Streamline your stand-up comedy setlist with this free performance timer. Track bit durations, calculate total stage time, and pace your jokes perfectly.
AI Generation Prompt
Stand-up Comedy Setlist Time Management Tool
Overview
A high-performance, browser-based tool designed for stand-up comedians to plan, manage, and time their stage sets. The tool focuses on "bit-based" timing, allowing users to define segments of a set, track progress in real-time, and maintain strict adherence to stage time constraints.
Technical Specifications
- Architecture: Single HTML5 file containing all structure, styling, and logic (Vanilla JS).
- State Management: In-memory only. Absolutely NO
localStorage,sessionStorage, or cookies to comply with sandbox security. - Styling: Tailwind CSS (via CDN) for a clean, light-mode-only "SaaS" aesthetic. Use Inter or system sans-serif fonts.
- No Alerts: All user prompts/confirmations must be custom-built HTML/CSS modal components.
Core Features
- Dynamic Bit List: Add, remove, and reorder bits. Each bit includes an "Title" and a "Target Duration" (in seconds).
- Live Timer Mode: A dedicated "Perform" view that transitions the UI to a high-contrast display. Shows current bit, time elapsed/remaining, and total set progress bar.
- Visual Pacing Cues: Smooth color-coded bars (Green: on pace, Yellow: near limit, Red: over time) to provide intuitive feedback without needing to read numbers closely.
- Set Totals: Live calculation of total planned time vs. elapsed time.
- Keyboard Support: Spacebar to toggle bits (Next/Start/Pause) for hands-free or quick interaction.
UI/UX Design
- Layout:
- Header: Simple, text-based branding ("Comedy Setlist Tracker").
- Main View: Split pane. Left side: Form for adding bits. Right side: Preview card showing the current set sequence.
- Perform View (Modal/Overlay): Full-screen optimized display. Large, clean typography for the current bit title and a massive countdown timer.
- Palette:
- Background:
#FFFFFF(White) - Surfaces:
#F9FAFB(Soft Grey) - Text:
#111827(Dark Slate) - Primary Action:
#2563EB(Professional Blue) - Alert/Warning:
#DC2626(Red) for time overages.
- Background:
- Transitions: Use CSS
transition: all 0.3s ease;on all interactive elements to ensure a premium, fluid feel.
Developer Directives
- No External Dependencies: Keep it lightweight. Use only essential CDNs.
- Responsiveness: Ensure the "Perform" view is highly legible on mobile devices, as comedians often use phones on stage stands.
- Accessibility: Ensure high contrast ratios for text. Avoid thin, illegible fonts.
- Data Handling: Since no storage is allowed, ensure the app warns the user before they refresh the page (via
window.onbeforeunload) that they will lose their current setlist.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about using this application.
Why use a specialized comedy setlist tracker instead of a standard stopwatch?
A standard phone stopwatch lacks the structured granularity required for professional comedy. This tool allows you to break your set into individual 'bits', assigning specific target times to each. This provides immediate visual feedback on your pacing, helping you identify exactly where you are running over or under your allotted stage time. Using a dedicated tracker helps comedians train their internal clock for the stage. By visualizing each segment of your set, you can refine your transitions and ensure your most important material fits within the strict time constraints often imposed by clubs and open mic hosts.
Can I save my comedy setlists using this application?
Due to strict browser security and privacy constraints within this sandboxed environment, this application operates entirely in-memory. While you cannot save your setlists directly to persistent browser storage, you can easily print your completed setlist to a PDF or copy your plan to a standard text note before you head to the club. This architecture ensures your data remains private and secure, completely isolated from persistent storage mechanisms. The tool is designed for instant setup—simply open the tool, input your bits, and you are ready to manage your set within seconds, without needing to manage logins or database connections.
Is this tool suitable for both open mics and longer professional sets?
Yes, this tool is highly versatile for any length of stage time. Whether you have a tight 5-minute open mic slot or a 45-minute headlining set, the intuitive interface allows you to add, remove, and adjust segment lengths dynamically, ensuring your total set time aligns perfectly with the club's requirements. The user interface provides high-contrast, clean visual cues that are easy to read at a glance, even in the typically dim lighting of a comedy club. The design prioritizes readability and removes unnecessary distractions, allowing you to focus entirely on your performance and crowd engagement.
How does the setlist timer help manage time overages during a performance?
The tracker continuously calculates the delta between your planned durations and the actual time elapsed. It provides a clear, real-time visual indicator if you are pacing too slowly, allowing you to adjust your performance on the fly by cutting filler or prioritizing your strongest material to hit your target exit time. By setting specific target durations for each bit, you gain a strategic map of your performance. If a specific joke or story runs long, the app helps you quickly re-evaluate the remaining segments, preventing you from going over your time and getting the dreaded light from the host.
