Gagging
The practice of inserting jokes that serve the performer rather than the scene. Gagging prioritizes getting a laugh over supporting the reality, characters, or game that the scene has established. While individual gags may land, they undermine the collaborative storytelling that sustains long-form improvisation.
Further Reading
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The Upright Citizens Brigade Comedy Improvisation Manual
Matt Besser; Ian Roberts; Matt Walsh
Truth in Comedy
The Manual of Improvisation
Charna Halpern; Del Close; Kim Howard Johnson
How to Be the Greatest Improviser on Earth
Will Hines
Creating Improvised Theatre
Tools, Techniques, and Theories
Mark Jane
Acting Through Improv
Improv Through Theatresports
Lynda Belt; Rebecca Stockley
Something from Nothing
The Technique of Improvisation
Richard Goteri
How to Reference This Page
The Improv Archive. (2026). Gagging. Retrieved March 17, 2026, from https://improvarchive.org/learn-improv/concepts/gagging
The Improv Archive. "Gagging." The Improv Archive, 2026. https://improvarchive.org/learn-improv/concepts/gagging.
The Improv Archive. "Gagging." The Improv Archive, 2026, https://improvarchive.org/learn-improv/concepts/gagging. Accessed March 17, 2026.
The Improv Archive is a systemically maintained repository. The archive itself acts as the corporate author.