COMING SOON: Imagi-Ne’er-Do-Wells Anniversary Show
The monthly LA event marks its 24-month anniversary with an extra-sized gala
Imagi-Ne’er-Do-Wells has been entertaining the themed and immersive entertainment creative communities in LA for a while now, giving folks a chance to grab a cocktail, let their hair down, and get weird with the ideation.
In October the event marks a special anniversary with a fancy dress dinner party and gala featuring Han Santana-Sayles of Meow Wolf and ‘Slow Pleasure’ author Euphemia Russell as the special guest judge and master of merriment of the signature Imagi-Ne’er-Do-Wells game.
We checked in with Imagi-Ne’er-Do-Wells president-for-life Brett Jackson, of Live Action Attractions, about the long-running event.
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NO PROSCENIUM: So for those who haven’t popped into an Imagi-Ne’er-Do-Wells night, what exactly is it?
Brett Jackson: It’s a fun and funny creativity game where everyone gets to play. Each month features a surprise creative prompt to invent a new experience and big laughs with other weirdos as they attempt to do the same. Sharpies provided. Cocktails encouraged.
Notably, every month features new creative celebrity judges — the folks who make the coolest stuff in the world, and we all get to see how their brains work inside the creative process.
Plus all the goofy club traditions, secret-handshakes, and purple velvet jackets you’d expect in a creativity social club. Every meeting has lots of familiar faces to teach the traditions to all the new folks and welcome everyone in.
NP: This next month’s is the two year anniversary, what sets this edition apart?
BJ: For our 24th installment we’re offering a fancy dress dinner party in addition to our standard silly shenanigans and creativity game. We define “fancy dress” loosely as snazzy formal-ish evening wear or cocktail attire. Expect to see lots of purple.
Our venerable celebrity guest judge is Han Santana-Sayles who is the Senior Director of Artist Collaboration responsible for finding 100% of the new collaborating artists for the upcoming Meow Wolf here in Los Angeles. Han is treasure and we’re thrilled to play with her.
Then add this month’s Master of Merriment is Euphemia Russell who’s a somatic coach and bestselling author of the book Slow Pleasure. They’re wry, brilliant and outrageously funny.
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And afterwards we’ll all take a professional group portrait of everyone looking super cool and feeling like one big family. Imagine the vibe in that room!
NP: There’s a whole “there are no bad ideas” ethos to the game, but what’s the BEST pitch you’ve ever seen on the stage?
BJ: Very much so. Our club motto is “the worse it is… the better it is.”
I must remain impartial — but the best pitch probably came from our historically highest-scoring player “Good King Richard” Malena. I’m told The Obscure is unveiling a custom cocktail for the anniversary in his honor which, when ordered, the bartender calls out for Rich’s permission to serve it.
If Rich happens to not be at a future meeting, the bartender has to call him on the phone. I can’t tell you how hard this goofy bit makes me laugh.
NP: How do you decide who winds up being a given month’s celebrity guest judge and master of merriment? What are the sacred duties of the master of merriment anyway?
BJ: We invite the creative minds behind the experiences we most love!
Creatives rarely get the spotlight, so Imagi-Ne’er-Do-Wells gives us a chance to celebrate them and see their brains in action.
The master of merriment sits next to the venerable celebrity guest and the host up on the judges table with the job, historically, to make the venerable celebrity look good. Sometimes creative types can be a tad interior and this helps open them up.
In the case of Euphemia Russell — they’re both a creative dynamo themselves, and good pals with Han Santana-Sayles. I know this pair’s dynamic and it’s “anniversary level” dorky good fun.
NP: One last thing: pitch us your best cocktail fueled virtual reality interactive museum exhibit involving animals.
BJ: Easy. It’s an at-home VR experience called “Juicy Juicy Moo Deng” that simulates smooching on a glistening, wriggling pygmy hippo calf. Nibble his tiny ears for fruity Thai tastes like the gin-based Pandan Sour; or gobble his little toes to gulp up minty whiskey Sabai Sabai, all via the custom peripheral vacuum flask tiki mug — yours to keep.
With all proceeds benefiting animal conservation, this experience crescendos to Moo Deng knickering with delight as you om nom nom the little fella all up. He has played too hard today and requires a nap. Just enough time to refill and (hic) play again.
NP: Okay I lied one actual last question: if someone doesn’t think of themselves as creative OR a big fan of immersive, is the monthly event still for them?
BJ: If you don’t self-identify as creative, we offer the pleasure of watching creative minds try to do the impossible and succeed. All submissions are voluntary and anonymous so every type of player gets all of their fun with none of their scary.
And if you got dopamine in your brain, you’re a fan of experience. We welcome any and all who enjoy silly brainstorming in the artistic medium of experience — it contains all the others!
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