April Fool’s Day Rules

Pranks and jokes are fun. They can lead people to laughter and high emotions. But there can be a right way to create the best pranks.

For those who may not be aware, April Fool’s Day every April 1st is a tradition where people prank others and then say “April Fools!” as a way to show that it was all a joke.

This could be as little as the rubber snake left in the oven or in pots (but not for a person who turns on the oven before looking in the oven) or as big as multi-person scripted scenes to get a person lulled into a false reality.

Here are a few rules that I have found that make better April Fools Pranks.

1. Prank NEGATIVE not positive.

Why play a negative prank rather than faking something positive? Because if you share that your mother won the lottery, then the “APRIL FOOL’S” reveal is a real let down. These can be almost cruel if they go on too long. I much prefer when the “APRIL FOOL’S” moment can also be a sigh of relief. No the doctor did not call and ask me to come in to talk about the biopsy. No we are not actually behind in the mortgage payments. No, your wife’s wallet is not mysteriously missing. No your son did not get called into the school office for something mortifying.

2. DON’T PRANK TOO BIG. Prank small or medium – it’s more believable.

Rather than sharing that you saw military guys with rifles in the backyard, just share that you heard a noise that worries you (although this can be cruel for the anxious – see bullet 3: know your audience). Don’t share that your daughter attacked someone violently. Share that she did something inappropriate (that could be seen as embarrassing or just amusing). Don’t say you’re dying and the doctor gave you 4 weeks; say you found a lump (though that one can induce anxiety too – see number 3).

3. KNOW YOUR AUDIENCE.

Know what people are afraid of? Use that to some extent (but maybe don’t play on people’s anxieties if they struggle with these anxieties, so people afraid of intruders should not be told there is an intruder; that’s cruel). Have a dad who’s always talking about how “They’re out to get you” about sales people or something similar? Definitely use that. Share how you got sucked in by a charlatan. Perhaps, for example, a man showed up selling solar panels as a great way to save money or even make passive income, but if you just give them $100 now, you can get into a half price offer deal when they come by next month. Isn’t that great!? You’re going to get solar panels half price! Have a brother-in-law that loves a deal? Use that in a story to everyone else in the family (with the brother-in-law’s permission – shared pranks are even more fun).

4. TIMING: Bury the lead and don’t take it too long.

Bury the lead means that pranks are more believable if you don’t walk into the kitchen smiling and say “Guess what?” Have a normal conversation and then, in the middle of it, casually drop the start of the prank. Oh yeah that is a great show. Hey, by the way, we’re going to be getting new solar panels for half price.

Also, don’t take things too long. Recognize that negativity (in a prank) does have physiological effects. If you really get someone believing your play, don’t tell them something terrible and keep it going all day long. Don’t be cruel. Get in, play the prank, and get out (within the same conversation or at least the same visit/call).

5. USE THE A-HOLE DOUBLE-CHECK TEST

After you come up with the prank, ask yourself this, “Could anyone who heard this take it the wrong way?” or to be more clear, ask “Is there anything about this prank that is racist, sexist, or inappropriate?” Don’t get fired. Don’t become that guy/gal who everyone remembers from the really inappropriate joke. If you’re not sure, ask someone who has more sense than you or DON’T DO IT. Humor is a blast, but not if it bombs, and definitely not if it hurts other people.

Good luck! Get creative, and have some mischievous fun! (Loki would be proud….)