What is Spam Jam?

Spam Jam is a free, all-levels sketch comedy jam hosted by Potential Spam Comedy.

How does it work?

  1. Before you jam: Write ONE sketch (max 7 pages) OR ONE premise (max 3 sentences). Or neither - you’re welcome to come as a performer or audience member! 

  2. When you arrive: Sign up for a slot (max 20 sketches or premises per night) and upload your sketch or premise to a shared folder. 

  3. When it’s your turn: Read off your character list, watch your sketch come to life, get notes from jam hosts and punch-ups from fellow jammers.

  4. When it’s not your turn: Jump up to read sketches or improvise premises from other jammers.

FAQs

  • How much does it cost? 

    • It’s free! But a $5-7 donation to Teller Productions goes a long way to making this sustainable. 

  • How should I format my sketch or premise?

    • Please include the title, your name, and a character list (including the names of the characters with a VERY short description, for example “Mr. Shnicklefritz - the butler” or “Stephanie - 20-something POC”) on the first page. Otherwise, no specific formatting is necessary, but check out Screenplay Template (WriterDuet) or Screenplay Formatter (Google Docs) for free templates. 

  • What if I don’t want notes?

    • No problem! Just let the jam host know when you sign up. You’ll still learn a lot from seeing your idea in action and hearing which jokes get laughs (or other reactions) in front of an audience. 

  • What if I have my own actors? 

    • Great! Just let the jam host know when you sign up. If you don’t tell us otherwise, we will assume you do not have actors (or at least not with you in the room), and we will allow any jammers to jump up when they hear a character they want to read for. 

  • Can I record my sketch being read or my premise being improvised? 

    • Please get the consent of the folks who are reading/improvising first. If it’s alright by them, it’s alright by us! 

  • What happens to the folder of sketches after each jam? 

    • We will delete all sketches uploaded to the folder immediately after the jam! Sketches, premises, and ideas are the property of the person who brought them in.