learn comedy storytelling
One-to-one coaching in the art and craft of comedy for stage, screen, song and sound
Forget what you've seen on the telly, stand-up comedy as an art, craft and night-out is all about recreating the euphoria of a group of friends in the pub or sitting round the dinner table - proper laughing their heads off!
It's good-times, it's the best of times (especially when we're going through the worst of times), it's thrilling, it's exhilarating...and the counter-intuitive thing to realise is that it's also very safe!
There are two fundamental skills of the stand-up:
LAUGH-RATE
The industry standard is about 6 laughs a minute. It's not a fun-police regulation, it's simply because that's how long it takes to laugh, get your breath back and then laugh again. I'll teach you all the techniques that go into achieving the magic 6+ laughs a minute, but it all comes back to 'keeping the laugh in the room' just like you already do when you're with your friends.
SAFETY
Stand-up is a really risky thing to do. It's counter-intuitive, but the safer you and your audiences feel - the bigger the risks you can take with your material and delivery. Again there's lots of techniques I'll teach about how to achieve this, but it really just comes down creating that same feeling of confidence that you and your friends have with each other when you're on a session!
The classes below range from beginner to semi-pro and are designed to meet you where you're at and then show you how to progress - starting with the basics of writing and performing, then tight-five minute sets, becoming a local headliner - and onto creating fringe shows.
Have a read, find your current ability and then let's set up a free discovery call and I'll fast-track you up to the next level!
Stand-up Comedy Classes
Stand-up Comedy Classes
1. ONGOING COACHING
A one-year journey to fast-track your career
All levels
2hrs per fortnight
A one-year bespoke training journey designed to fast-track your writing and performance practice while you develop and execute multiple major projects to present to industry...
2. PERFORMANCE NOTES
Constructive feedback on videos of your shows
All levels
5min = 1hr
20min = 2hrs
Fringe show = 3hrs
Notes are an essential part of the development of any live-performer. If you've never had them before - you'll get constructive feedback on your stage-presence, material, delivery and connection with the room. Then we'll work together to understand what's working, where the next big improvements are coming from...and make sure you're happy in your process.
3. IS THIS THING ON?
What the hell is stand-up comedy anyway?
Beginner
2hrs
Forget what you've seen on the telly. Stand-up comedy as an art, craft and night-out aims to recreate the euphoria of a group of friends in the pub...proper laughing their tits off! It's always funnier (and less stressful) if you forget it's a show and treat it like a i. hilarious ii. conversation iii. with your friends...
4. CONFIDENCE (AKA RESILIENCE) 101
Performance basics
(and other essentials)
for beginners
Beginner
2hrs
As a professional actor I was lightyears ahead when I did my first open mics, largely because I was a just lot more confident than everyone else! I'll teach you the not-so-secret acting techniques that give anyone confidence: breath-work, posture, mindset...all that jazz. Then we'll take a look at your writing and rehearsal process and brush up on your gig admin before booking you some gigs!
5. WRITING
STAND-UP 101
Following your comedy instincts
Beginner
4hrs (2x2hrs)
You might be expecting lots of techniques and exercises, but my approach is to foster your comedy instincts - the inimitable, undefinable way YOU find humour in the world. It's almost cheating...because if you can find the things that make you laugh out loud, I guarantee they'll make your audience laugh out loud! (Then we'll get technical in class 2)...
6. THE TIGHT-FIVE
'Putting The Good Bits Closer Together'
Beginner
4hrs (2x2hrs)
'Tight' five-minute performances are the foundation of all stand-up comedy. They'll immediately make you a better comic, improve everything you do afterwards and are the distinguishing line between beginner and intermediate (easily getting the industry standard 6+ laughs a minute). They're a big step up, but once you've learnt how to do them, they become incredibly easy (they are easy, all you have to do is 'put the good bits closer together')...
