 This course is broken up
into four weekly sessions, over each Monday of the Fringe, giving the student a chance to
prepare and develop over the duration of the course, and study between sessions. The Course
runs in four 4 hour sessions, and includes 16 hours tutoring, with access to a working comedy
room. On the final day of the course, from 9pm, there will be a graduation showcase with
feedback from the tutor, a comedy promoter and another professional comedian. The
areas studied will be as follows:
Week One:
How to Generate material: Exercises in
creating material, Rant n Rave, Stories, Forward and Backward punchlines, Questions. How do
comedians work on Stage - what is their attitude? What is the form of a Joke? Rule of three, lists, working
forwards and backwards, topics, methods of developing punchlines and routines.
Styles of Humour: Learn from others, by watching
examples of other stand-ups.
The history of
Comedy: What is 'alternative' comedy, and what are the roots of stand-up comedy. Take
a look at where we fit into things.
Week Two:
How to edit material - Learn how to edit and
rationalise material so it is suitable and effective for a stand-up stand-up performance
Structure and Analysis: An in depth session analysing
the structure of comedy material. What makes a good comedian?
Week Three:
How to Perform material - How to stretch your
performance with various performance  exercises, attitude, intention, voices, characterisation.
Watching clips of stand up comics and analysing performance
4th Week:
How to polish your final set, and preparation for your first
open spot - More performance exercises and feedback from the group and analysing the
3 most important things when on stage.
Technical
and general Skills: Microphone technique. Dealing with Hecklers. The business of
Comedy - dealing with comedy clubs and comedy Promoters.
Market
information:. How, practically - to go about getting your act out there. Where can
you perform at the Fringe, or around the UK. Useful contacts.
Preparation for the first open spot
Industry Q&A.
For further details and information on the Tutors, see www.aboutcomedy.co.uk - This
years tutors are Jay Sodagar, Jojo Sutherland and Kevin McCarron. |
