Comedy classes are a subject of controversy in the stand up comedy community. Often you will hear people bemoan comedy classes as hacks or failed comedians cashing in of unsuspecting wannabe comedians and passing on information that is little more than simple joke writing.
So are stand up comedy classes worth it? Well it depends. If you have never been on stage or written a joke and do well from structure and feedback in a classroom environment then a comedy class may be worth your time and money. If you have been a performer and know how to write jokes, build bits, and form sets then a comedy class may be a waste of time and money. With all that being said not all comedy classes and comedy teachers are the same. I will explain how to know if a comedy class, course, or coach is worth your time or money.
Education in any form is something you should consider investing in regardless of your future goals. While you should properly vet the source of information I am a firm believer that an investment in yourself is never a waste.
What Novice Comedians Should Look For
So let’s say you want to start in stand up comedy. The first question you are probably asking is how do I get started? This is where a comedy class or comedy coach can come in handy. Not every comedy coach or course will be equal.
Look at the course or coaches background, qualifications, and reviews. Thanks to the internet everyone can be Googled. Look the person and their course or class up on Google and see if they have bad reviews. If they do, how many and why. A good coach or course will leave behind a trail of good outcomes. Have they been successful? In what areas?
For example I wrote a book about producing independent comedy shows. I was making money and paying the comedians who performed on my show. The club I hosted them at was not known for paying comedians in more than just a drink if they were lucky. I really worked hard to change the dynamic and become a leader in the self produced independent comedy show scene.
How do you think people reacted? Well people were happy to be on my show and many positive things were tweeted and written about me (Go ahead and google James D. Creviston or James Creviston). Would you trust me to follow through if I booked you? Would you trust me to tell you about running a successful comedy show?
What Amateur Comedians Should Look For
So you started doing standing up and now you may be a few years in. You do open mics and a few unpaid shows. You are building longer sets, and longer bits but you haven’t been paid or even performed out of a few locations. How will a comedy class, course or coach help you?
Well to be honest a beginners comedy course will most likely be a waste of your time. If you have your joke writing, timing, and stage presence down your main focus will be your comedy voice or identity. This is where a one on one comedy coach would be valuable.
Great so if you are looking for a comedy coach these are the things you should look for. This person has maybe been a club booker, maybe they have been on TV and have credits, they still perform or performed for years and had marginal success. The best coaches are comedians who had success in some area of comedy. If you want to be a comedic writer as well as a stand up look for a coach who has that background. If you also want to write for talk shows or late night find a comedy coach with that background.
If you are going to focus on a course make sure the person you are taking the course or buying a book from knows what they are talking about. If they are teaching joke writing see if you can see some of their stand up or some of their jokes. Maybe their style won’t fit you or maybe they don’t know how to write a joke.
I sought out three people to teach me joke writing. This included Gene Perret who is a former Writer for Bob Hope. Even though he has a different background I learned a lot from him. However, sometimes one person is not enough this is were books and online eBooks may be helpful. If you are like me then you’ll read, watch, and learn every concept even if you never use them. Coming up you can never learn too much, so learn from whomever you can just make sure they know what they are talking about.
What Professional Comedians Should Look For
So you are finally getting paid to do comedy. Congratulations. Making your first dollar from comedy is a great feeling. Don’t be surprised if it does not come from performing. In fact my first paid “gig” in comedy was not from actually doing stand up. It was from a well known comedian see my stand up and liking my style. They then hired me to write jokes for them in their voice but in my clean style.
This lead to me becoming a comedy writer. Do you think I would have made that big of an impact and that money had I not learned from someone who knew how to write jokes? Keep in mind I had only been doing stand up comedy for about two years at this point so I was by no means an expert.
When you get to the level of getting paid in comedy the place you look for instruction is in older successful comedians. The guys who are doing comedy for a living not just doing the same open mic for the last ten years. A mentor will be a better investment in your time and energy than a class or coach although a manager or agent can sometimes also point you in the direction of someone to mentor you.
Who And What To Avoid
Finding good comedy resources are not as easy as you think. With the invention of eBooks and internet marketing there are many “experts” who have no experience with comedy, stand up, or even making an income outside of selling you their eBook or course should be vetted.
There are a lot of people in every industry who make claims they can’t back up. If you are going to take advice or pay for services of anyone in any industry vet them. Watch their stand up, read their jokes, blogs, twitter, eBook bio and reviews. If they don’t fit you’re brand or don’t pass the smell test keep moving. Comedy is also a tight group. If you can’t find one comedian who knows that person or one shred of their validity in their claims please pass.
If something smells fishy or does not seem to match what you are seeing portrayed by a so called guru or expert dig a little deeper. Often other comedians can and will vouch for someone and their classes, books, or coaching. Ask around. Starting with those who have taken courses or read books by someone you may be interested in. If anything comedians are not shy about giving you their opinion.
The best thing any comedian at any level can do is learn. No matter if it is an eBook, online course, or just picking the brain of a headliner level comedian will do more good in moving you forward than watching sitcom reruns in your hotel room or vegging out after work. Comedy is an art and a business, and one that continues to change. Don’t get left behind and broke grow your skills through courses, books, classes and coaches.