'One-to-One Comedy Course' Here is a course that provides practical help and advice in the craft and art of stand-up comedy. Spanning seven days, the course opens and closes with gigs by the student at two professional comedy venues in London .
1. Who is the course aimed at? Anyone serious about stand-up comedy who has performed in recognised comedy venues at least three times (not necessarily paid) and has written ten minutes of their own stand-up material.
2. Where is it held? Central London . Off-stage sessions take place in Waterloo with the first gig in the West End and the second in Camden .
3. Why a one-to-one course? Group classes often fail to provide sufficient individual attention. They attract people from a wide ability range with differing comedy interests, whereas this course will concentrate solely on your aptitude for stand-up.
4. What's the approach? The comedian's material and stage persona are not distinct elements but complimentary ones. There are no techniques, rules or edicts just a pool of shared knowledge assembled by stand-up comedians over the years. With this in mind, you will not be 'taught' stand-up comedy, but will be offered guidance, input and critical support.
5. What's the aim? The goal is to create comedy that is funny, interesting and works for you. We'll look for content that arises out of your life experience and your view of the world. You'll be shown that your own best comedy is already inside you. Most important, the course does not claim to be a short cut to success (there isn't one), but about showing you that stand-up doesn't have to be the 'hardest job in the world'.
6. Who is this course NOT for? It is not designed for character, physical, sketch, TV, radio or internet comedy. It's about one person with a microphone.
7. What's the course outline? Monday 6-7.30pm. A conversation in which we look at your perceptions of stand-up including a structured discussion designed to elicit what you want to talk about on stage. 9pm . You perform a 5-7 minute set of your current material at the Round Table, a small comedy venue in the West End of London. The performance is videoed. Tuesday In a 3 hour session at a mutually arranged time, we view and discuss last night's video and agree suggestions for editing or developing existing material and creating new work. Wednesday Homework. You write new material arising out of the previous two days' work. Thursday Again at a mutually arranged time, we'll spend 2 hours looking at the new material and working on it. Friday Homework. You learn your new material and decide ways of incorporating it into your existing set. Saturday We arrange to meet for an hour in advance of an evening performance of a 7-10 minute set at the Hampstead Comedy Club. You'll be on stage at about 9.30pm and again, your performance will be videoed. Sunday You are mailed a disk showing both of your performances and either sent a personal email with feedback or an arrangement is made for a short follow-up meeting.
8. Who is the tutor? Ivor Dembina is a London based comedian who has performed stand-up comedy internationally and throughout the UK . He has run small and medium-sized comedy venues for over twenty-five years. He was a founder of the first ever 'stand-up only' venue at the Edinburgh fringe and has written about comedy for 'The Guardian', 'Time Out' and 'Chortle' He has also led workshops for the Comedy School and Jacksons Lane and has been a guest tutor at many one-offs. He regularly comperes the Hampstead Comedy Club and the Brixton Comedy Club and is currently performing his solo show 'This is Not a Subject for Comedy' at various venues.
9. What's the cost? The fee is £200 and includes a non-returnable deposit of £50 which secures your place. The balance must be paid not less than seven days before commencement of the course.
10. How do I apply? If you are interested in the 'One-to-One Comedy Course', please send an email with a paragraph or two about yourself and what you hope to get out of it. Also please say how you heard about the course and include a daytime telephone number. Acceptance is conditional upon a telephone conversation that will determine your suitability. Get in touch by clicking: One-to-OneComedy Course
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