Your Set List
Now that you have a gig, you need to figure out your set list, the material you're going to perform. The set list is just a list of the jokes you're going to perform in the order you're going to perform them. This list will change constantly as you add new jokes and discard the stuff that doesn't work.
A set list might look like this:
Opening line
Airplanes
Dogs and cats
Working out
Closing bit
Of course, you want to write out your material and know what you're going to say, but don't memorize it word for word. No one speaks exactly the same way they write. If you are bound to a script, word for word, you will tend to sound like you are reciting rather than natural and spontaneous. Stand-up is writing, but it's also a craft. A joke is like a piece of art. You are constantly adding a little here and taking away some there until you have a really good joke. If you are bound by a script with no room to maneuver, your jokes will remain stationary and frozen in time.
When you make your set list, start with a joke you know is going to work. Be sure it makes some sense as an opener. Try using a line that introduces you and lets the audience know what to expect from you.
You also want to protect fragile lines — jokes that are subtle or that you are unsure of — with stronger material or material that the audience is more likely to connect to. If you are inserting a new line, make sure to cushion it between two jokes that you know will work. That way, if the joke doesn't work, you can get right back on track and move on. End with something strong.
Avoid puns, at least when you're starting out. They're clever and intelligent and they can be a sign of good writing and clever connection, but no matter how clever the pun, the usual audience reaction is a groan. If you start the audience groaning, they will groan at everything, and you — and the other comics — don't want that!
Think about whether you want to perform a string of one-liners or stick to a single topic. Both approaches have their pros and cons. If you choose the one-liner approach, you get instant feedback from the audience, but you run the risk that the audience will judge you from line to line — laugh at one joke, not at the next. You won't be able to get the audience on a roll and you won't be able to get a picture of your performance as a whole.
If you stick to a single topic, you get a better sense of the set as a whole, but if the audience isn't into your topic, they might not give your jokes the chance they deserve. If their attention is diverted, they might not feel that they can get back up to speed and will just wait for the next comic.
Perhaps the best approach, at least in the beginning, is a mix of the two, some quick one-liners followed by a few lines based on a single topic. Of course, this will be different for every comic. There is no absolute right or wrong way to make a set list. Just try different ways and see what works best for you and your style. Give it a lot of thought before you hit the stage, and even more thought after you leave the stage.
