"I'm a performer. I push the envelope, I work in a very uncontrolled manner onstage. I do a lot of free association, it's spontaneous, I go into character"

Michael Richards is describing his technique to performing on stage. He is a risk-taker, pressing the limits of what is anticipated of him. He works in an unrestrained way, suggesting he does not stay with a script or plan. Instead, he counts on free association, which is a technique of speaking or writing without any pre-planned structure. This allows him to be spontaneous and to enter into character, meaning he can become the character he is depicting. This approach to carrying out is dangerous, but it can also be really gratifying. It permits Richards to be innovative and to check out various aspects of his character. It likewise allows him to get in touch with the audience in a distinct and powerful way.