---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I had to write a comedy set and film a…"
description: "\"I had to write a comedy set and film a show at the same time. And it's the second time I've been up on stage as a stand-up comedian with untested mater..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f5f/zach-anner-4934_comedian_i-had-to-write-a-comedy-set-and-film-a-s_1107555.jpg"
---

#  I had to write a comedy set and film a show at the same…

![“I had to write a comedy set and film a show at the same time. And it's the second time I've been up on stage as a stand-up comedian with untested material. I was saying it out loud for the first time that night. It didn't go how I expected, but in the best possible way.” quote by Zach Anner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f5f/zach-anner-4934_comedian_i-had-to-write-a-comedy-set-and-film-a-s_1107555.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f5f/zach-anner-4934_comedian_i-had-to-write-a-comedy-set-and-film-a-s_1107555.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f5f/zach-anner-4934_comedian_i-had-to-write-a-comedy-set-and-film-a-s_1107555.jpg)

> “I had to write a comedy set and film a show at the same time. And it's the second time I've been up on stage as a stand-up comedian with untested material. I was saying it out loud for the first time that night. It didn't go how I expected, but in the best possible way.”

[Zach Anner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-anner/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Balancing creation and performance can produce unexpected, rewarding outcomes when you trust the process.

**In simple terms:** Creating and performing together can lead to pleasant surprises.

Key Takeaway

Embrace the challenge of doing both at once.

Themes

creativity performance risk growth

Mood

excited optimistic

Type

inspirational motivational

When to use this quote

- writing a comedy set
- performing live
- testing new material

Key Concepts

improvisation audience feedback stagecraft

Questions to Reflect On

- How can you prepare for simultaneous creation and performance?
- What unexpected benefits can arise from multitasking?

A Different Perspective

Success may depend on audience mood and timing, not just preparation.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Comedian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedian/) [Comedian Untested](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedian-untested-2934763/) [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Comedy Set](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy-set-2934764/) [Expected](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expected/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [First time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-time/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [Loud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loud/) [Materials](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/materials/) [Night](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/night/) [Shows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shows/) [Stage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stage/) [Stand up comedian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stand-up-comedian/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Write Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/write-comedy-350652/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/)

## Related quotes

> [What's great about comedy, obviously, is that you set up a situation that people assume one thing and then you break the assumption. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-cranston/what-s-great-about-comedy-obviously-is-that-you-set-up-a-situation/)

[Bryan Cranston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-cranston/)

> [I didn't know how to grab your best material and put it together into a comedy set. I would just choose subjects and do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felipe-esparza/i-didn-t-know-how-to-grab-your-best-material-and-put-it-together-into/)

[Felipe Esparza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felipe-esparza/)

> [Canada has been a breeding ground for great comedic actors, sketch artists and stand-up comedians. We grew up with a different perspective on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harland-williams/canada-has-been-a-breeding-ground-for-great-comedic-actors-sketch/)

[Harland Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harland-williams/)

> [The skill of a good actor is to make it always seem like you're in that fantastically spontaneous moment. Very often, a stand-up comedian…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-firth/the-skill-of-a-good-actor-is-to-make-it-always-seem-like-you-re-in/)

[Colin Firth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-firth/)

> [I come from the stage. I started my career as a stand-up comedian and then later on became an actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-huard/i-come-from-the-stage-i-started-my-career-as-a-stand-up-comedian-and/)

[Patrick Huard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-huard/)

> [ Branne's \[Pavlovic\] parents wanted him to become a taxi driver, but he became a stand-up comedian instead. So they died of shame. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aron-flam/branne-s-pavlovic-parents-wanted-him-to-become-a-taxi-driver-but-he/)

[Aron Flam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aron-flam/)

> [And what is the reaction of the British politcal class? Well the Lib Dems, still think that the Euro is a success! I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-farage/and-what-is-the-reaction-of-the-british-politcal-class-well-the-lib/)

[Nigel Farage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-farage/)

> [This is a dream come true. HBO is the highest echelon in the world for a stand-up comedian to attain. Throughout my career I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dane-cook/this-is-a-dream-come-true-hbo-is-the-highest-echelon-in-the-world-for/)

[Dane Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dane-cook/)

> [A stand-up comedian faces the audiences and gets their immediate feedback. I hide behind the comic strip, and unless people write to me, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-pastis/a-stand-up-comedian-faces-the-audiences-and-gets-their-immediate/)

[Stephan Pastis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-pastis/)

> [The real focus at first is to just become a good stand-up comedian, and then when you get to a certain level, then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/the-real-focus-at-first-is-to-just-become-a-good-stand-up-comedian/)

[Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/)

> [Conclusions are based in time. We live in time. So any definition of success is bound up with time. With other things you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demetri-martin/conclusions-are-based-in-time-we-live-in-time-so-any-definition-of/)

[Demetri Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demetri-martin/)

> [I love standup comedians. I really do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-gaffigan/i-love-standup-comedians-i-really-do/)

[Jim Gaffigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-gaffigan/)

> [Laughter is good for you. Nine out of ten stand-up comedians recommend laughter in the face of intense stupidity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/laughter-is-good-for-you-nine-out-of-ten-stand-up-comedians-recommend/)

[Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/)

> [Jesus was a brilliant Jewish stand-up comedian, a phenomenal improviser. His parables are great one-liners.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/jesus-was-a-brilliant-jewish-stand-up-comedian-a-phenomenal/)

[Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/)

> [I wouldn't mind gigging around the same era as Jesus, after he gives his speech about the meek and how blessed they are and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-jefferies/i-wouldn-t-mind-gigging-around-the-same-era-as-jesus-after-he-gives/)

[Jim Jefferies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-jefferies/)

## More by Zach Anner

> [I just love all the music. My grandma was a church organist for 40 years, and she got me into jazz music and great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-anner/i-just-love-all-the-music-my-grandma-was-a-church-organist-for-40/)

[Zach Anner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-anner/)

> [The most important thing is to have the conversation, and let people who do make mistakes feel comfortable enough to continue the conversation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-anner/the-most-important-thing-is-to-have-the-conversation-and-let-people/)

[Zach Anner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-anner/)

> [I talk about Breaking Bad being the most brilliant show ever, and even minor characters have subtle nuances and are fully drawn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-anner/i-talk-about-breaking-bad-being-the-most-brilliant-show-ever-and-even/)

[Zach Anner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-anner/)

> [I used to be an insult comic, and I didn't end up liking the way that I felt about myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-anner/i-used-to-be-an-insult-comic-and-i-didn-t-end-up-liking-the-way-that/)

[Zach Anner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-anner/)

> [Religion is such an important part of so many people's lives, and I don't understand it at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-anner/religion-is-such-an-important-part-of-so-many-people-s-lives-and-i/)

[Zach Anner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-anner/)

> [My grandma was a church organist for 40 years, and she got me into jazz music and great songwriters, Harold Arlen, George Gershwin, all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-anner/my-grandma-was-a-church-organist-for-40-years-and-she-got-me-into/)

[Zach Anner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-anner/)

> [This country is pretty amazing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-anner/this-country-is-pretty-amazing/)

[Zach Anner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-anner/)

> [You may not have a physical impairment, but you have things, whether it's finances, self-esteem, it doesn't matter. It's cut from the same cloth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-anner/you-may-not-have-a-physical-impairment-but-you-have-things-whether-it/)

[Zach Anner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-anner/)

> [For me, cerebral palsy wasn't the biggest deal, because I always had it. You know, you always work with what you got.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-anner/for-me-cerebral-palsy-wasn-t-the-biggest-deal-because-i-always-had-it/)

[Zach Anner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-anner/)

> [I didn't feel like I was putting anything good into the world, even though it was funny. I wanted to do something more positive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-anner/i-didn-t-feel-like-i-was-putting-anything-good-into-the-world-even/)

[Zach Anner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-anner/)

> [My parents instilled in me a sense of self that I was more than just a diagnosis or a condition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-anner/my-parents-instilled-in-me-a-sense-of-self-that-i-was-more-than-just/)

[Zach Anner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-anner/)

> [My parents and my brother instilled in me my sense of humor. That's kind of the way we communicate with each other, and it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-anner/my-parents-and-my-brother-instilled-in-me-my-sense-of-humor-that-s/)

[Zach Anner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-anner/)

> [My stance has always been that my issue compared to everything else going on in the world is really, really small. Once you realize…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-anner/my-stance-has-always-been-that-my-issue-compared-to-everything-else/)

[Zach Anner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-anner/)

> [Depending on where my self-confidence was, growing up, I would use humor either to bring people closer, or to keep them away from certain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-anner/depending-on-where-my-self-confidence-was-growing-up-i-would-use/)

[Zach Anner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-anner/)

> [I have one of the worst voices in the history of recorded time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-anner/i-have-one-of-the-worst-voices-in-the-history-of-recorded-time/)

[Zach Anner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-anner/)

[Explore all 105 Zach Anner quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-anner/)

## More Comedian quotes

> [I would say most comedians have a very cynical worldview of the way the world can work. It's almost like if you didn't, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-quinn/i-would-say-most-comedians-have-a-very-cynical-worldview-of-the-way/)

