An Honest Question.

No disrespect meant I assure you but why would anyone put , what they believed to be a very good sketch up on this site. You have to be realistic.If it is a real corker someone would nick it and send it off. And I don't necessarily mean anyone from this site.

A guy working in a professional team of sketch writers could quite easily access the site and pinch a few ideas.

This thread is not meant to have a go at anyone, just to ask the question really. Do people keep their best sketches to themselves or another question, If you wrote what you believed to be a really good sketch, would you post it in here ?

To be honest I never do.

From what I've read on here you are deffo not the only one who does'nt [p[ost the good stuff!

I'm insecure enough that I don't know whether or not a sketch is genuinely good until it's seen an audience of some sort. Plus the writers on here can be very useful when it comes to fine tuning a gag. That's my reason for posting here, anyway. I don't worry about my material being pinched, but perhaps that's because it hasn't happened yet.

My advice would be if you genuinely think you've got a great sketch, or great idea for a sitcom, don't post it here. You do risk it being nicked. However, if you're just working through ideas, and trying to find your own comic voice with some trial and error material, go for it.

I think at the beginning when you don't have any commissions its useful to test the water with a few sketches to make sure what you think is funny is agreed with. Also, if you are not sure about a sketch idea, its good to get some feedback.

Quote: chipolata @ April 17 2008, 2:14 PM BST

My advice would be if you genuinely think you've got a great sketch, or great idea for a sitcom, don't post it here. You do risk it being nicked.

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Yes, but can anyone prove that in all the while people have been posting on here that one single sketch has ever been pilfered?

There's been quite a few discussions about this in the 'writers discussions' forum before.

Someone brought up the very good point that if a professional writer was ever caught stealing ideas it would ruin their career.

The problem is that it's very hard to prove that an idea has been stolen. Also, how many cases have you heard of sketch writers being accused of theft? I'm not saying it doesn't happen, but I think it's quite rare.

I'm in the same boat as David. I'm not always sure if what I've written is funny. There's a been a couple where I'm 99% sure, but still had to post them to make sure. It's all trial and error for me at the minute.

Good point. I personally can't imagine sketch thieves trawling these forums and passing it off as their own work. But if it is something that's likely to keep you awake at night, don't post.

I am genuinely interested in why people post at all.

I understand the newbie wanting to see if what they think is funny actually is....and i understand the established wanting to see if a new idea or new style works.....but i don't understand those who regularly post sketch after sketch. Maybe there should be a "open mike" forum where people can post sketches just fro our entertainment because, i assume, those that post non-stop cant possibly be looking for non-stop critique can they?

I sometimes think it's akin to an addiction with some people. Which is fair enough, it's harmless past time. And also, there really isn't much market for sketches, so posting them here can fill a void for some people who perhaps aren't selling their stuff anywhere else.

You may be right - but the rules of the critique forum prevent them from being treated as such.

After you have posted the umpteenth sketch you should be able to post in a "display your talents" forum where people are free to respond more candidly.

As it is at present, the same people post the same style of sketch and get responses like "its good, but try this and this and that and alter this and move that and replace with this...but good idea" when what they really need is "that's not funny, you suck" - which is a more realistic response.

I would imagine that a standup does his first few goes to mates who respond constructively....but at some point he has to get up on stage. People here who post non-stop are akin to a standup who keeps trying out gags on his mum. (as it were)

Quote: M Lewis @ April 17 2008, 3:16 PM BST

I assume, those that post non-stop cant possibly be looking for non-stop critique can they?

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That's what I'm in it for. If I happen to write something that garners some praise I take it as a bonus, but principally I post because I find the feedback helpful and I want my work to improve.

To be honest, this is a part of the forum I don't often visit anyway. I ocassionally stray in, have a quick look around, then bugger off at high speed. In that respect it's very much like Birmingham.

Quote: chipolata @ April 17 2008, 4:25 PM BST

To be honest, this is a part of the forum I don't often visit anyway. I ocassionally stray in, have a quick look around, then bugger off at high speed. In that respect it's very much like Birmingham.

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I understand. Just as M Lewis is baffled by writers who post their work for critique, I'm baffled by non-writers who spend time reading critique.

Quote: David Bussell @ April 17 2008, 4:39 PM BST

I understand. Just as M Lewis is baffled by writers who post their work for critique, I'm baffled by non-writers who spend time reading critique.

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I understand the point of posting for critique, i did it myself. What i don't understand is doing so repeatedly....if you discover your funny then crack on and get submitting - if you discover your not, give up.

There seems to be a lot of emphasis here on technique and various fancy ways of describing joke telling......but i get the feeling that this game is like sports. Give Lewis Hamilton a Ford Mondeo and he'd beat any of us round a track no matter what we were driving.

This place is sometimes like a bunch of learner drivers discussing the best brand of tyre warmers!

In summary there seem to be two hurdles to success - firstly, be funny and secondly, be lucky. The critique forum will establish the first....i just dont understand jumping back and forth over that hurdle other than the fact that this forum sets it rather low, puts crash mats either side and cheers you on while you do it.