Content

• To step
• Part 1 of 3: Developing an idea
• Part 2 of 3: Writing your sketch
• Part 3 of 3: Perform or film your sketch
• Tips

A skit is a small play or performance. Sketches are quick little scenes that are usually comical. Sketches are sometimes also referred to in English as "skits". If you want to make a skit, start by jotting down ideas that will make you laugh. Write your scene, rehearse it and finally perform the sketch in front of an audience, or make a video of it.

To step

Part 1 of 3: Developing an idea

1. Get inspired. Sometimes you have an idea for a sketch that just comes to you out of nowhere, and at other times you have to look for an idea. Gather inspiration for your sketch by watching and reading other sketches. You can watch videos of sketches on YouTube that are professional and produced by amateurs.
   • Watch sketches from Key & Peele, SNL, W / Bob and David and Monty Python for inspiration. Notice what these professional sketches have in common. What distinguishes these sketches from others?
   • When watching other skits or skits you have to think about what makes them original. You don't want to copy a sketch you've seen before, but you may be able to find a new angle.
   • Pay attention to what is happening around you. Many of the best sketches work because there is a component in the sketch that is reminiscent of our own lives. Pay attention to how the people around you communicate with each other. Look for real life scenarios that you find funny.
2. Brainstorm ideas. Write down lots of ideas. You can do this with a group of people who want to work on the skit, alone, or both. Always have a notebook with you and jot down ideas that come to mind.
   • If you see a funny interaction between people, it might be a great starting idea for a skit. For example, you witness someone ordering an overly complicated drink from a coffee shop and holding up the line. Write down what happened and why you think there might be humor in this situation. You may find the idea of ​​ordering an exceptionally complicated coffee amusing.
   • Get together as a group to share ideas. It is good if there is a place to write down your ideas for everyone to see. Or designate someone to write down each idea in a notebook.
   • First, don't be too critical of your ideas. At this stage, you just want to throw everything out. You may find that a strange idea turns into something great.
   • If an idea makes you laugh, make a note that you thought it was a funny idea. Ask yourself why you had to laugh. Is it something visual about the idea? A particular word or words? Or maybe it's because the idea pertains to your own life. Knowing why something made you laugh will be helpful in building your skit, and eventually executing it.
   • Think about what kind of skit you want to do. There are a number of types of sketches, from parody and satire, to character sketches and even absurd sketches.
3. Develop your point of view. Every successful sketch has a clear point of view (POV) that can be easily identified. It is the same principle as creating a statement for a paper. Your POV should be easy for people to understand. A POV is the lens through which the viewers of your sketch look at the world as you see it in front of you. In a sketch, this can be blown up for comedic effect.
   • A POV is your opinion expressed as fact. You can discover your point of view in a few steps. First you see someone ordering an overly complicated drink from a coffee shop. Then you write a sketch about ordering complicated drinks from a coffee shop. Every drink a new person orders in your sketch is more complicated and ridiculous than the last. Finally, you reach the core belief that people become too obsessed with unnecessary options and materialism.
   • Your point of view is not expressed by one character in your sketch complaining about someone ordering an overly complicated drink. It is expressed by the action that takes place in your sketch.
   • Having a clear point of view and presenting it as fact is a great way to make a sketch more original. Even if the content of the sketch has been used before, it is original enough because it comes from you.
4. Make a schedule with a beginning, middle and end. Every story, no matter how short, needs a beginning, middle and end. While writing a sketch, try to map out these three different parts.
   • Since Sketches are usually comical in origin, you can start depicting normal, everyday life. People queuing at a coffee shop for their coffee order is normal.
   • The center of your sketch happens when something out of the ordinary occurs. People are starting to order crazier drinks than the person in front of it.
   • The end of your skit is when there is a climax and denouement. Maybe the barista decides to dump everyone's coffee on the floor. Or maybe the barista goes crazy, picks up a gun and steals the cash from the till.