[Colin Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-quinn/)

> [At one point when I was very young, when I was first starting out, I thought, 'Well, one day I'll be able to put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bo-burnham/at-one-point-when-i-was-very-young-when-i-was-first-starting-out-i/)

[Bo Burnham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bo-burnham/)

> [I like to turn up my collar when I'm leaving the theatre and feel like I'm some heroic comedian figure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-skinner/i-like-to-turn-up-my-collar-when-i-m-leaving-the-theatre-and-feel/)

[Frank Skinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-skinner/)

> [The only difference between a comedian and someone else? We need to make people laugh more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-davies/the-only-difference-between-a-comedian-and-someone-else-we-need-to/)

[Greg Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-davies/)

> [When a soldier of the night's watch dies they say, "And now his watch is over." That's what they say when a comedian dies.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-williams/when-a-soldier-of-the-night-s-watch-dies-they-say-and-now-his-watch/)

[Brad Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-williams/)

> [My mom is two people to me. She's my mom number one, and then she's this lady most comedians know as being a legendary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pauly-shore/my-mom-is-two-people-to-me-she-s-my-mom-number-one-and-then-she-s/)

[Pauly Shore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pauly-shore/)

> [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/)

> [I wouldn't mind gigging around the same era as Jesus, after he gives his speech about the meek and how blessed they are and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-jefferies/i-wouldn-t-mind-gigging-around-the-same-era-as-jesus-after-he-gives/)

[Jim Jefferies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-jefferies/)

> [If someone doesn't like a comedian that's fine; a lot of people probably don't like my standup, and that's fine. But I think that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-norton/if-someone-doesn-t-like-a-comedian-that-s-fine-a-lot-of-people/)

[Jim Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-norton/)

> [It's very rare that an older comedian sort of slips into an old-school clunker. You know, you don't hear too much of that anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-ross/it-s-very-rare-that-an-older-comedian-sort-of-slips-into-an-old/)

[Jeff Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-ross/)

> [I was a kid, and I would watch standup comics do the 'Tonight Show,' and if Johnny Carson liked you, he'd wave you over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-koy/i-was-a-kid-and-i-would-watch-standup-comics-do-the-tonight-show-and/)

[Jo Koy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-koy/)

> [Gary Greenberg is a thoughtful comedian and a cranky philosopher and a humble pest of a reporter, equal parts Woody Allen, Kierkegaard, and Columbo.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gideon-lewis-kraus/gary-greenberg-is-a-thoughtful-comedian-and-a-cranky-philosopher-and/)

[Gideon Lewis-Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gideon-lewis-kraus/)

> [For me, comedians are like the epitome for everything great, and they terrify me. I just want to be them. I want to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tatiana-maslany/for-me-comedians-are-like-the-epitome-for-everything-great-and-they/)

[Tatiana Maslany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tatiana-maslany/)

> [No matter what town we went to, if there was a comedian playing, I'd go watch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-waltrip/no-matter-what-town-we-went-to-if-there-was-a-comedian-playing-i-d-go/)

[Michael Waltrip](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-waltrip/)

> [I'm a comedian who happens to be Latino. What's the difference? The difference is, my special will air on Comedy Central, not Telemundo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabriel-iglesias/i-m-a-comedian-who-happens-to-be-latino-what-s-the-difference-the/)

[Gabriel Iglesias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabriel-iglesias/)

[Browse all 1,775 Comedian quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedian/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I had to write a comedy set and film a show at the same time. And it's the second time I've been up on stage as a stand-up comedian with untested material. I was saying it out loud for the first time that night. It didn't go how I expected, but in the best possible way.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Zach Anner"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-anner/i-had-to-write-a-comedy-set-and-film-a-show-at-the-same-time-and-it-s/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Comedian"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-anner/i-had-to-write-a-comedy-set-and-film-a-show-at-the-same-time-and-it-s/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f5f/zach-anner-4934_comedian_i-had-to-write-a-comedy-set-and-film-a-s_1107555.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f5f/zach-anner-4934_comedian_i-had-to-write-a-comedy-set-and-film-a-s_1107555.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f5f/zach-anner-4934_comedian_i-had-to-write-a-comedy-set-and-film-a-s_1107555.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I had to write a comedy set and film a show at the same time. And it's the second time I've been up on stage…” — Zach Anner",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Zach Anner",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-anner/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I had to write a comedy...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-anner/i-had-to-write-a-comedy-set-and-film-a-show-at-the-same-time-and-it-s/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-anner/i-had-to-write-a-comedy-set-and-film-a-show-at-the-same-time-and-it-s/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
