How to Organize a Sketch Comedy Group

Sketches are just like plays: they need to be read out loud and performed! To express your hilarious ideas, you will need a group to perform your comedy sketches with. All it takes is a little bit of organization and creativity, and you could be on your way to being the next Monty Python.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Decide what for yourself personally what your goal is. This could be anything from just writing and performing sketches for fun, to performing locally at open mic nights, organizing a full-length show, or actively trying to be a professional sketch comedian.

2. Connect with like-minded people. This could be through improv comedy or writing classes, high school or college courses, or social interaction at comedy related activities, such as local open mics or comedy shows.

3. Invite the people you are interested in to form a sketch comedy group. Make sure to be clear about your goals are so you will attract the correct people.

4. Decide on a consistent schedule for meeting with your group. This might be once a week, once every two weeks, or once a month. Make sure the time commitment is appropriate for all involved.

5. Find a location for your sketch comedy group to meet. In the writing stages meeting at someone’s house or apartment might be fine, but once you get your sketches on their feet you may want to look into local rehearsal spaces for rent.

6. Decide on a system of producing sketches. Consistency will help your creative progress, so deciding that everyone should bring one sketch per meeting or email the group one sketch every two weeks will give you more material to work with.

7. At your meetings, read each sketch out loud in the group, assigning a different member of the group to each character. This gives you a chance to hear your material out loud as well as to read each other’s material and give each other feedback regarding the sketches strong points and weak points. All suggestions should be taken equally seriously.

8. Whether you decide to perform the sketches live, shoot them as video sketches, or continue to just share ideas, always create a schedule and set deadlines for yourself. You will always find success.

Tips & Warnings

• Remember that each member of the group is as important as the next.
• Try to be supportive even if you don’t think a joke is working. Help to make it better.
• Don’t be discouraged if your first group doesn’t work out. Sometimes it takes several attempts to find the right mix of people.