, were digging up the road as a Rag Week joke.
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    • I agree IgnatiusA, except that the said broadcast was on October 30th and not April 1st. It would probably have been rumbled by many people had it been on April Fool's Day, I think. No wait ... we're talking about Americans here, so possibly not. Beware Friday morning on BBC website is all I can say...!
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    • When I worked in an engineering office we send a young apprentice to collect drawings for a skirting board ladder from the library. They send him to another department and the poor lad was send from one place to another until he ended up with the tea lady. When she asked him if the ladder was meant for a mouse or an elephant, he "woke up"! I once had the fortunate position of starting a new job in a kitchen on 1st April . A friend already worked there and prepped a young chef that I was nice but I was a satanist.On the day I worked normally but asked the head chef to save me the blood from some meat that came in. I quietly switched it for beetroot juice and drank it much to the horror of the young chef who ran out to tell the boss
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    • Probably the best prank of all time in my opinion was the original radio presentation of H.G. Wells war of the worlds. - framed in "news flashes" around a musical presentation. It was so successful they had to announce that it was a drama half way through just because it was causing so much public panic! Class. I think the BBC footage of penguins flying, 1 April 2008 deserve a mention in the famous pranks list!
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