For comics, bands, and speakers
Tighten the set.
Own the stage.
Act Tight is a free stagecraft guide for short slots. Learn how to cut a set to its strongest minutes, rehearse so it survives a live room, and land on time when the light goes on.
Tonight's run order
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How to tighten a five-minute set
A step-by-step method for cutting a five-minute stand-up or music set down to its strongest material, with timing targets and a cutting checklist.
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Rehearse so it holds up on stage
How to rehearse a set so it survives nerves, noise, and a live crowd, with spaced practice, out-loud run-throughs, and stage-condition drills.
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Kill dead air: transitions and changeovers
How to plan the seconds between bits, songs, and slides so a set keeps its momentum, including segues, tuning time, and band changeovers.
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Working the light: how to end on time
What the light means at comedy clubs and showcases, how to plan a flexible ending, and how to cut on the fly without losing your closer.
Know your real runtime before you walk on
Paste your set list with times. The calculator adds changeovers and room for laughs or applause, then tells you how far over or under your slot you are and which pieces are the longest to cut.
Open the set-time calculatorThree rules for any short slot
−30s
Finish under, not on
Plan to end 15 to 30 seconds before your slot. Laughs and applause always add time.
1:1
Setup earns its payoff
If the setup is longer than the laugh, song, or idea is worth, trim it before cutting the whole piece.
0
Zero unplanned silence
Every gap between pieces should be chosen. Write and rehearse your transitions.