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Step by Step to Stand-Up Comedy (Unabridged)
 
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Step by Step to Stand-Up Comedy (Unabridged) [Audio Download]

by Greg Dean (Author, Narrator)
4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
List Price: £15.15
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Product details

  • Audio Download
  • Listening Length: 7 hours and 16 minutes
  • Program Type: Audiobook
  • Version: Unabridged
  • Publisher: Big Happy Family, LLC
  • Audible Release Date: 8 Dec 2010
  • Language: English
  • ASIN: B004FRBYKE
  • Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
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Product Description

Step by Step to Stand-Up Comedy, written by Greg Dean, is a comprehensive guide for people who are funny, want to be funnier, or have dreams of being a stand-up comedian. This first-of-its-kind audiobook demystifies the craft of comedy by breaking it down to the fundamental skills used by professional funny people. Dean lays out these skills in simple-to-understand lessons that are easy to practice and master.

Dean's original joke diagram explains how jokes are built around two interpretations of one magical element called the connector. You'll learn how to see both the expected interpretation and the unexpected reinterpretation of the connector. And you'll be writing jokes after just one listening.

Dean also teaches "act outs" by explaining points of view (POVs). Act outs are the quick scenes comics act out during a routine. The three POVs inside a scene are the fundamental tools for understanding why act outs are so funny. You'll learn how to form jokes by shifting form one POV that creates an expected interpretation to another POV that reveals an unexpected interpretation. It's fun and easy, and it works.

This audiobook also covers rehearsal, so you can remember your jokes in the same way as you tell a funny story in a social situation. Dean explains how the mind normally remembers in pictures, sounds, and feelings, and then forms those thoughts into words. Memorizing words changes the function of the mind and the sense of humor. Dean offers a simple method for turning every joke into a scene so you can remember in pictures, sounds, and feelings, and tell the story of your jokes. Memorization becomes almost automatic !

Step By Step to Stand-Up Comedy also covers overcoming stage fright, handling hecklers, coping with going blank, dealing with bombing, riffing with the audience, crossing the hurt line, and getting experience. Learn in hours of listening what most comedians learn through years of stage time.

©2010 Greg Dean; (P)2010 Greg Dean

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By AE Rowe
Format:Paperback
My little story is that I've been writing comedy for the past year and using my initiative I knew all of this already. The information covered is VERY basic and sticks to a very derivative format, delivery followed by a punchline which includes basically every clichéd comedic technique used over the past 50 years and the self written jokes are simply awful.
I found the chapter on how to get yourself known (open mic nights etc) quite useful but again very very simple and experience combined with wits can prove all of this and more.
Books are useful for information and interpretation but with any art form, you can't learn it from a book, it's all about self expression not planning each step of a simple routine in an approach the authors use.
I'm not trying to prove my own ideas or write a book here but the best things you can do are gain influence,experience,originality and you have yourself an art form rather than a bloke telling jokes derived from his inexperienced television.
Love and typin from me x
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18 of 20 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
I have been doing stand-up for a few months now and wish I'd read this before I started. Lots of very essential advice. A must-read for any new comic. Some of the stuff on joke structures was a bit complicated, but maybe I'm just stupid! Otherwise very readable and totally invaluable.
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10 of 11 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
An outstanding book for anyone interested in transferring their comedy ideas into a practical stand-up routine:

- The book covers the following topics:
- The Secrets of Joke Structure
- Joke Writing
- What to write jokes about
- Improving your jokes
- Assembling a routine
- POV and narrative
- Rehearsing
- Mic technique
- Performance technique
- Developing experience

Through practical advice and a series of useful excersises Greg isolates the elements of comedy on an almost scientific linguistic level. Thereby allowing the writer/performer to explore, create and fine tune their original ideas without relying on cheap gimicks or plaguerising other performers. It has more in common with a NLP text or strategic business manual than some of the more anecdote based books available, although the book does contain several anecdotes when elaborating examples.

I purchased this book initially just to help with gag writing for screenplays but have become so confident through the process that I am now putting together actual routines for public performance.

Well worth it.

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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Ben
Bought the book to help with writers block and the "where to begin" problem. The guy does tend to labour the point sometimes, and his example material needs updating. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Ben
Write a one-liner today!
Some have said this book is boring but that's because it overcomplicates a basically good joke writing method but if you can plough through it, the author has found a great way to... Read more
Published 18 months ago by Sally Holloway, Author: Joke Writing (Serious Guide to)
The one book that's actually got me writing - and enjoying it
Well. Here we are. Ive actually bothered to write a review. I thought I should, as it might help to know how good this book is for producing material for those people, like me,... Read more
Published 19 months ago by LeeHudson
OK
I bought this book about a month ago. I'm a slow reader, real slow. Usually takes me 6 months to read a book, and this one is no exception. Read more
Published on 16 Oct 2009 by Mr. Barry Magan
Excellent for beginners and understanding
Very well laid out with simple instructions. An excellent building block for aspiring joke writers.
Published on 17 Sep 2009 by P. Cronin
Great way to start!!
I brought this book just before December 2007 just before I was about to do my first performance. I'm so glad I did! Read more
Published on 10 Aug 2009 by A. Sodha
a great great book for any aspiring stand up
I bought the Judy Carter book but this is far superior .Its full of tips and sensible advice from writing material to something as basic as mic technique . Read more
Published on 19 Dec 2000
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