Fans of wet and messy pie action usually became fans early in their TV-watching career. The use of pies in the face as a slapstick tool has been around as long as cinema, first gaining popularity in the silent film era. Although pies are almost always used in the face, they can be rubbed or thrown at any part of the messee's body and a sufficient number in the face will usually run down into their lap anyway.

Pie in the face events are quite common in the non-WAM world and are used as fundraisers, initiation ceremonies, forfeits, and to celebrate Pi Day (3/14). They are less often found in gameshows compared to gunging, but examples do exist.

Pies may consist of several elements--the most important is the cream or foam on top, but also custard and chocolate may be mixed into the pie. A pie may be coloured with various things, either mixed with coloured gunge, food colouring (although beware that may stain), or buying ready-coloured foam. Pies can be made with or without a crust, either by putting the messy mixture straight on to a plate, or by using a graham cracker crust. The effect of the crust splitting when hitting the targets face is often highly prized.

Pies can be delivered in many different ways, adding variety to a session/video. Throwing can be done from a short distance away and usually results in a big splattering of the pie on impact, a great visual effect. The throwers should take care to aim well and not hit the messee too hard if the pie is weighty.

Pushing into the messee's face is the most common delivery method, it guarantees a hit and makes sure the mess goes where it should. Giving the pie a twist as it goes in helps the coverage.

The most popular pieing technique after the straight pie in the face is the Pie Sandwich. This is where the messee, often seated, receives simultaneous pies to each side of the face. This is particularly suited to recorded and photographed scenes because the pieing is done from behind, so their face is not obscured by the incoming pies. Again, there is the option to rub the pies in, and creates a fin of cream at the front.

The smoosh is a technique of pushing the pie up the messee's face and over their head so that it covers their hair. If there is enough mess, the pie can continue down the back to cover long hair. Sitting in a pie is another idea that can increase the humiliation for the messee.

4-pie Sandwich: The 4-pie sandwich is a variation on the pie sandwich in which the messee receives a pie straight to the face, then two on either side (same as a pie sandwich) with a 4th added as a "Pie Hat" on top of their head.

There is a large pieing form that is little known but much beloved. It is when you give a pie to the face, a pie sandwich, a pie to the back of the head, and a pie to the top of the head. This is called a Wamwich (name coined by Pennybanks and J. Bond)

Of course, both parties should take care that the pie does not get in eyes, and that the messee is able to breathe.

TIP: It's a good idea for the messee taking a pie in the face to take a deep breathe right before the pie comes to a) avoid too much pie in the mouth and b) avoid having to gasp for air after impact. Pies and Cakes do have a tendency to go up the nose so breathing from the mouth is recommended once the pieing has been completed. [ref: Personal Experience, Screechgod]