Improv Nation strikes SF State with its spontaneous stunts, guaranteed to keep students laughing or scratching their heads.

The student improvisation team ran booths for inaccurate fortune telling, pie-throwing sessions and off-the-wall, comical promotions like standing stock still in the student center while holding fliers for the club.

"It's pretty interesting what they do," said Brian Holbert, a 22-year-old BECA major, while watching the members of Improv Nation stand still while holding fliers. "They seem really into it. You can tell in their eyes."

Some students stared and smiled while walking by. Others went up to them and tried to get them to talk. But the most common reactions were people going up to them with a confused look on their face and taking a flyer.

Improv Nation was created in October of last year by five freshmen who wanted to be associated with a competitive improvisation team on campus. It currently has over 80 members.

"It's working out really well, and we have a solid team," said Laura Lombardo, 18, undeclared. "In the beginning, we had people coming in and out and [the club] wasn't steady, but now we are."

Improv Nation was designed to keep fellow students entertained through their performances while getting people to join in the process.

"My goal is to let people know that you don't have to think you're funny or talented to join," said club president Travis Northup, 18, a cinema and political science major. "If you join the team and learn the format, then I promise you, you'll be able to do comedy and be confident in yourself."

Wilfredo Santillan, an 18-year-old international business major, discovered the club when he noticed Northup in the quad wearing a Captain America costume to promote the club. Santillan joined without any previous improvisation experience.

"I thought I wasn't really funny at first, but then you grow and it feels like you don't have to try [to be funny]," he said.

When it comes to improvisation, most people think of the show "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" That's exactly what Improv Nation is like. For a show they will form two teams and the host will decide what games the teams have to play.

Once both sides take turns playing a game, the audience then decides, via applause, which team is the most fun and outrageous. They do this for a few more rounds until the final winner is chosen at the end of the show.

According to Emily Switzer, a 19-year-old international relations major, a common misconception about improvisation is that it's completely disorganized.

"It's not just about kids sitting around and making jokes," she said.

In reality, a lot of practice time is required for them to excel at their craft. For Improv Nation, three hours of practice a week is how its been able to build themselves up.

It has been trying to get other schools to form teams on their campuses so SF State can compete with them.

"We're spreading to other campuses like UC Berkeley and currently talking to UC Santa Cruz so we can set up tournaments where all of the schools would come." said Northup. "I want it to be big."

Improve Nation is currently preparing for its first show this Friday in room 130 in the HSS building. The show starts at 7 p.m. and the group asks for a $1 donation.