Bridge
In standup comedy, a bridge (also known as a segue or transition) is a technique comedians use to smoothly connect different jokes or topics in their performance. It's like a conversational stepping stone that helps the audience follow along as the comedian moves from one subject to another. Think of it as the glue that holds different parts of a comedy set together, making the whole performance feel more natural and flowing rather than just a series of disconnected jokes.
Examples in Resumes
Developed strong Bridge techniques to connect diverse topics in 45-minute sets
Taught Bridge and segue writing techniques to junior comedians
Created memorable Bridges between political and personal material in headline shows
Typical job title: "Comedy Writers"
Also try searching for:
Where to Find Comedy Writers
Online Communities
Industry Resources
Example Interview Questions
Experienced Comedian Questions
Q: How do you handle transitioning between controversial and light-hearted material?
Expected Answer: An experienced comedian should explain their strategy for easing audience tension and maintaining flow, with examples of successful bridges they've used in different venues and audiences.
Q: How do you teach bridging techniques to other comedians?
Expected Answer: Should demonstrate their understanding of different bridging methods and ability to explain them to others, including examples of how they've helped other comedians improve their transitions.
Mid-Level Comedian Questions
Q: What are your favorite types of bridges to use in your sets?
Expected Answer: Should be able to describe different bridging techniques they've developed and explain why certain transitions work better in different situations.
Q: How do you recover when a bridge doesn't land well with the audience?
Expected Answer: Should explain their backup strategies and ability to read the room, showing experience in adjusting their performance on the fly.
Beginning Comedian Questions
Q: What is a bridge and why is it important in comedy?
Expected Answer: Should understand the basic concept of transitions between jokes and why smooth connections help maintain audience engagement.
Q: How do you prepare bridges in your written material?
Expected Answer: Should be able to explain their process for planning connections between different jokes in their set, even if still developing their style.
Experience Level Indicators
Junior (0-2 years)
- Basic understanding of transitions
- Simple callback techniques
- Writing connected 5-minute sets
- Open mic experience
Mid (2-5 years)
- Smooth topic transitions
- Effective callbacks
- 15-30 minute sets
- Crowd work integration
Senior (5+ years)
- Complex narrative structures
- Teaching transition techniques
- Hour-long seamless sets
- Advanced audience management
Red Flags to Watch For
- Unable to connect different parts of their set smoothly
- No understanding of timing and pacing
- Lack of experience with different audience types
- Poor understanding of comedy structure and flow
Related Terms
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