Contents of my new blog series: Stand-up Comedy in 25 Lessons

I was going to publish this material as an e-book (hence the snazzy cover above). But then I landed a proper book deal: namely, A Director’s Guide to the Art of Stand-up. So I thought I'd give away this material for free here on my blog (and rewrite and develop it as I go along).

The text has grown out of notes I write for students on my highly-regarded stand-up course in Soho, London that I’ve run for over ten years now. Details of the next available courses can always be found here.

LESSON 1: WRITING DOES NOT MEAN WRITING LESSON 2: THE WRITING PROCESS LESSON 3: REMEMBERING IT ALL LESSON 4: THE IMPORTANCE OF RE-WRITING LESSON 5: WRITE SOMETHING SPECIFIC FOR THE GIG LESSON 6: STARTING YOUR SET LESSON 7: SET-UP / PAYOFF LESSON 8: MISDIRECTION LESSON 9: USING SOCIAL GAGS IN STAND-UP LESSON 10: TURNING TRUE STORIES INTO STAND-UP LESSON 11: WRITING WORDPLAY ONE-LINERS LESSON 12: TIMING LESSON 13: QUESTIONS TO SPARK IDEAS LESSON 14: TRANSPOSITIONS LESSON 15: BATHOS (BIG / SMALL)

LESSON 16: PERSONIFICATION LESSON 17: RULE-OF-THREE, CALL-BACKS & ANACHRONISMS

LESSON 18: COMIC ANALOGIES

LESSON 19: ANALYSING SEINFELD'S CAB DRIVERS ROUTINE LESSON 20: PERSONA & IMPROV

LESSON 21: WRITING & IMPROV

LESSON 22: THOUGHTS FROM A NEWER ACT AND A PRO (ON MATERIAL, GIGS AND SHOWS)

LESSON 23: DEALING WITH HECKLING

LESSON 24: COMPERING LESSON 25: ENDINGS & DEATHS