Improv Entertainment / Roving Actors / Unexpected Guests
Improv Entertainment
Beyond murder mysteries, we offer any improv entertainment you can dream up!
Some of our past interactive experiences include:
- Recreating the show “Dallas” for 500 guests from Rogers Wireless.
- Customizing a safety show for Enbridge employees.
- Creating and performing hilarious, custom staff training skits for employees of a chain restaurant.
- Writing and performing a Las Vegas themed script for a fun money casino.
- Creating a Star Wars themed experience for the Calgary Zoo Fundraiser.
- A 007 recruitment training mission where your guests undergo different exercises as spy recruits such as building prototypes, learning the art of impostering, making their way through a yarn or laser maze to retrieve artifacts, or planning a mission, all led by active MI6 agents.
Roving Actors
We can provide actors to bring your themed event to life!
For the Roaring 20’s?
We can send you a Godfather, some flappers who are real singers, dancers, a bodyguard who grills your guests for the secret password upon arrival, and more.
Casino?
If you are having a fun money casino, we can bring you Elvis, some show girls, and a slimy casino owner.
Alice in Wonderland?
We’ll send you the Queen of Hearts, the Mad Hatter and any other character you’d like.
Western?
We have cowboys and saloon girls.
Christmas Theme?
We have Santa, Mrs. Claus, and as many elves as you could ask for.
Whatever your theme is, we can enhance the evening with charming, outgoing characters who interact with guests, lead games, announce door prize winners, or anything else.
Cost
- We charge $200 per actor for up to 2 hours, then $100 per hour after that. The minimum charge is $200 per actor.
- Costumes may be an additional charge if purchases are required.
- Certified, professional Santas are a minimum of $500 per event.
- Customizing scripts, skits, and murder mysteries determined based on the project – $300 – $750.
Unexpected Guests
Invite an Unexpected Guest actor to stir up some drama at your next event! Either choose a character who blends in at first, with behavior becoming outlandish as the night wears on, or simply choose a fun character to join your party!
Unexpected Guests can be plants in the workplace, the date from Hell, or your long-lost cousin at your next BBQ! If you’ve got an idea, we’ll bring it to life!
cost
- We charge $550 per actor per event for up to 3 hours. Discounts for booking 3 or more actors.
- Customizing scripts and skits are $300 – $750 for the writing, then costs for the actors are the same as a murder mystery.
Where we perform
Smoking Gun works with local and regional performers across Canada, in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. Find murder mystery entertainment in your city, or tell us your venue and we will confirm the nearest cast.
Where we perform
Roving and improv work runs on the same map as our murder mysteries. We have performers based in and around Vancouver, Kelowna, Calgary, Edmonton, Red Deer, Grande Prairie, Saskatoon, Winnipeg, Toronto, Ottawa, Halifax, Moncton and Fredericton, and those casts cover a wide surrounding area rather than just the city limits.
Character work is often easier to travel with than a full mystery, since it can be a single actor rather than a company. If you are outside our core markets it is still worth asking, and we will be straightforward about what is practical for your date.
Frequently asked questions
What is a roving actor, exactly?
A character who works the room rather than a stage. They greet guests, stay in character all evening, lead games, announce door prizes and generally make the event feel like an event. Think a bodyguard demanding the password at the door, or a Queen of Hearts holding court.
What does it cost?
Roving actors are 0 per actor for up to two hours, then 0 per hour after that, with a 0 per actor minimum. Costumes may cost extra if something has to be bought in, and certified professional Santas start at 0 per event.
What kinds of themes can you cover?
Just about anything. We have done Roaring Twenties with flappers and a Godfather, fun money casinos with Elvis and showgirls, Alice in Wonderland, westerns with cowboys and saloon girls, and full Christmas casts with Santa, Mrs Claus and as many elves as you like.
Can you build something completely custom for us?
Yes, and we have. Past work includes recreating “Dallas” for 500 Rogers Wireless guests, a custom safety show for Enbridge, staff training skits for a restaurant chain, a Star Wars experience for a Calgary Zoo fundraiser and a 007 recruitment mission with prototype building and a laser maze. Custom scripts and skits are quoted at 0 to 0 for the writing.
What is an Unexpected Guest?
An actor who blends into your event and then gradually becomes more outlandish as the night goes on, or simply a fun character who turns up unannounced. They work as plants in the workplace, the date from hell, or a long lost cousin at the family barbecue.
Do you travel for improv and roving work?
Yes, on the same basis as our murder mysteries. No extra travel fee in our core cities, and travel elsewhere in Canada quoted on the date, cast size and distance.
