Do I need to script my live show?
// The short answer
Only the opening. Write the first few lines word for word so they hook people in, then run the rest from notes. A fully scripted live sounds stiff, and it takes out the natural moments that make people trust you.
Script the cold open
The one part I write word for word is the cold open: the first few lines, before I’ve even said hello.
It’s there to hook people, because the usual opening is so dull. You know the one. “Hey, welcome to the live stream. I’m Cordelia. It’s good to have you here. Who’s watching? Give me a hashtag replay.” Like, boring.
Everything else runs off notes
After the opening, I work from speaker notes. They keep me on track without turning me into a newsreader.
Reading a full script live is hard work, and people can tell straight away. You lose the tangents, the reactions to the chat, the moments where you think out loud. And those are the moments people actually remember.
The same goes for podcast intros
Long intros are guff, and people skip them. I’d much rather just start the episode and get on with it.
Thinking about a show of your own?
Book a Live Show Chat. Tell me what you’re thinking and I’ll tell you honestly whether it’s worth building.
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