What to say when she says she's been hoping to catch the new comedy show

A line like 'I've been hoping to catch that show' is rarely idle. People tend to mention a specific event when they already have a sense of the timing, or when a ticket situation is in play. The word 'been' signals she has thought about it for a while, so she is not testing a random idea. She may also be checking whether you'd be the kind of person to go with.

Read the surrounding detail. If she mentions tickets selling out, a run ending, or a weekend that is open for her, the window is short and the mention is the opening move. If she says it casually with no date attached, she is probably waiting to see whether you pick it up. Either way, the signal is that she wants to spend time with you in a way that involves an actual plan, and your job is to notice that and respond to the plan, not the comedy.

A good reply does three jobs. First, it shows you registered the specific show, which means picking up one concrete detail from her message. Second, it gives a clear signal that you want to go, phrased as your own intention rather than a question about hers. Third, it moves the conversation toward a date, time, or a choice between two options so the next message is about logistics.

The move to avoid is answering the comedy topic with a bit of banter and leaving the plan unmentioned. Banter is fine as a side note, but if the only thing in your reply is a joke, she has to do the work of proposing the date herself. Offer two concrete windows, or a single night with a suggestion of what to do before or after. Keep the choice small enough that a yes costs her nothing.

If you propose a specific night and get no reply for a day, that usually means she is busy, not that the idea failed. People often answer plan messages when they have a free moment to check their calendar, which can be hours later. Wait at least a full day before following up, and when you do, keep it light and reference the same show so the thread stays clear. A short line that restates the plan and asks whether the Saturday still works is enough.

If two messages go unanswered across several days and she does not bring the show back up herself, drop it without sulking and let the conversation move on naturally. The hint was real, but a plan that never gets confirmed is not worth chasing past the second follow up. Send your next message in daylight, not late at night, because a late message about a plan reads as more pressure than the same words sent at lunch.