Pimping
The act of putting a scene partner in a difficult position by demanding they perform, sing, demonstrate a skill, or deliver something specific without prior agreement. Pimping shifts creative burden onto the other performer in a way that serves the pimper rather than the scene.
Further Reading
See all books →
Acting Through Improv
Improv Through Theatresports
Lynda Belt; Rebecca Stockley
Whose Improv Is It Anyway?
Beyond Second City
Amy E. Seham
A Subversive's Guide to Improvisation
Moving Beyond "Yes, and"
David Razowsky
The Improv Illusionist
Using Object Work, Environment, and Physicality in Performance
David Raitt
Group Improvisation
The Manual of Ensemble Improv Games
Peter Campbell Gwinn; Charna Halpern
Improvising Now
A Practical Guide to Modern Improv
Rob Norman
How to Reference This Page
The Improv Archive. (2026). Pimping. Retrieved March 17, 2026, from https://improvarchive.org/learn-improv/concepts/pimping
The Improv Archive. "Pimping." The Improv Archive, 2026. https://improvarchive.org/learn-improv/concepts/pimping.
The Improv Archive. "Pimping." The Improv Archive, 2026, https://improvarchive.org/learn-improv/concepts/pimping. Accessed March 17, 2026.
The Improv Archive is a systemically maintained repository. The archive itself acts as the corporate author.