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title: "When do you stop adding new bits to a longer show? | Tough Crowd"
description: "I’m finding the dangerous thing about building a longer set is that every decent new idea feels like it deserves a place. At some point that has to stop or the"
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[Banter](/banter)[Venue Chat](/banter/venue)[Edinburgh & Fringe](/banter/venue/edinburgh-fringe)When do you stop adding new bits to a longer show? 

# When do you stop adding new bits to a longer show?

Z

[ZaraBuildsAnHour](/banter/Stand-Up-Comedians/ZaraBuildsAnHour) 28 Aug 

I’m finding the dangerous thing about building a longer set is that every decent new idea feels like it deserves a place. At some point that has to stop or the show never gets a shape. If you’re developing towards a Fringe-length hour, do you set a point where new material goes into a separate pile and you only work on what’s already in the show? Or do you keep letting stronger bits replace weaker ones right up until the run?

## 1 Comment

E

[EdinburghHalfHour](/banter/Stand-Up-Comedians/EdinburghHalfHour)28 Aug 

I’d keep replacing weak bits while the show is still finding its shape, but I’d have a separate file for anything new rather than automatically putting it in. Otherwise every decent idea becomes another five minutes you’re emotionally attached to. Once the structure is doing something, new material has to beat something that’s already there.

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