There are dozens of them at the Edinburgh Fringe... producer Stephen Case has some tips for comedians taking part

I’ve produced panel shows at festivals and corporate events worldwide since 2015, and have worked with thousands of acts - from Netflix stars to open spots with only a few years’ experience on panel shows. It’s not always the most famous and experienced comics that do the best. 

Here are my tips on how to thrive if you’re booked for a format show for the first time. 

Embrace The Format: Try To Win 

A lot of format shows - gongs, roasts, panels - have the trappings of competition. Yes, the points in Have I Got News For You really don’t matter, but they help to drive the show along. Pretend to care about them, because the audience does! 

The audience cares because they are invested in the show. Taskmaster works as a format because everyone tries no matter how seemingly trivial the task. You can be too cool for school and pretend it’s the taking part that matters but, trust me, you’ll be funnier and more likeable if you chase victory. 

Don’t Overthink It 

I’ve seen super-confident, experienced comedians freeze up on panel shows. This is especially true if their first couple of attempts at jokes don't get the expected laughs. That is fine. The smart ones own their failure and keep going. Audiences are more forgiving when they know you’re improvising; they don't expect your absolute best polished material—in fact, they’d rather see something totally made up on the spot. 

Go with your first thought every time. You may say something dumb, silly or a little bit cancel-worthy but you'll be forgiven in the context. And at least it’s a starting point for laughs. People won't remember what you said anyway! But they will remember if you just do nothing or give up.

Work With Your Other Panelists And Host

If you aren't having the most killer night yourself, try to bump someone else up. You aren't getting the laughs you want, no worries - you get to be the villain or comic-relief sid-kick loser tonight. 

Set the other comedians or the host up for success by throwing yourself into that role. You may even get to turn it around by becoming the underdog. Everyone loves an underdog. Lap up those pity laughs, and turn any negative feelings you have about your own performance to lifting up your panelists.  

Follow The Chaos 

People come to format shows to be in the story; they want to see something unique and special. A lightning-in-a-bottle moment that only they have witnessed. A little bit of unscripted chaos. 

The panel show I co-created Not My Audience asks audience-posed questions to three panelists. We’ve done the show hundreds of times, and usually only get through about five questions, because something interesting will happen during the show that the host runs with. The best-performing panelists go with the flow, and accept the new parameters of the show. 

 Don’t Diss The Format 

This is probably the most important. Sure, you’ve signed up to a comedy gong show where audience members can throw water balloons filled with urine at comedians. Objectively an awful format, but saying that on stage won’t win you any friends. 

However badly a show might be going, you only get the cheapest of laughs out of dissing the idea or how little you’re being paid, or how much better you are than the show.

Remember, while it might not be the best life choice you have made to appear, the audience have often paid good money to see it - or at least they are invested somehow. They might be having a good time and you telling them they are wrong hardly endears you.

If you have to undermine the format try to do something a bit more subversive than just saying ‘this is a bit shite isn’t it’. For example, wear some waterproofs and bring an umbrella.

Stick To Your Persona

The audience will make their impression of you from the very first time they see you on stage. If you start doing dick-swinging confident material, then you’ll find it harder to sell oddball lines later in the show. If you don’t do puns for the entire show, then try one during the last five minutes, you’ll less likely get a laugh than if you’re known as ‘the pun comic’ from the off. 

The biggest laughs come when your material matches your persona, so just like with your stand-up act, make sure that it’s well defined from the very beginning. 

Do Them Again And Do Them A Lot

Panels, gongs, roasts are all great places to get out of your comfort zone and flex new comedy muscles. 

Despite running a roast show I am not the biggest fan of the format - I find it hard to be mean. But doing them makes me a better writer, I can try a new voice. Walking on stage to do five minutes of comedy on a set on a subject you don't know à la Set List or trying to copy another comic's jokes like in Joke Thieves may terrify you. That's good. Many acts report improvising premises and lines that have ended up being part of their set. 

• Stephen Case co-founded RGB Monster, a comedy production company that specialises in interactive format shows. You can see the shows they are bringing to the 2023 Edinburgh Fringe here, including Not My Audience daily at 3:30pm at Laughing Horse @ 32 Below as part of the Free Festival.

Published: 30 Jul 2023