Format of 10-minute long-form set

The basic format

1. The emcee introduces you.
2. Your team takes the stage and asks for one or more suggestions from the audience.
3. A timer will be visible from the stage and starts at 0:00 once you have your suggestion(s).
4. Use any long-form structure you like (see below for recommendations).
5. Once the timer is around 10 minutes, someone on your team says, “That’s our show!” and you exit to applause.

Recommended 10-minute long-form structures

• Post-it Note Opening, then a Montage
  • Each person is standing on the backline holding a pad of sticky notes and a marker
  • Ask the audience for a one-word suggestion
  • Do Idea Association for 60 seconds
  • After you say an idea, write it down and place the sticky note in front of you on the backline.
  • Once you hit 60 seconds, someone says, “Great, let’s do some scenes!” and you put you away your sticky notes and markers.
  • Do a series of scenes. Each scene should be inspired by one idea you wrote down. The scenes do not have to be related.
  • Each scene will probably last around 1 or 2 minutes.
  • Whenever it feels right, someone should end the scene with a sweep edit, then two people step out and start the next scene.
• 5 Suggestions
  • Ask the audience for 5 suggestions (see below for categories)
  • We’ll provide a notebook and marker so your team can write them down
  • Do a ~2:00 scene inspired by each of those suggestions. The scenes do not have to be related.
  • When a scene is around 2 minutes, someone end the scene with a sweep edit, then two people step out and start the next scene.
  • Categories of suggestions:
    • 5 Locations (e.g. The White House)
    • 5 Relationships (e.g. ex-spouses)
    • 5 Jobs (e.g. banker)
    • 5 Objects (e.g. umbrella)
    • 5 Emotions (e.g. nostalgic)
• Macro Location
  • Ask the audience for a location that has a lot of people (e.g. hotel)
  • Think about smaller locations/areas in and around this macro location (e.g. hotel room, front desk, hotel bar, rooftop)
  • Think about different types of characters and relationships that could exist in this macro location.
  • Do 5 scenes, each ~2:00 in length, with every scene being in or around the macro location. The scenes do not have to be related
  • When a scene is around 2 minutes, someone end the scene with a sweep edit, then two people step out and start the next scene.
• Living Room Opening, then a Montage (Advanced)
  • Ask the audience for a word or phrase
  • Do a Living Room Opening to find a premise for your first scene
  • Do a series of scenes. The scenes are often related.
  • You can end scenes with tag-outs, wave-offs, or sweep edits.
  • This is the most common structure used in our list of recommended long-form improv videos