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    Comedy Workshop: Creating & Writing Comedy Material For Comedians & Humorous Speakers
    Comedy Workshop: Creating & Writing Comedy Material For Comedians & Humorous Speakers
    Comedy Workshop: Creating & Writing Comedy Material For Comedians & Humorous Speakers
    Ebook79 pages1 hour

    Comedy Workshop: Creating & Writing Comedy Material For Comedians & Humorous Speakers

    By Dave Schwensen

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    About this ebook

    Written in a conversational and easy to read question and answer format, author Dave Schwensen relies on nearly two decades of comedy workshop and coaching experiences to cover topics provided by aspiring comedians and humorous speakers. Being original is a key element for success in the humor business. Following specific comedy writing formulas only succeeds in creating more copies of the same style. To stand out from the competition, Schwensen urges writers to explore their personal creativity and individual sense of humor through various writing methods. The final goal is simple: making audiences laugh. The shared advice and writing techniques in this book come from workshop experience and collaborations that have helped literally hundreds of aspiring and working comedians and humorous speakers "go for the funny!"

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherDave Schwensen
    Release dateMay 25, 2013
    ISBN9781301909292
    Comedy Workshop: Creating & Writing Comedy Material For Comedians & Humorous Speakers
    Author

    Dave Schwensen

    Dave Schwensen is an entertainment journalist, award-winning humor columnist, pop culture historian and nationally recognized comedy coach. His insider knowledge of the comedy industry was earned as talent coordinator for the television show "An Evening at the Improv", The Improv Comedy Clubs in Hollywood and New York City, and consultant for many television programs, networks and film studios. As a talent agent he has worked with comedians and humorous speakers in the corporate, college, special event and theater markets. Dave is also a corporate trainer (ice breaking skills) and entertainer.www.TheComedyBook.com and www.DaveLaughs.comAnd now for something completely different...Dave witnessed the excitement of Beatlemania when his parents took him to see The Beatles during their final tour. The memories inspired his best-selling books "The Beatles In Cleveland" and "The Beatles At Shea Stadium." His entertaining author presentations on both concerts include insider stories and rare concert films and are featured as online webinars and in-person events for schools, lifelong learners, libraries, festivals and special events. A FAB time is guaranteed for all. For more details and upcoming appearances visit the following website:www.BeatlesProgram.comDave is the author of two popular blogs that cover both topics:For insider information about the comedy business visit www.TheComedyBook.Wordpress.comFor a combination of classic rock and humor, visit I Had Too Much To Dream Last Night - song countdown at www.TheClassicRocker.comDave has been featured on PBS Television and Radio, The Hollywood Reporter, Chicago Tribune, Cleveland Plain Dealer, Back Stage: The Performing Arts Weekly, Insidebiz.com Magazine, U.S. News and Report, Ohio Magazine and others.

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      Book preview

      Comedy Workshop - Dave Schwensen

      COMEDY WORKSHOP

      Creating & Writing Comedy Material

      For Comedians & Humorous Speakers

      Dave Schwensen

      North Shore Publishing

      Smashwords Edition

      Copyright 2013

      Contents:

      Introduction to the Comedy Workshop

      1. The Gift and Passion to Get Started

      2. Don’t Become a Comedy Writing Clone

      3. Starting To Write Comedy Material

      4. Get Your Act Together

      5. The Best Comedy Writing Advice Ever

      6. Turn Too Much Material into Workable Material

      7. Is Your Talent for Jokes or Stories?

      8. Using Your Creative License

      9. When Friends Offer Material Should You Use It?

      10. When It Says Clean Fun Is Some Raunchy Ok?

      11. Comedy Monologue Writing Techniques

      12. Developing Material for Corporate Bookings

      13. Turn Great Writing into Great Performances

      14. Write for Conversations and Not for Reading

      About the author / Title Page / Copyright

      Introduction to the Comedy Workshop

      When I started running comedy workshops… well, to be honest, I didn't know I was actually starting anything. It just happened.

      I was hanging around a comedy club visiting a headliner I had worked with in New York and Los Angeles. A few of the local comics were looking at me wondering, "Who's that guy?" Then the headliner told them I was the talent coordinator for a television show called A&E's An Evening at the Improv and the Hollywood Improv comedy club. Before that I had been the talent booker for The Original Improv in New York City.

      Since aspiring comedians would rather be called working comedians, which would mean performances at The Improv and television appearances, I was suddenly a popular guy. I ended up answering all kinds of questions about the business and comics I had worked with.

      It was a fun night and that was it. At least I thought that was it. The next weekend the same thing happened, only with a different headliner and different aspiring comedians.

      I had been a guest speaker at comedy classes in Los Angeles and New York and knew if the person running it shared experienced tips and practical advice, it could take a couple months off the hard-knocks learning process comedians go through to join the professional ranks. So I thought I'd do one.

      I rented a comedy club for three Saturday afternoons and put the word out. The idea was simple. Along with answering questions about the industry, the comedians would perform a short set every week. Then we'd talk about the material and delivery, and everyone could offer helpful ideas and suggestions.

      That was the original concept. These sessions would be business seminars with performance coaching. It would also give everyone the opportunity to be part of a writer's group. Not a bad idea.

      The goal was to make it a workshop rather than a class, because there would be no teacher. My role would be best defined as a coach, while everyone could participate and have a voice in the creative process. And since a smaller group allows more opportunities to be involved, it was limited to only ten aspiring comedians.

      I thought it would be a one-time deal. That's it - period. But then a funny thing happened…

      The workshops have continued for almost two decades. Along the way the coach, (that's me if you're paying attention), has become a published author with two previous books about the comedy and entertainment business; How To Be A Working Comic: An Insider's Guide To A Career In Comedy and Comedy FAQs And Answers: How The Stand-Up Biz Really Works. Other projects have included comedy business seminars in cities throughout the U.S., an award-winning newspaper humor column, and designing and instructing courses for universities on using humor and creativity in business communications and presentation skills.

      How time flies when you're laughing…

      Comedy Workshop: Creating & Writing Comedy Material is based on the same concept as the workshops: group participation in the creative process. But as you can tell from the title, it's specific to one element of that process. This is a guidebook to help you develop comedy material and sticks to that topic. Future guides will cover performing and promotion, but let's not get ahead of ourselves. You have to write something first before you can perform and promote it.

      The format for this book is simple and one I'm comfortable with. Similar to Comedy FAQs And Answers, questions were sent in by aspiring comedians and humorous speakers through my weekly e-newsletter. The answers come from workshop experiences and collaborations that have helped literally hundreds of aspiring and working comedians create and write comedy material.

      But before I stop my long-winded introduction and get into the heart of the topic, I need to point out that this book is not only for stand-up comedians. Humorous speakers have also been important participants in my workshops. There's nothing worse than a boring

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