7. THE TIGHT-FIVE
- PART 2
PROGRESSION
Competitions, showcases, fringe prep…
and reaching the next level
Intermediate
6hrs (3x2hrs)
If you're ready to enter competitions, showcases, apply for fringe, or looking to go up the bill - I’d recommend you give this a go. It’s only a 6 week process, but will advance your skills like doing a whole year of new material! I know it works, because I did it myself...
8. FROM
TIGHT-FIVE
TO TIGHT-TWENTY
Becoming a local headliner
Intermediate
16hrs (8x2hrs)
across 3-6 months
You will have done longer bits before...but if you want to become a local headliner, do a mixed-bill at Edinburgh, or even open at pro gigs - it’s time to get serious about the ‘tight 20’ as a format!
This programme will develop your skills and accelerate your process so you can write 20s that are better than your current fives...and get you a killer 20 filmed to send to promoters to get gigs!
9. EDINBURGH: EVERYTHING BUT THE SHOW
Accommodation, flyering, physical & mental health and all that jazz…
All levels
2hrs
We’ll go through everything you need to know about Fringe - booking a venue, accommodation, bucket speeches, reviews, awards, weather, the incomprehensible geography of the city…all that jazz. Plus we'll look at how to keep your physical & mental health on top form - especially your voice!
Edinburgh is quite frankly bewildering if you’ve not done it before…I shall answer all your questions and perhaps even let you in on a few inside secrets.
10. EDINBURGH (AND OTHER) FRINGE SHOWS
Consultancy while you plan, develop and hone your show
Intermediate
Variable hrs
Fringe is a huge investment in time and money - I'll help you make the most of it. Let's set up a (free) discovery call as early as possible and have an informal chat about your plans.
These classes could be anything:
- a gentle six-month development programme, meeting once or twice a month while you create your masterpiece from scratch (12-24hrs)
- an editorial consultancy towards the end of your process helping to punch the show up from 3* to 4* ...or 4* to 5* (9hrs+)
- an intense week or two workshopping a whole show from scratch...aka creating a Work In Progress (WIP). If your diary's rammed with work and family
it can be a great relief to block out a week in the calendar knowing you'll get the main shape of the show together (15hrs+ e.g. we'd meet for three hours every morning for a week, with you spending the rest of the day writing and editing)
- structural-editorial turning your stage-honed short-form material into a coherent show...aka 'the greatest hits show' - a very wise thing to do if it's your first fringe (15hrs+)
I'll have a busy summer of performing my own work, so let's have an informal chat as early as possible and think about what you might like my help with and have a look at diaries.
11. DISCOVERING YOUR COMEDY SUPERPOWERS
Comedy style consultancy
All levels
6hrs (2x3hrs)
You know those style makeover shows on BBC2? We're not doing that. Similar principle though. A style consultant does that but for people who are already fashionable...likewise, as your comedy style consultant I'm assuming you're already nailing it and we're going to get you to the next level of awesomeness.
Fashion consultants look at Aesthetic, Fit and Colour-Palette...we're going to be looking at your Technique, Material and Stage-persona to understand three key things:
i. What you're incredible at vs. what you're merely good at
ii. What you're doing because you want to vs. because you think you have to
iii. What you would do if you had 'permission'?
When we're good at a bunch of things, it's easy to forget that we're friggin awesome at one of them! I'm going to get you recognising and respecting your skills...but this isn't just about inflating egos.
When we hear that we have 'skills and weaknesses' we completely ignore the skills bit of the equation. We then go and hide at the bottom of the sea protecting and working on our precious flaws, promising ourselves that one day we'll focus on the things we're good at and actually love doing. It's a trap!
The secret to success and happiness in comedy (just like in the rest of our lives) is working out what we're good at, what makes us happy, what the world wants from us and then simply ditching the rest!
The real purpose of this class is working out what your skills and weaknesses are and then punting your weaknesses into the sea so you can turn your comedy skills into comedy superpowers!
Let's set up a discovery call and see what you might get out of the process...