Ultimate Beginner's Class to Learn Stand Up Comedy from Udemy

This course will teach you some of the many ways comedians make people laugh with their thoughts and stories.

In turn, you will learn how to make your own thoughts and stories hilarious.

This course is a beginner's guide to learning stand up comedy and will explain and instruct you how to write and deliver jokes. The advice and tips in this course can be also be applied to many everyday situations and helpful to many different people:

1. Learn amazing public speaking skills (stand up comedy is the easiest way to get speaking time in front of people). I will tell you how to get stage time and how different shows are structured.

2. Learn how to make your stories funnier in everyday conversation. This course will go into detail about what you should write about and the different writing devices used to make your ideas funny.

3. Spice up your current public speaking skills with joke writing and comedy writing devices. This course will explain all the components needed to make an audience laugh.

4. Conquer a fear of public speaking.

5. Learn the beginning process involved in stand up comedy and the what it takes to perform stand up on a regular basis. Most people are huge fans of stand up comedy but they have no clue what the process is like.

6. You will also learn timing and delivery techniques that will allow you to speak with conviction and maximize the amount audience members pay attention to you.

7. Also, there are some specific ways that you should network and market your abilities in the comedy world. This course will explain some of the most effective methods.

What's inside

Learning objectives

Perform in front of a live audience!
Make an audience full of strangers laugh!

Learn how to effectively write funny jokes
Learn how to hold an audience's interest even under the most dismal circumstances

Perform in front of a live audience!
Make an audience full of strangers laugh!
Learn how to effectively write funny jokes
Learn how to hold an audience's interest even under the most dismal circumstances

Syllabus

Overview and Preparation

This is a list of words that you will hear comedians say when you are out performing. There are not that many. I will be using them a lot during the lectures.

Here is an explanation of different types of comedians and what they talk about!

Your material should to be written in a certain format in order to maximize it's funnyness!

In stand up comedy, editing your writing and your overall set is an incredible necessity!

One of the best elements of stand up comedy is that you can pretty much talk about ANYTHING on stage! However, there may be a few instances where telling dirty jokes may not be a good idea...

When you are a new comedian on the comedy scene, you will do most of your shows at open mics. Here is an explanation of what to expect!

Before you make people laugh, you need to possess basic presentation skills!

Watch me perform the same joke over and over! Observe how I fix set ups and add punchlines!

To maximize your laughs, you should start your sets in a certain way and put your jokes in a particular order!

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Explores basics of comedy writing and performance and can be applied to many everyday situations

Teaches the process of stand up comedy and the steps involved in performing on a regular basis

Explains specific techniques and methods used to make writing and performances more humorous

Provides networking and marketing tips to help learners promote their abilities in the comedy world

Covers stage time, which is essential for stand up comedians to develop their skills and build an audience

Includes hand-on assignments to help learners put into practice what they have learned

Reviews summary

Practical beginner's guide to stand up comedy

According to students, this course is an excellent starting point for anyone looking to learn stand-up comedy basics. Learners found the instructor, Josh, to be incredibly knowledgeable, a great teacher, and very encouraging. The section on writing jokes and the practical assignments were frequently highlighted as a major strength, providing a solid framework and helping students start writing immediately. Tips on getting stage time and demystifying the open mic process were also seen as crucial and helpful. While the course is highly recommended for beginners, some felt it could benefit from more depth or advanced techniques, and the networking section was noted as feeling a bit outdated. Overall, students report gaining increased confidence and feeling much more prepared to perform after taking the course.

Covers fundamentals but lacks advanced depth.

"It covers the absolute fundamentals but doesn't go into much depth on anything."

"I was hoping for a bit more advanced techniques or insights, but for a complete beginner, it's probably fine."

"The course gives you the basics but you'll need a lot more practice and probably other resources to really develop."

Demystifies getting on stage and performing.

"...it teaches you how to... structure a set."

"I especially appreciated the emphasis on getting on stage early. It demystified the open mic process."

"The section on handling bombing was surprisingly helpful and reassuring."

"Getting stage time advice was crucial."

Helpful techniques and practical assignments.

"The writing exercises were particularly helpful in getting started. This course doesn't just teach jokes; it teaches you how to think like a comedian..."

"The writing part was the strongest for me."

"Loved the writing assignments and the focus on performing."

"The content is spot-on for beginners. I appreciated the breakdown of joke structure... It gave me a framework to start writing."

Knowledgeable, authentic, and encouraging teacher.

