Stand-Up Comedy? Course You Can...

My path into stand-up comedy began by being a fan. 

So many comedians had delighted me, given my young brain new angles on how to observe the world… until finally I began co-running an open mic.

From there, a brief sojourn into performing, and soon I found my footing as a booker, promoter and MC. Then my comedy journey really took off. I went solo. Doubled my venues. Tripled the number of weekly shows.

Two issues revealed themselves. First, I was running myself into the ground managing and MCing so many shows. Even with the limited amount of support I had.

Second, I noticed how acts were regularly asking the same range of questions, making similar requests. I needed help to run the shows.

Comedians needed help getting answers to key questions.

I had the luxury to experiment with workshop delivered ideas and lessons in my own shows.

Further, I continued to observe patterns in the concerns and questions of the student masses.

For example, even the Clowning workshop, taught by the actual Teletubbie, Tinkie Winkie himself, Dave Thompson, usually had the fear of Hecklers brought up more than once. What kind of monster would heckle a clown? (That’s kinda rhetorical. Kinda.)

I began to offer 1-to-1 coaching. Which was hotly received by comedians I knew personally from my London circuit. Once again, certain concerns and questions seemed to be universal.

The We Are Funny Project was proudly delivering masses of stage time, a delicious range of in-person comedy workshops and the option for some personalised 1-to-1.

Then the pandemic hit. Everything came to a halt (as though you did not know that already).

Then another lockdown came. Another online course was written, filmed and edited. I trust that the title speaks for itself, How to be a Brilliant Stand-Up Comedy MC.

I honestly did not know if people would buy an online course. Indeed, I purchased a couple myself, for research. I found them lacking. I was amazed to find one of the bestselling courses still using Bill Cosby as a reference point.

I had sounded out some acts and it was a mixed response.

While Stepping Into Stand-Up Comedy was especially designed for brand new acts, or comedians with fewer than 100 gigs experience, the comedy ego raised its’ head. It became clear that acts with just 30 or 40 gigs often presumed themselves to be too developed for such a course. I guess, sometimes, we don’t know what we don’t know.

Some performers were enthused. Others were definitive that they would not buy into such a format. The naysayers were clear that they valued personalised feedback, preferred a more social/human experience.

Clearly, I could not offer tutor feedback in an online course.

All the same, I wanted to distill my deep comedy knowledge and be ready to support comedians when live performances could return.

I went ahead and released the courses.

The newest production, an “advanced” level online course dropped in October, Stepping Forward in Stand-Up Comedy.

Stepping Forward In Stand-up Comedy is something like 10 years in the making (reading, contemplating). It is specifically written and produced for more seasoned open mic comedians, with at least 100 gigs experience.

This course is designed to move you forward, from wherever you may be in your comedy career. From 5s to 10s, 10s to 20s, open mic to pro rooms, to longer form sets, opening your own path to TV and festival opportunities and beyond…

The format, the angle, of Stepping Forward In Stand-Up Comedy is unique. I draw upon the immense overlap between cinema and stand-up.

I use more than a decade of experience as a movie journalist to lead stand-ups to consider tried-and-tested filmmaking roles. Learn strategies to develop your stand-up career from, well, wherever you are currently at.

By parsing the roles of key filmmaking crew, or even entire studio departments, developing comedians will be able to apply robust strategies to advance their material, performance and career opportunities.

Think like a movie producer and see the big picture. Better manage your objectives and logistics.

Work like a film director and get a clear grip on your vision. Master the arc of your material and sustain laser focus on what images, emotions and surprises you wish to deliver upon your audiences.

Learn the differences between “Story by…” and “Screenplay by…”. Find an ocean of superior premises and effective techniques to morph them into solid, funny material.

Think like a lead actor. You are, after all, the star of your own show. Adopt powerful practical methods to improve your preparation, performance and delivery.

The lessons go on… with insights from the Prop department, Hair & Wardrobe, Marketing & Publicity and beyond.

If you are talented and ambitious enough to ultimately enter a world featuring agents and critics, then it really is ideal to be prepared.

Now, for the first time, I can launch an information-packed course and attach the potent booster, 1-to-1 coaching, to ensure the greatest effectiveness.

Moreso, on top of MCing again, now I can get back to doing what I most love—working with upcoming comedians face to face—from anywhere in the world.

Live shows, in-person workshops, a range of online courses. It's starting to feel that We Are Funny Project is back to delivering the goods for comedians. Happy days are here again!

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