Part 2 of 3: Writing your sketch

1. Write a first draft. There are different formats for writing sketches. You don't have to follow a professional format, but one that's easy to follow.
   • At the top of your script is the title of your sketch. Below you can write down the names of the characters involved, and even the name of the actor / actress who plays each character.
   • To write dialogue, center and name the character speaking in capital letters. On the next line, indent the text to the left and type the dialog.
   • Actions can be written on a separate line in parentheses.
   • When writing your first draft, everything doesn't have to be perfect. You just want to write the global script. You are going to edit it later.
2. Make sure to start the sketch quickly. Whether you are going to film the sketch or perform it live, in either case your sketch will most likely be no longer than five minutes. This means that you have to work quickly towards the core of your sketch. Don't spend time setting up characters and their backgrounds. Just start at a point that is funny or where the action is happening.
   • If you are going to write the coffee shop sketch, start your sketch with the barista asking the person at the front of the line what they want to order.
   • The person ordering the drink should order a complex drink, but not something so crazy that you can't build on it with the next customers who order coffee.
   • At the peak of your sketch, your goal is to provide your target audience with enough information as soon as possible. The barista can say something like "Welcome to Top Coffee, what can I make for you?" With one line you have made it clear where it takes place, who the characters are and what is happening.
   • Every line is important in a sketch. You don't have time to waste on developing elements that are not important in this scenario. Avoid discussing things that are past / future matters, people who are not present, and objects that are not relevant to the sketch.
3. Keep it short. Limit your script to less than five pages. If you have more than five pages in your first draft, that's fine because you can delete parts. On average, one page of a script equals one minute of a run.
   • The idea is to keep your skit short because the humor can fade if it takes too long. A short script that ends quickly is easier to get into than a sketch that ceases to be funny because the joke has been watered down.
4. Remember the "rule of three". The rule of three means that you repeat something three times, or include three similar elements in your sketch.It's like a beginning, middle and end - you have three parts that are part of a whole.
   • In our coffee shop sketch, there are three different customers who order coffee. Each customer makes a more ridiculous order than the last.
5. Build the action. When writing the script, you should start where you can build on. A skit must have a rising action before it gets to the climax and then ends.
   • In our coffee shop example, the first person orders a complicated drink. You can have the barista and the customer exchange a few lines of text. Maybe the barista is trying to repeat the drink to the customer and got a part wrong. The customer then has to correct the barista.
   • The second customer has a crazier coffee order. The barista tries to repeat the order of the order and the customer decides to change the order. The barista then tries to repeat this order, or asks what one of the ingredients is, as it is unusual in coffee. The customer complains and moves on.
   • Finally comes the third customer. The barista is already annoyed and confused by the first two orders. The third order is by far the most bizarre. The barista tells the customer that the coffee shop does not have more than half of the ingredients in house and that the other options are black coffee or coffee with milk. The customer has a fit and asks for the manager.
   • Now the barista has finally gone crazy, behaving in a way that is just as crazy as the customers, only with dire consequences. This could mean the barista robbing the coffee shop, throwing hot coffee in the customer's face, or getting fired.
6. Keep busy creating new concepts. After you create your first design, read it out loud to your group, assigning each member of the group a certain character. Then you ask for feedback and discuss what everyone thought did or did not work.
   • Show your sketch to someone whose advice you rely on. It's good to get feedback from someone who will give you honest advice.
   • Make notes of what people thought was funny and what didn't. It's a good idea to understand what works or doesn't work in a sketch. While you may love some text or a joke, it may not work in your sketch.
   • Cutting out what doesn't work is a great way to remove unnecessary things from your sketch. You want your skit to be slim and fast. Consider removing lines from the dialog that don't directly contribute to your skit's advancement.

Part 3 of 3: Perform or film your sketch

1. Hold auditions. Depending on how serious you are about producing your skit, you can hold auditions. If you've written your skit with a group and already know who will perform which role, you don't have to hold auditions, but you should go through the script together.
   • While you should look for talented people, you should also look for people who are reliable. You don't want people not showing up for practice sessions and rehearsals.
   • If you're writing a skit as part of a bigger show at school or a theater, ask your teacher or theater director for information about auditions. There may be a big audition for everyone, or you may need to have your own.
   • If you hold auditions, put up posters around your school or post information about it on social media.
   • When conducting auditions, ask actors / actresses for a portrait photo. You should also give them a few pages of your script (sides) to read.
2. Schedule at least one rehearsal. Since your skit is short, you don't have to have many rehearsals, but one or two is always a good idea. Make sure your actors know their lines and understand the direction and perspective of your skit.
   • Plan your props and other equipment. Some skits work best without props or background, while others require a bit more theater. Sketches are by definition not comprehensive, but props may be needed to make the sketch more meaningful.
3. Film or perform your sketch. When you've rehearsed the sketch a few times, it's time to perform it live or film it for the web. Give yourself plenty of time to make sure all props, costumes, and camera equipment are ready.
   • If you are going to film your sketch, you should use at least one camera, as well as sound and lighting equipment, if possible.
   • You can also upload your sketch to YouTube or Vimeo for others to watch.

Tips

• Write down several sketches or ideas before working one out. You may find that a particular idea that you thought was right no longer works.
• Don't be afraid to improvise some scenes with your group. A lot of great skits come from teams improvising and just trying.
• Share your ideas and collaborate. Often times, someone else will be able to take a fresh look, which can help improve your skit.
• Have fun with it. Sketches are meant to be fun, even if you're performing in front of an audience or filming. If you take it too seriously, you may be missing out on another joke or angle that you could use.