Jokes seem to form naturally when spending time and having fun with family and friends. However, writing and performing a comedy skit can take lots of work and preparation for stand-up comedians. A successful skit will entertain an audience using the following three elements.

How Comedians Write a Laugh-Inducing Stand-Up Routine

1. Start Off Strong

A stand-up act is more than just a few jokes jumbled together. A successful comedy skit needs to have a clear starting and ending point—like an essay of comedic remarks.

The opening section of any act is a prime opportunity to make a great first impression on the audience. Comedians usually start off with a joke that always gets a laugh. This puts everyone in the mood for fun and relaxes the room for the rest of the set. This also leaves the audience on the edge of their seats, hungry for the next big joke.

2. Link Jokes With Transitions

The following jokes and bits in a set are framed in sequential order so they’re easy to remember. An effective stand-up comedian will make their routines feel like an impromptu, performative conversation, and less like a rehearsed speech. Memorizing the routine keeps them from having to refer to their notes while on stage. 

A performer will use transitions between each joke. If the previous joke was about mosquitoes, they might continue with “speaking of pests,” before leading into a joke about a family member. While these transitions aren’t always laugh-out-loud funny each time, they link the bits of a comedy skit together to create a cohesive performance.

3. End With a Callback

A sign of a good comedian is that they always leave the audience wanting more. For the closer, they often choose a joke that’s just as laugh-inducing as the opener. However, they’ll use this opportunity to reference a bit made earlier in the set. This is called a callback, and it helps to tie the whole routine together, bringing the jokes full-circle.

Including a callback gives the audience insight into a comedian’s writing process. It shows that they put so much thought into their skit that they had the foresight to set up the closer multiple jokes prior.

 

If you’re looking for a hilarious comedian in St. Paul, MN, turn to Big Will Sawyer at BYG Giggles. Whether it’s a wedding, anniversary, or birthday, this celebrated storyteller will perform a 30-minute comedy skit at your event. He has a natural knack for including audience members in the fun, and he will leave a lasting impression on your guests. Visit this stand-up comedian online for more information, and call (651) 334-5951 to book him for an event.