With April Fool’s Day nearly upon us, everyone on campus should be on their guard. Whether it be through whoopee cushions, prank calls or fake student newspapers, no one is safe on April 1.

April Fool’s is a time where any student jester can bust out their comedic chops and do their best to dupe friends and acquaintances. However, the perfect prank cannot simply be done on a whim — it’s an art, and requires a certain finesse to be executed properly. There are several factors a serious prankster should consider before embarking on their quest for the perfect prank.

Preparation: Preparation is key; however, there’s nothing worse than spending weeks or months on a prank only to have it fail at that one climactic moment.

The amount of preparation that goes into a prank is really a matter of personal preference, but keep in mind if a prank appears to be planned, it loses its sense of spontaneity and by extension, its hilarity. Take note of Jim Halpert from The Office — while his hilarious pranks give off the impression of being spontaneous, it’s only after closer examination that one realizes the extensive planning required to put a stapler in Jell-O or send faxes from the future. The key is making the prank seem effortless, even though it may not have been.

Type of Prank: While there are hundreds of traditional pranks to copy on April Fool’s Day, some of the best pranks prove to be original ideas. When trying to come up with your own prank, simple and witty may be more effective than elaborate and slapstick.

One factor to keep in mind is who will be suffering at the expense of your prank. If the target of your malice gets angry, this severely undercuts the hilariousness of your joke. Avoid personally attacking someone’s character during a prank and emphasize afterwards the prank was done in good fun.

While cost is always something to keep in mind, you can’t put a price on a good prank. However, it’s important to make sure the cost fits the prank — you don’t want to spend a lot when you won’t reap equivalent comedic rewards.

Scale: Students are generally limited in the pranks they can pull off because of cost restraints and locations, but those who have sway in larger organizations have the power to pull off some truly spectacular April Fool’s Day pranks.

Corporations can use April 1 to their advantage — professional pranks have the potential to sucker mass amounts of people into believing something, and also create hype and media attention.

Ultimately, April Fool’s Day is a time when everyone has a good excuse to poke a bit of fun at others. And while it’s an annual event, you can always find someone who will still fall for your prank.