Can I get an occupation, please?

May 14, 2013 1:09 PM

I'm making several lists of suggestions/call fors - the things that an audience would call out at an improv show. Help me, hive mind!

I've got a bunch of pretty well populated lists already, but I'm an information hoarder, so the more, the better! Specifically, I'm looking for:

• Occupations that would NOT appear on a government list of occupations - things like ninja, pirate, prostitute, superhero, god
• Non-geographic locations, like coffee shop or divorce court
• Unusual categories of suggestions - for instance, I have a list of Tarot card interpretations and a list of Shakespeare quotes
• Good questions to ask the audience to get suggestions beyond the usual - any question that could be answered with spatula, gynecologist, Slinky, astronaut or the Renaissance is not what I'm looking for.
• Pointers to lists of things that could be good for improv suggestions, particularly if they are not geared towards improv already. For example, I've got a list I found titled "100 things to do this summer"

I've already got pretty thorough lists of emotions, television and movie genres, and historical periods. I've also already seen this question about lists of lists and this one on relationships.

Thanks!

posted by booksherpa to Grab Bag (14 answers total)

Clarification question: What are you using this list for (if anything beyond info hoarding)?
posted by xingcat at 1:17 PM on May 14, 2013

There's a number of Improv suggestion apps that we've used for practice. Things like Suggestifier (which has the advantage of being free).
posted by inturnaround at 1:23 PM on May 14, 2013

Response by poster: What are you using this list for (if anything beyond info hoarding)?

Two things: As call fors/suggestions for improv, more likely in workshop/class than a show, (though maybe shows as well) and for me to read, stretch my brain, and think about different suggestions than I could come up with.
posted by booksherpa at 1:25 PM on May 14, 2013

An interesting non-geographical location I was recently given was "a chessboard", which allowed for some fun and a few chess puns. It was made especially good because a couple of us knew the game of chess well enough to get creative with it.
posted by bondcliff at 1:26 PM on May 14, 2013

I had a friend call recently who when asked where he was said "in a state of denial", or are you looking for actual places?

A list of 100 most stressful things could throw up some interesting improv ideas. OK I don't improv so maybe it sucks but to me they seem interesting.
posted by wwax at 1:39 PM on May 14, 2013 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: Wwax, the fact that you don't do improv makes you perfect to answer this question. :)The typical improv audience where I am doesn't do improv either.

"Denial" is a great out-of-the-box answer for non-geographical location, and the list of 100 stressful things is exactly the kind of list I meant in my last bullet point. Thanks!

[Okay, I'll go away and stop threadsitting now...]
posted by booksherpa at 1:45 PM on May 14, 2013

mythological places and creatures, lists of pirates, lists of captains. Types of rays. Colours outside of the visible spectrum. Nonessential organs. Variations on an emotion (types of sadness, etc). Kinds of fabric. Types of dwelling.
posted by windykites at 2:43 PM on May 14, 2013

Occupations that would NOT appear on a government list of occupations

narwhal wrangler
ghost nanny
fairy cobbler
bartender in Hades (or Niflheim)
animal psychic
insect masseuse
treasure guarding monster
dragon groomer
video game sprite therapist
poltergeist


Non-geographic locations

backstage at an opera
in the crawlspace behind the bathtub
box seats at an ice dancing event
in the nasal passages of Zeus
a paintball arena
a penguin enclosure
inside the video game Myst
a milking barn
posted by Glinn at 4:07 PM on May 14, 2013 [1 favorite]

locations
Between the rock and hard place
at the center of doubt
in someone's hands
under the sun
start of the rainbow
in my mind's eye

occupations
assigner of blame
modesty forger
the last word giver
the point repeater
short timer
kiss ass
posted by bhdad at 5:51 PM on May 14, 2013

assigner of blame
(I am pretty sure this one is on that list of governmental occupations. And not only under this name, but many others in a similar vein.)
posted by Glinn at 6:03 PM on May 14, 2013 [2 favorites]

On the brain
In the shitter
posted by oceanjesse at 2:51 AM on May 15, 2013

Where are you?
On the Internet.
Walking the dog.
Dropping kids off at preschool.
Voting.
posted by onlyconnect at 9:55 PM on May 15, 2013

Jobs:
Grave robber
Mad scientist
Royal food taster
Ghostbuster
Headhunter
Fluffer

Places:
Morgue/Autopsy room
Funeral home
Campground
Hospital chapel
Carnival funhouse
Cruise ship
posted by mokin at 10:30 PM on May 15, 2013

Response by poster: These are all lovely! Thanks for opening up many new avenues for my brain to explore. More please?
posted by booksherpa at 9:53 PM on May 16, 2013