--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I need to keep my ad-libbing skills honed…" description: "\"I need to keep my ad-libbing skills honed and make sure I'm able to banter with people and treat topics a bit more light-heartedly. But as a stand-up, ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cbb/jon-richardson-7899_big_i-need-to-keep-my-ad-libbing-skills-hone_1828674.jpg" --- # I need to keep my ad-libbing skills honed and make sure… ![“I need to keep my ad-libbing skills honed and make sure I'm able to banter with people and treat topics a bit more light-heartedly. But as a stand-up, first and foremost, my job is to make sure that I can write the routine that hopefully people will talk about when something big happens.” quote by Jon Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cbb/jon-richardson-7899_big_i-need-to-keep-my-ad-libbing-skills-hone_1828674.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cbb/jon-richardson-7899_big_i-need-to-keep-my-ad-libbing-skills-hone_1828674.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cbb/jon-richardson-7899_big_i-need-to-keep-my-ad-libbing-skills-hone_1828674.jpg) > “I need to keep my ad-libbing skills honed and make sure I'm able to banter with people and treat topics a bit more light-heartedly. But as a stand-up, first and foremost, my job is to make sure that I can write the routine that hopefully people will talk about when something big happens.” [Jon Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-richardson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A comedian must balance quick wit with thoughtful material, ensuring both spontaneity and lasting impact. **In simple terms:** Comedians need both improvisation and solid writing. Key Takeaway Practice improvisation and craft strong jokes. Themes comedy creativity discipline Mood playful determined Type motivational practical When to use this quote - open mic nights - writing sessions - crowd interaction - media appearances - workshops Key Concepts performance art humor theory Questions to Reflect On - How do you decide when to improvise versus stick to the script? - What topics are best handled lightly? A Different Perspective Improvisation can clash with rehearsed material, risking inconsistency. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Banter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/banter/) [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Will Talk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-will-talk/) ## Related quotes > [I want to talk about being a big guy... it's not a fat joke. It's a joke about living the way you live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-pinette/i-want-to-talk-about-being-a-big-guy-it-s-not-a-fat-joke-it-s-a-joke/) [John Pinette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-pinette/) > [“Did somebody forget to give you the ‘wrap it before you whack it’ talk? This is…this is big. What’re you thinking?” Mace asked.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lola-stark/did-somebody-forget-to-give-you-the-wrap-it-before-you-whack-it-talk/) [Lola Stark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lola-stark/) > [Listen, if you don't talk big game, you never get anywhere. If you don't think big, you don't get big. Some people call it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanilla-ice/listen-if-you-don-t-talk-big-game-you-never-get-anywhere-if-you-don-t/) [Vanilla Ice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanilla-ice/) > [I don't like to talk about big ideas until I start formally working on it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wilson/i-don-t-like-to-talk-about-big-ideas-until-i-start-formally-working/) [John Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wilson/) > [Lots of people dream big and talk about big bold ideas but never do anything. I judge people by what they've done. The ratio…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-diamandis/lots-of-people-dream-big-and-talk-about-big-bold-ideas-but-never-do/) [Peter Diamandis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-diamandis/) > [ Everybody wants to go see the big hit \[at the theatre\]. Not because it's any good. Because it's the big hit and everybody wants… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-albee/everybody-wants-to-go-see-the-big-hit-at-the-theatre-not-because-it-s/) [Edward Albee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-albee/) > [There's a lot of people on Vine who don't really talk, but who are very big.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-nash/there-s-a-lot-of-people-on-vine-who-don-t-really-talk-but-who-are/) [Jason Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-nash/) > [We Americans are trained to think big, talk big, act big, love big, admire bigness but then the essential mystery is in the small.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-harrison/we-americans-are-trained-to-think-big-talk-big-act-big-love-big/) [Jim Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-harrison/) > [Dream big, talk big, and turn your faith loose!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-copeland/dream-big-talk-big-and-turn-your-faith-loose/) [Kenneth Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-copeland/) > [“I think you talk big,” said Pleasant. “I think you talk about death like it’s your friend. But if you really want to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/i-think-you-talk-big-said-pleasant-i-think-you-talk-about-death-like/) [Derek Landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/) > [You have to be careful of people who like to talk a big game but can't back it up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-lewis/you-have-to-be-careful-of-people-who-like-to-talk-a-big-game-but-can/) [Ray Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-lewis/) > [You talk big, claiming your down but when I come thru your never around. You act tough, and mighty but when your not with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cherise-j/you-talk-big-claiming-your-down-but-when-i-come-thru-your-never/) Cherise J > [You know you gotta talk big money when you talking to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boosie/you-know-you-gotta-talk-big-money-when-you-talking-to-me/) [Boosie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boosie/) > [To be successful, you must act big, think big and talk big.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle-onassis/to-be-successful-you-must-act-big-think-big-and-talk-big/) [Aristotle Onassis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle-onassis/) > [“It's easy to talk big, but the important thing is whether or not you clean up the shit.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/it-s-easy-to-talk-big-but-the-important-thing-is-whether-or-not-you/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) ## More by Jon Richardson > [I accept you can't achieve perfection all the time, but you can achieve perfection of intent, maybe. I don't think you can go into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-richardson/i-accept-you-can-t-achieve-perfection-all-the-time-but-you-can/) [Jon Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-richardson/) > [If I had a choice, I would rather watch a comedian not involve themselves in politics at all but be hilarious than someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-richardson/if-i-had-a-choice-i-would-rather-watch-a-comedian-not-involve/) [Jon Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-richardson/) > [No book has ever made me laugh as much as 'I, Partridge.