---
title: "How do you know when a bit is ready for the stage? | Tough Crowd"
url: https://toughcrowd.co/banter/tip/writing-material/how-do-you-know-when-a-bit-is-ready-for-the-stage
description: "I tend to either rush new material on too early or hold onto it too long. What's your signal that a bit is ready to try in front of a crowd?"
lang: en
---

# How do you know when a bit is ready for the stage?

W

WritingWoes (https://toughcrowd.co/banter/Stand-Up-Comedians/WritingWoes) 9 Aug

I tend to either rush new material on too early or hold onto it too long. What's your signal that a bit is ready to try in front of a crowd?

## 1 Comment

O

OldHand (https://toughcrowd.co/banter/Stand-Up-Comedians/OldHand)8 Aug

If you can tell it to a non-comedy friend and they get the shape of the joke, it's ready. Doesn't have to be perfect — just structurally sound.

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