---
title: "Do you practise your first line with the applause still | Tough Crowd"
description: "I think there’s a weird difference between rehearsing an opener in a quiet room and actually starting while people are still clapping from the intro. Do you pra"
lang: en
json-ld: |
  {
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@type": "WebApplication",
    "name": "Tough Crowd",
    "applicationCategory": "MultimediaApplications",
    "operatingSystem": "Web",
    "inLanguage": "en-GB",
    "areaServed": {
      "@type": "Country",
      "name": "United Kingdom"
    },
    "description": "The all-in-one workspace for working comedians — capture ideas, build sets, rehearse with evidence-based memory modes, track gigs and grow your audience.",
    "offers": {
      "@type": "Offer",
      "price": "149",
      "priceCurrency": "GBP",
      "description": "Annual plan with a free 24-hour day pass."
    }
  }
---

[

Tough Crowd](/)

Write

Memory Lab

Grow

Career

Network

[Pricing](/pricing)

[Login](/login)[Become a member](/register)

[Banter](/banter)[Tips](/banter/tip)[Stage Craft](/banter/tip/stage-craft)Do you practise your first line with the applause still happening? 

# Do you practise your first line with the applause still happening?

P

[PriyaMCsSometimes](/banter/Stand-Up-Comedians/PriyaMCsSometimes) 30 Aug 

I think there’s a weird difference between rehearsing an opener in a quiet room and actually starting while people are still clapping from the intro. Do you practise walking to the mic, getting settled and waiting for the room before you say the first line? Or deliberately learn to start over a bit of noise if the opener can survive it? I’m increasingly convinced the first ten seconds need their own rehearsal rather than just being the bit before the set starts.

## 0 Comments

No comments yet.

Become a member to comment in Banter

Tough Crowd is a members-only community. Your first 24 hours are free — cancel anytime.

[Become a member](/register)

Tough Crowd

The creative workspace for comedians to capture, build, rehearse and perform.

Features

-   [Capture](/features/capture)
-   [Set Builder](/features/set-builder)
-   [Memory Lab](/features/memory-lab)
-   [Performance](/features/performance)
-   [Gig Calendar](/features/gig-calendar)
-   [My Audience](/features/my-audience)
-   [Stand-up Courses](/Stand-Up-Comedy-Courses)

Company

-   [Banter](/banter)
-   [Events](/events)
-   [Pricing](/pricing)
-   [Blog](/blog)
-   [About](/about)
-   [Contact](/contact)
-   [Sitemap](/functions/generate-sitemap)

© 2026 Tough Crowd