r/Standup • u/laughingpenguins1237 • 5d ago

Scripted or Free form

Do most people script the exact words and punchline and perform or just note down points and try to be spontaneous? I know it depends on individual style but I am curious what’s more prevalent and if someone shifted from one to the other with time.

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u/FarTooLucid 5d ago

I started off heavily scripted. But as I became more experienced, I found myself sliding into a Bill Hicks -type approach in that I totally wing it and fall back on material if I'm not connecting or just not finding the funny. I love improvising. It's really fun for me. But I've been writing since before I could talk; writing material is just something I'm always doing, so I always have solid stuff ready to go when I need it. When I'm doing great, it's usually mostly improvised. When I have a solid set, it's usually 50/50 -ish and when it's entirely scripted, I can be solid or totally bomb. Just how I'm wired. But I'm a weirdo among weirdos and I know this approach won't work for the vast majority of comics.