Logan Murray has successfully taught the techniques of stand-up comedy to thousands, and in this book he distills his years of experience into the essential skills for a great and enjoyable performance. He will help you find your own creative streak and your funny side, build the confidence to deliver, and explain the finer details of stagecraft, from dealing with hecklers to coping with props. There is a full guide to the practicalities, from finding gigs to securing an agent, with plenty of valuable hints, tips and advice. Drawing on Logan's years of teaching and his own successful stand-up career, with top tips from some of the most well-known people in the business, it is guaranteed to bring a smile to both your face and that of your future audience. Be a Great Stand-up includes: Part one - Theory Chapter 1: Where do jokes come from? Chapter 2: Building a joke Chapter 3: Comedy ground rules Chapter 4: What sort of comic are you? Part two - Practical sessions Chapter 5: Unlocking your creativity Chapter 6: Emotional exaggeration Chapter 7: Creating material Chapter 8: Stagecraft Chapter 9: Microphone technique Chapter 10: Hecklers and crowd control Chapter 11: What other comics think Chapter 12: Business Chapter 13: Your first gig Chapter 14: The future ABOUT THE SERIES The Teach Yourself Creative Writing series helps aspiring authors tell their story. Covering a range of genres from science fiction and romantic novels, to illustrated children's books and comedy, this series is packed with advice, exercises and tips for unlocking creativity and improving your writing. And because we know how daunting the blank page can be, we set up the Just Write online community at tyjustwrite, for budding authors and successful writers to connect and share.
: introduction : part one: theory 01: where do jokes come from? : do we create funny ideas or do they come : and find us? : practical creative games : some modern theories of humour : what is a joke? : attitude, the comedian's secret weapon : attitude games 02: building a joke : extreme attitudes to specific points can : lead to humour : always ask yourself: 'what is the comedian's : answer to this particular problem?' : finding the joke : afterthoughts : afterthought games 03: comedy ground rules : style or content? : kill little Mr/Ms social control in your head : stupid name game : what's your attitude to the subject? : more attitude games : be specific : games to develop specific thinking : be concise : the longer the set up, the funnier the : punchline had better be! : if it doesn't add, it detracts : detracting the audience verbally : detracting the audience with your body : language : avoid the temptation of burying your : routines in the past : always remember: start with your best stuff; : finish with your best stuff; let the middle : take care of itself 04: what sort of comic are you? : your persona : comedic flaws and how to use them : comic archetypes : mixing and matching : games to uncover comedic flaws : part two: practical sessions 05: unlocking your creativity : don't worry about the result: just write! : writing activities 06: a word about emotional exaggeration : breaking the habits of a lifetime: be bigger, : be broader! : reasons why comics start exaggerating : their emotional responses... : reasons why new comedians might : overlook their emotional performance... : why comedians need to be more extreme... : activities to encourage emotional : exaggeration 07: creating material : workshop 1: the thank you list : workshop 2: building routines : workshop 3: putting your set together : pruning your material : 'less is more' activities : workshop 4: the hate list : workshop 5: creating your own lists : workshop 6: joke forms : workshop 7: finding different voices : stereotype activities : creating a character act 08: stagecraft : think about your attitude to your audience : treat the audience exactly how you would : treat your friends : force yourself to look at the audience : try to 'read' the crowd : slow down! : speeding through your set means that : inevitably your timing will be off : how to deal with nerves 09: microphone technique : microphone mistakes 10: hecklers and crowd control : why a gig can go bad : how to make a gig better : hecklers : crowd control exercises 11: what other comics think : Milton Jones : Richard Herring : Steve Hall : Sarah Kendal : Pat Condell : Katy Bagshaw : Marek Larwood : Mark Maier : Robin Ince : Greg Davies 12: business : how to get started : learn to market yourself : publicity : phoning for work : etiquette : do your time on stage : building your set : compering : beyond stand-up : competitions : festivals : agents and managers 13: your first gig : booking the gig : three or four days before the gig : the day before the gig : on the day of the gig : on the evening of the gig : on stage : after the gig 14: the future : appendix 1: group games : appendix 2: the fall and rise of stand-up comedy : taking it further : index : acknowledgements
