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What is the difference between long-form improv, short-form improv, sketch comedy, and stand-up comedy?

At The Bit, we focus mainly on long-form improv and sketch comedy, though we also produce short-form and stand-up comedy. Here are the differences.

  • What is long-form improv comedy?

    Long-form improv is a spontaneous artistic expression usually inspired by one audience suggestion at the beginning of the show. In long-form improv, the actors are free to explore the performance to find the interesting parts. It is completely made up on the spot. (Examples: Murderville, Middleditch and Schwartz)

  • What is short-form improv comedy?

    Short-form improv is very interactive and relies more heavily on audience participation than long-form. Generally performed as a series of games with rules that the performers follow, it is completely made up on the spot. (Examples: Whose Line Is It Anyway?)

  • What is sketch comedy?

    Sketch comedy shows consist of scripted scenes which are usually rehearsed, performed, and perfected. (Examples: Saturday Night Live, Key & Peele, The Kids in the Hall, Mad TV, Aunty Donna’s Big Ol’ House of Fun, I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson)

  • What is stand-up comedy?

    Stand-up comedy is probably the most familiar form of comedy to the majority of people. Usually, it is a scripted series of jokes performed by one comedian with a microphone. (Examples: What every comedian’s mom thinks they do, What Netflix spends money on)
What Kind of Comedy Suits You Best?

What Kind of Comedy Suits You Best?

Take our quick quiz to find out if you’re destined for the spontaneity of long-form improv, the fast-paced fun of short-form games, the crafted humor of sketch comedy, or the spotlight of stand-up!

Question 1: How do you prefer your comedy?




Question 2: What’s your ideal audience experience?




Question 3: What kind of show would you most like to see?




Question 4: How do you feel about audience participation?





 

We are Committed to Inclusivity in Comedy

The Bit is committed to creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for all audience members, performers, and instructors. We believe that improv and sketch comedy are powerful tools for connecting people from all backgrounds and experiences, and we strive to provide a space where everyone feels safe and respected.

We are committed to:

  • Diversity: We believe that the diversity of our performers, instructors, and audiences is essential to creating a vibrant and innovative improv and sketch comedy community. We are committed to actively recruiting and supporting performers, instructors, and audience members from all backgrounds, including people of color, LGBTQ+ people, people with disabilities, and people from different socioeconomic backgrounds.
  • Equity: We believe that everyone should have the opportunity to participate in and enjoy improv and sketch comedy, regardless of their background or experience. We are committed to creating an equitable environment where everyone feels respected and valued.
  • Inclusion: We believe that everyone should feel welcome and included in our community. We are committed to fostering a culture of respect and understanding, and we will not tolerate any form of discrimination or harassment.

We encourage all audience members, performers, and instructors to share their feedback with us on how we can continue to improve our inclusivity efforts. We are always learning and growing, and we are committed to creating a space where everyone feels safe, respected, and valued.

Specific actions we take to support our inclusivity statement:

  • We offer diversity and inclusion training to all performers, instructors, and staff.
  • We check in on our students’ safety prior to each workshop.
  • We have a zero-tolerance policy for discrimination and harassment.
  • We reserve at least one free spot in each one of our classes for students unable to afford the regular class fee. Contact us with any questions.
  • We strive to reach out to under-represented populations to ensure that our stages reflect the diversity of our community.
  • We make our theater accessible to people with disabilities.
  • We provide trigger warnings for pre-programmed content that may be sensitive to some audience members.
  • We welcome feedback from our community on how we can continue to improve our inclusivity efforts.

We are committed to creating a space where everyone can enjoy the art of improv and sketch comedy. Thank you for being a part of our community!