How to Get People to Fall for Pranks

This article was requested by a fellow eHow member. I feel qualified to write the article because my husband is a serial prankster to the point that I don't believe a word he says. Anyway, here's what I've observed over the years about pranks.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• Unwitting victim
• A good story
• Poker face
• An accomplice
• A funny prank

1. First, you must find a suitable victim. This is most often a person who wants to believe. They believe what they see on the television, they believe what they read in a magazine, and some even believe far-fetched stories e-mailed to them from strangers. Or maybe they believe simply because they trust YOU! My husband’s favorite victim is his sister. Despite the many, many pranks he’s pulled on her over the years, she wants to believe what he tells her and falls for his pranks time and time again.
2. In pulling a prank, there’s usually a supporting story line. The story, especially if plausible, plays a huge role in convincing your dupe. There must be an element of truthfulness to the story, “truthiness” for you fans of the The Colbert Report. Even if the prank itself is ridiculous and over the top, a story that is the tiniest bit believable will set the hook.
3. While telling your story, you must maintain a straight face and a cool demeanor. Be appropriately insistent, intense, concerned, or whatever, but do not crack a smile or the prank will crumble. Stay true to the story until the very end.
4. If at all possible, tell no one ~not a soul~ of the prank. However, occasionally a prank calls for a skilled accomplice. You may have to rely on someone reliable and trustworthy to corroborate your story. You might need an alibi. Or you simply may need an extra pair of hands to pull the prank. Regardless, this accomplice must keep a straight face and not give you away.
5. The most important element of a prank is conflict. Like a writer of literature, a practiced prankster carefully builds tension until there is a climax, hopefully a great reaction from your victim!