When is a sketch show really a sketch show? If your audience is mostly members of other sketch troupes who anticipate your attendance at their show in return, and you're not up long enough to get reviewed or build a following, is it really more like grad school for young comedy performers? There's a big difference between playing to other comedians and playing to civilians.

The Bastion has heard a lot of chatter lately about the sheer number of sketch and improv shows being staged around the city, versus just a few years ago. Students at various writing programs are being told that even ten years ago, there were greatly fewer and, by some accounts, "much better" sketch troupes on the scene, operating under a working class mentality, and "paying the bills."

Students and newcomers are being advised to take themselves seriously, be disciplined about developing their art, and work hard to distinguish themselves from what seems to increasingly be "the masses."

Maybe it's not such a bad thing. Maybe the competition to be recognized and respected will prompt people to work harder, and result in troupes banding together tightly and working hard to create a unique and strong identity.