How to MC an Improv Show: A Guide to Hosting with Confidence
It is often said that the tech crew are the most underappreciated people involved in an improv show. Don’t get me wrong, I worship my lights, sound, and musical directors, but I’ve come to the conclusion lately that it’s hosting an improv show that is the job that gets the least appreciation. So much so, that there often isn’t even a host at an improv show!
If you’re anything like me, you may have spent your initial improv training being told not to break character and to respect the fourth wall to make your scenes more connected and believable. This is a valuable skill, of course, but the upshot can be that when improv groups start booking shows and setting up their own nights, no one has any idea how to talk to an audience.
There’s already great advice out there about hosting and MCing comedy or events in general, but here I’ll focus specifically on how to MC an improv show. That said, I think many of these tips apply to hosting of any kind of event. I’ve structured this roughly around the flow of a night to keep things practical.
How to MC an improv show easier? Nail the Tech
I slightly revise what I said at the start: in truth, I believe the tech and hosting go hand in hand. Use the tech team or equipment as much as you can—things like sound cues or lighting can keep transitions smooth and professional. This frees you up to focus on the crowd and keep things moving without losing momentum.
– Musical stings, voiceover intros, scene blackouts, and more can really elevate an improv show.
– If there’s no tech available, bring a speaker for house music and swell the music to let people know it’s about to start—yaaaayyyyy!
– Add a bit of flair: can you up the showbiz factor by having a friend turn off one of the lights at the back as you’re announced? Announce yourself in the third person—trust me, it works.
Whatever you do, let people know they’re at a show and you’re in charge.
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Be as Scripted as You Can in the ‘Not Improv’ Bit
I learned this way too late, but there is nothing wrong with having an extremely tight script for your intro and show closing. In fact, I’d go so far as to recommend it.
The best example of this I’ve seen is the cast at BOOM Chicago. Their intros are so well rehearsed and packed with punchlines that it’s impossible not to be ready to laugh by the time the improv starts. If you ever in Amsterdam, check them out.
A well-thought-out intro tailored to your show sets you up for success and makes the audience feel like they’re in safe hands.
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Do the Admin (and Make It Snappy)
The least glamorous part of any MC job is the admin. What info does the audience need to know, and when?
Here’s what you’ll likely have to cover:
Basic Logistics
Start time, running time, and any breaks.
Venue Information
Where’s the loo? What’s the deal with emergency exits? Is it your job to tell them? What about venue-specific rules, like no flash photography or silencing phones?
Audience Participation Guidelines
For an improv show, how do the games work? How should the audience contribute suggestions, and when?
Marketing
Save it for the end, but don’t forget it! When’s your next show? How can people find you? What are your social media handles?
Please, please, know what you need to say, and spend the least amount of time you possibly can talking about fire exits.
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Connect with the Audience
One thing that’s unique about hosting an improv show is that the audience is very much part of the experience. Taking time to connect with them and warm them up is crucial, especially if your show relies heavily on suggestions.
A tip I love from the stand-up world is to get the audience clapping or cheering three times within the first 30 seconds of the show:
– “By cheers and applause, who’s been here before?”
– “Make some noise if you’ve never seen improv before!”
– “Fantastic, welcome to all of you. Now give yourselves a huge hurrah for leaving the house this evening!”
This gets the crowd engaged and energised quickly, which is a huge win when you’ll be interacting with them throughout the night.
If you’ll be taking lots of suggestions, start with some easy, fun ones:
– “What’s your name?”
– “Who’s here from out of town? Welcome!”
– “Let’s settle this—dog people, make some noise! Now cat people!”
Listen to our podcast on the audience for more tips.
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Get Great Suggestions and Reject Anything You Need To
If your show relies on suggestions, prime the audience by asking for the kinds of things you want early on: an emotion, a profession, or a location, for example. The Comedy Store Players are masters at this. See them every Sunday at the Comedy Store in London.
However, if your show doesn’t take many suggestions, don’t start with a big shout-out session only to stop talking to the audience afterward. Longform shows often make this mistake.
If you’re asking for audience interaction, set the tone for how you want them to engage. For example, if I’m doing an audience interview, I’ll ask the question and have people chat briefly with the person next to them before answering aloud.
Finally, reject anything you’re not 100% comfortable with. Be encouraging but firm—redirect inappropriate or unhelpful suggestions without hesitation. The audience will respect you more if you appear confident and discerning. Always thank people for their suggestions. A Lot of the time, without them, there would be no show.
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Be as Improvised as You Can in the Improv Bit
I want everyone in the world to love improv as much as I do. So, for a commercial improv show, I would encourage part of the hosting job to be proving that it’s improvised.
- If you take suggestions, make sure you use them. If you don’t take suggestions, make sure you explain what is going on and how the audience are to interpret the show.
- Shortform hosts: can the host make light commentary on the last game or call back things that happened previously?
- Longform hosts: can the players still engage with suggestions the host took that were not used or were used by the support act.
- Acknowledge unexpected moments—if someone drops a glass, call it out and incorporate it into the action.
Audiences coming out of their first improv show are always thrilled by the bits that ‘went wrong.’ ultimately proving to them that they were part of a live, never to be repeated experience.
MCing an improv show; It’s Not About You
The best hosts are charming, but not too charming. The spotlight belongs to the performers, not you.
- Keep transitions smooth: No dead air. If the performers need a moment, step in briefly but keep it snappy.
- Stay close to the stage: Be ready to jump in if a set ends early or a scene needs an edit.
- Pronounce names correctly: If you’re introducing other groups, get their intros right.
Work with Reality
A great host reacts to the room’s mood. If they’re a cheery beery crowd, get a bit cheeky. If it’s a quiet theater crowd, lean into their creative side.
If it truly is an ‘improv’ crowd like at an international festival, keep the explanations to a minimum but still be professional enough to not exclude the one person who came independently.
If it’s a Stadium, run out and shout ‘Good evening Wembley,’ but if it’s a weird gig in a pub and there’s only 3 people in the audience – talk to them, don’t pretend it’s something it is not.
Also, respect people’s comfort levels. For some people, the words ‘audience interaction’ bring them out in a cold sweat. Be playful, not pushy, and never belittle anyone. Watch out for people being ‘volunteered’ by their ‘friends.’
One of the best hosting lessons I ever learned about how to MC an improv show came from a guest performer who reminded me, “Don’t punish the people who did show up.” Whether you’re playing to a packed house or your mum and dad, your job is to make them feel like they’ve witnessed something special.
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Leave the Audience in No Doubt
Ultimately, how to MC an improv show is about leaving the audience confident that they’re in the right place. Be clear, connected, and in control—and make sure they have a damn good time.