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-richardson/no-book-has-ever-made-me-laugh-as-much-as-i-partridge/) [Jon Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-richardson/) > [When you are single, you're invested in the world because you have to be, because that's all you've got. When you have a kid,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-richardson/when-you-are-single-you-re-invested-in-the-world-because-you-have-to/) [Jon Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-richardson/) > [“I hate things and I do so because it is clean and easy and makes me feel better about myself without having to ask…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-richardson/i-hate-things-and-i-do-so-because-it-is-clean-and-easy-and-makes-me/) [Jon Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-richardson/) > [There are things I wouldn't do when hosting, like get people up on stage or get the audience doing a sing-song or something like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-richardson/there-are-things-i-wouldn-t-do-when-hosting-like-get-people-up-on/) [Jon Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-richardson/) > [I like small parties with people I know. I like eating pizza at home with my girlfriend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-richardson/i-like-small-parties-with-people-i-know-i-like-eating-pizza-at-home/) [Jon Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-richardson/) > [Somewhat naively, I entered the BBC's 'New Talent Competition,' believing it was for people who had never tried comedy before. I remember sitting in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-richardson/somewhat-naively-i-entered-the-bbc-s-new-talent-competition-believing/) [Jon Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-richardson/) > [I think a pessimist is just an optimist who has had their heart repeatedly broken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-richardson/i-think-a-pessimist-is-just-an-optimist-who-has-had-their-heart/) [Jon Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-richardson/) > [Stand-up is still my job. That is the thing I wanted to get into when I was 21. You cannot beat the immediacy of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-richardson/stand-up-is-still-my-job-that-is-the-thing-i-wanted-to-get-into-when/) [Jon Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-richardson/) > [My wife's biggest fear is air pollution, living in London as we do. She's convinced that's the big problem. And my own is sink…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-richardson/my-wife-s-biggest-fear-is-air-pollution-living-in-london-as-we-do-she/) [Jon Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-richardson/) > [I refuse to believe that clubbing is how people are supposed to meet to establish relationships on a level for beyond what we consider…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-richardson/i-refuse-to-believe-that-clubbing-is-how-people-are-supposed-to-meet/) [Jon Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-richardson/) > [Each show is a very honest portrayal of how I'm feeling that night. It can go off in any direction. The show is different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-richardson/each-show-is-a-very-honest-portrayal-of-how-i-m-feeling-that-night-it/) [Jon Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-richardson/) > [I have a lot of internalised tantrums. I secretly hope the worst and then I start planning my little speech for the beginning of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-richardson/i-have-a-lot-of-internalised-tantrums-i-secretly-hope-the-worst-and/) [Jon Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-richardson/) > [“I certainly find it difficult to relate to people who seem incapable of doing anything on their own, needing company even whilst simply watching…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-richardson/i-certainly-find-it-difficult-to-relate-to-people-who-seem-incapable/) [Jon Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-richardson/) [Explore all 86 Jon Richardson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-richardson/) ## More Banter quotes > [“It was wonderful flirting with him, all the razor-edged literary banter, like Beatrice and Benedick in Much Ado About Nothing. 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I want my safeword to be peaches,” I said,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-adams/first-i-m-going-to-teach-you-how-to-irish-whip-someone-oh-that-sounds/) [Kyle Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-adams/) > [“Jimmy was in a league of his own when it came to puerile, half-pissed badinage.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-holoran/jimmy-was-in-a-league-of-his-own-when-it-came-to-puerile-half-pissed/) [Jamie Holoran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-holoran/) > [“Abe held my gaze a bit longer and then broke into an easy smile. ʺOf course, of course. This is a family gathering. A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/abe-held-my-gaze-a-bit-longer-and-then-broke-into-an-easy-smile-of/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [“See the healer, Sage. We have a big week ahead of us, and I can’t afford you falling dead on me.” “I don’t think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-nicole-maehrer/see-the-healer-sage-we-have-a-big-week-ahead-of-us-and-i-can-t-afford/) Hannah Nicole Maehrer > [“Took long enough,” she called out, not wanting to admit how the sight of him made her throat hitch, how the man was so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-mcintyre/took-long-enough-she-called-out-not-wanting-to-admit-how-the-sight-of/) [Katherine McIntyre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-mcintyre/) > [“I want to go to a café and sit with you. I want you to order something I've never eaten before and tease me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-tessaro/i-want-to-go-to-a-caf-and-sit-with-you-i-want-you-to-order-something/) [Kathleen Tessaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-tessaro/) > [Sometimes things are said on the pitch that people won't see at home. There's a bit of banter on the pitch as well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-welbeck/sometimes-things-are-said-on-the-pitch-that-people-won-t-see-at-home/) [Danny Welbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-welbeck/) > [“Neil Mars?! I could blame him for having killer looks but he could not be faulted for this. He couldn’t have chosen that name…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rucy-ban/neil-mars-i-could-blame-him-for-having-killer-looks-but-he-could-not/) [Rucy Ban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rucy-ban/) > [That men, in reality, did not have friends in other men. 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"Look...we're just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/remind-me-again-why-do-you-hate-me-so-much-i-don-t-hate-you-could-ve/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) [Browse all 182 Banter quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/banter/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I need to keep my ad-libbing skills honed and make sure I'm able to banter with people and treat topics a bit more light-heartedly. 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