Spontaneity must be planned

As a comedy actor, I love a spontaneous moment. A totally unexpected comment from the audience or a purely coincidental movement that provides the opportunity for comedy gold. But, are these off the cuff incidents totally spontaneous? If it wasn't for years of honing skills, remembering jokes and punchlines and dealing with hecklers, I wouldn't be able to instinctively react in these situations. So, my advice to comedy actors - write down jokes, keep a library of material and be ready to delve deep into you armoury of responses when these rare opportunities arise. It's not easy, but when it works it is great fun.