Creating comedy for your ventriloquism act is one of the most rewarding parts of our art.

Hearing an audience laugh at a joke you wrote is addicting. 

It doesn’t matter if you’re just starting out or looking to freshen up old material, the key is to keep it simple and fun.

I’m going to share some easy ways to come up with ideas, break them down into smaller pieces, and write routines that make people laugh.

With a little creativity and the right tools, you’ll have your audience in stitches in no time.

Ready to get started?  Then keep reading!

 

Key Takeaways

• Learn how to brainstorm funny ideas for your ventriloquism act.
• Discover how to break big ideas into smaller, funny details.
• Write short routines, single jokes, or even punchline-packed lines like song lyrics.
• Create comedy that keeps your audience laughing from start to finish.

 

Table of Contents

 

• Brainstorming Routine Ideas
• Breaking Down Concepts with the Wagon Wheel Method
• Writing in Chunks: Short Routines and Jokes
• Using Lyric Editing to Streamline Comedy Writing
• Tying It All Together

 

Brainstorming Routine Ideas

Every great comedy act starts with a simple idea. Think about funny or relatable situations from your life. What’s something silly that could happen to you or your puppet?  

Ways to Brainstorm:

• Look at everyday events. What’s weird or unexpected about them?
• Ask “What if?” to add a fun twist. For example, “What if my puppet was afraid of the dark?”
• Write down anything that makes you laugh. Even small ideas can grow into big routines.
• Keep your ideas simple. The goal is to find something your audience will understand and enjoy right away.

 

When Brainstorming:

• This is not the time to edit or write.
• Brainstorming is coming up with as many ideas as possible.
• Write them down in a notebook or type them into a computer document.

Having trouble coming up with ideas?

Bounce ideas around with a friend or try using artificial intelligence to come up with funny possibilities. I don’t recommend using AI to write jokes – you’ll end up with bad results – but ideas?  It excels there!

 

Breaking Down Concepts with the Wagon Wheel Method

Once you have an idea, the wagon wheel method can help you break it into smaller, funnier parts. This will make it easier to write your material and help the story progress during the routine. Think of your main idea as the center of a wheel. Each spoke of the wheel is a different detail or angle you can explore.  

How It Works:

• Write your main idea in the center of the wheel.
• Add spokes around it with smaller ideas or problems related to the main one.
• For each spoke, brainstorm funny situations or jokes.

 

Example:

Main Idea (Hub): Your puppet is scared of the dentist. Spokes:

• The puppet doesn’t want to open their mouth.
• They think the dentist will steal their teeth.
• It is a plot by the tooth fairy to save money.
• They try to bribe the dentist with candy.

This method keeps your routine organized and packed with laughs. It also helps you find more ways to connect with your audience.

 

Writing in Chunks: Short Routines and Jokes

Writing a whole script at once can feel overwhelming.

Instead, focus on writing shorter routines or even single one liner jokes.

Comedians sometime refer to these short bits as “chunks.”

Chunks are easier to manage and can be pieced together later to create a longer act.

Chunks can also be easily rearranged so you can adapt your act to your audience.

 

Why This Works:

• Short routines are easier to test and tweak.
• You can mix and match chunks to keep your act fresh.

 

How to Start:

• Write a short routine about one spoke from your wagon wheel.
• Create single jokes that could fit into different parts of your act.

Test these smaller pieces with friends or family to see what gets the biggest laughs.

By working in chunks, you’ll build your act step by step without feeling stuck or overwhelmed.

 

Using Lyric Editing to Streamline Comedy Writing

Think of your routine like writing a song.

Each sentence is like a lyric, and every word needs to have a purpose.

This technique helps you keep your comedy focused and punchy.

 

How to Do It:

• Write your routine out like a song, one sentence per line.
• Cross out words that don’t add to the story or delay the punchline.
• Read it out loud to check the rhythm and flow.

 

Example:

“Mom sent me to the grocery store to buy eggs.”
“Did you know eggs are more expensive than candy? ! And not nearly as tasty!”
“Mom wasn’t happy at all mad. She said the dentist was going to be expensive!”
“She’s lucky I saved her money on the eggs!” 

By trimming extra words, your jokes will land faster, and your audience will stay engaged. This method is great for keeping your comedy sharp and easy to follow.

 

Tying It All Together

Now that you’ve brainstormed ideas, broken them down, and written in chunks, it’s time to bring it all together.

Start with your strongest routine to grab the audience’s attention. Then, connect your shorter pieces to create a smooth, flowing act.

 

Tips for Putting It Together:

Use transitions to link routines, like your puppet commenting on the last joke.

Mix in single jokes to keep the audience laughing between routines.

End with a strong punchline or callback to leave a lasting impression.

Remember, your act doesn’t have to be perfect right away.

Test it out, adjust what doesn’t work, and keep refining.

Comedy is all about timing and practice!

 

Want more help writing comedy scripts?

You may want to read these articles:

How To Write Ventriloquist Scripts 

and

Writing Your Own Comedy Scripts To Get Strong Laughs

Plus …

Check out these Maher Products:

The Ventriloquist Script Writing Masterclass

Dialogs Plus: Family Script Series

Dialogs Plus: Old Person Script Series

Dialogs Plus: General Script Series

Dialogs Plus: Kid Script Series

The Dialogs Plus include 3 basic scripts with videos showing how they were created to give you ideas for your own scripts!