"The instructor, Josh, is incredibly knowledgeable and shares practical advice gained from years of experience."

"Josh is a great teacher and provides actionable steps."

"Excellent course! Very practical and hands-on. Josh is a fantastic instructor, very clear and encouraging."

"The instructor is authentic and genuinely wants you to succeed."

Perfect introduction to stand-up for newcomers.

"I highly recommend this course for anyone looking to dip their toes into stand-up comedy."

"Fantastic course for beginners! ... It demystified the open mic process."

"Absolutely brilliant for beginners! Josh is passionate and explains everything in simple terms."

"Good value for beginners."

Some course sections feel out of date.

"The course felt a little dated in places, especially the networking section..."

"Like others, I felt some parts (networking) were a bit out of sync with current practices..."

"The networking advice seemed a bit outdated."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Ultimate Beginner's Class to Learn Stand Up Comedy with these activities:

Participate in a comedy workshop

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Gain hands-on experience and insights by attending a comedy workshop.

Browse courses on Hands-on Experience

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Find a comedy workshop or class that aligns with your interests and goals.
Attend the workshop and participate actively in the exercises.
Seek guidance and feedback from the instructors.
Network with other aspiring comedians and industry professionals.

Contribute to comedy-related open-source projects

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Expand your skillset and connect with the comedy community by contributing to open-source projects.

Browse courses on Collaboration

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Identify open-source projects related to comedy, such as joke databases or comedy analysis tools.
Familiarize yourself with the project's codebase and contribution guidelines.
Make contributions to the project, such as fixing bugs, adding features, or improving documentation.
Interact with other contributors and learn from their perspectives.

Mentor aspiring comedians

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Deepen your understanding and solidify your skills by sharing your knowledge with others.

Browse courses on Mentorship

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Identify aspiring comedians who could benefit from your guidance.
Offer your support and mentorship.
Provide feedback on their jokes and performances.
Share your insights and experiences from your own comedy journey.
Encourage and motivate them to pursue their goals.

One other activity

Expand to see all activities and additional details

Show all four activities

Create a Stand-Up Comedy Set

Show steps

Showcase your skills and creativity by producing a polished stand-up comedy set.

Show steps

Write and refine a set of jokes and stories.
Practice your set regularly to improve your timing and delivery.
Find opportunities to perform your set in front of audiences.
Seek feedback from experienced comedians or comedy professionals.
Make adjustments and improvements based on the feedback received.

Career center

Learners who complete Ultimate Beginner's Class to Learn Stand Up Comedy will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Comedian

The Ultimate Beginner's Class to Learn Stand Up Comedy provides the skills and knowledge to become a successful comedian. The course teaches how to write funny jokes, perform in front of a live audience, and market oneself as a comedian. Comedians use many of the same skills taught in this course, such as public speaking, storytelling, and audience engagement.

See salaries and explore the career path for Comedian

Comedy Writer

The Ultimate Beginner's Class to Learn Stand Up Comedy offers a comprehensive introduction to comedy writing. Students will learn how to develop jokes, write monologues, and structure a comedy set. Comedy writers use many of the same techniques taught in this course, such as joke structure, timing, and delivery.

See salaries and explore the career path for Comedy Writer

Public Speaker

The Ultimate Beginner's Class to Learn Stand Up Comedy includes a module on public speaking skills. Students will learn how to speak with confidence, engage an audience, and handle hecklers. Stand up comedy is a great way to develop public speaking skills, which can be valuable in various careers, including public speaking, teaching, and sales.

See salaries and explore the career path for Public Speaker

Teacher

The Ultimate Beginner's Class to Learn Stand Up Comedy teaches students how to effectively communicate and engage with an audience. These skills are essential for teachers, who need to be able to captivate students and convey information clearly.

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Salesperson

The Ultimate Beginner's Class to Learn Stand Up Comedy emphasizes the importance of storytelling and persuasion. Salespeople use these techniques to build relationships with customers and close deals.

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Marketing Manager

The Ultimate Beginner's Class to Learn Stand Up Comedy includes a module on comedy marketing. Students will learn how to create a brand, promote their work, and network with industry professionals. These skills are essential for marketing managers, who need to be able to market their products or services effectively.

See salaries and explore the career path for Marketing Manager

Event Planner

The Ultimate Beginner's Class to Learn Stand Up Comedy includes a module on hosting comedy shows. Students will learn how to book talent, promote events, and manage logistics. These skills are essential for event planners, who need to be able to plan and execute successful events.

See salaries and explore the career path for Event Planner