Comedy FAQs and Answers: How the Stand-Up Biz Really Works

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Overview

From going onstage during last call, to beating the open-mic system, to booking corporate gigs, this is the real guide to the world of stand-up comedy. Successful comedians and industry insiders share no-nonsense advice for every stage of a comic's career. The top names in the business-including Ray Romano, George Carlin, Christopher Titus, Weird Al Yankovic, Margaret Cho, and many others-share the lessons they learned the hard way, while club owners, talent executives, publicists, and others reveal what goes on ...
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Comedy FAQs and Answers: How the Stand-up Biz Really Works

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More About This Book

Overview

From going onstage during last call, to beating the open-mic system, to booking corporate gigs, this is the real guide to the world of stand-up comedy. Successful comedians and industry insiders share no-nonsense advice for every stage of a comic's career. The top names in the business-including Ray Romano, George Carlin, Christopher Titus, Weird Al Yankovic, Margaret Cho, and many others-share the lessons they learned the hard way, while club owners, talent executives, publicists, and others reveal what goes on behind the scenes. The author, a former network talent coordinator, covers it all: getting started, writing material, finding places to perform, making performances better, getting seen by the right people, coping with hecklers and "rough crowds," protecting your comedy material, getting an agent, creating a press kit, booking gigs, and much more. Readers will find tips for breaking into specialized areas such as comedy book publishing, the college market, corporate shows, merchandising, and writing for other comics. Anyone with dreams of making money as a comic will need this straight-talking guide.
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Product Details

  • ISBN-13: 9781581154115
  • Publisher: Skyhorse Publishing
  • Publication date: 3/28/2005
  • Pages: 240
  • Sales rank: 470,324
  • Product dimensions: 5.90 (w) x 8.90 (h) x 0.53 (d)

Meet the Author

Dave Schwensen has been talent coordinator for A&E's An Evening at the Improv, and a comedy consultant for The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Late Night with David Letterman, and Comedy Central. Schwensen has a syndicated newspaper column, "Something to Laugh About," and is the author of Watson—Guptill's How to Be a Working Comic (0—8230—8814—6). He lives in Cleveland.
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Sort by: Showing all of 3 Customer Reviews

  • Anonymous

    Posted March 19, 2007

    Best Advice For A Career In Comedy

    Just like with his earlier book, 'How To Be A Working Comic,' Dave Schwensen did tons of research and talked to the 'right' people to answer any questions you would have about a career in stand-up comedy. I'm very impressed with the list of comedians who supply these incredibly insightful words of advice including George Carlin, Brett Butler, Lewis Black, Dave Attell and the late, great Richard Jeni. And there are many others - the list is too long to mention here. He explains how to get on stage, write material, (for yourself and other comics), work in the college and corporate markets, promotional material and much more. Even how to get a book published, (great advice from Jeff Foxworthy!). I LOVED this book and will use it as a valuable guidebook to further my career.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 11, 2006

    Do not skip a page

    Finally somebody who shoots straight about the good, the bad, and the ugly of the comedy business. Dave's book is a wealth of information, and I would strongly suggest that anyone considering joining the ranks of stand up comedy business read this book. Trust me, I could not put down my highlighter. I highlighted something on every page. I look forward to attending one of Dave's workshops in the future and so should you if you decide like I did to follow your dreams of making people laugh.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted February 24, 2012

    No text was provided for this review.

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