Stand-Up Comedy Courses in London and at the Edinburgh Fringe 

Kevin McCarron at the 2005 Fringe Lindsay's 2006	Nationwide comedy club Laughing Horse comedy returns to Edinburgh to present a further intensive course to learn, or improve your stand-up comedy over two days. This course is led by experienced comedy teacher Jay Sodagar (3 Years of Aboutcomedy Courses, Comedian, Compere, Actot and Comedy School Comedy Tutor)
	This course is suitable for people with no experience of stand-up, existing new stand-ups who want to brush-up their skills, or actors and other performers who are interested in developing performance skills,
	The course runs for December the 8th and Sunday December the 9th - from 2pm to 6.30pm. The Graduation show is from 9pm on December the 9th.
	The Course and graduation show  takes place at Linsay's', 15 brunswick Street, in Edinburgh - for venue details please click here
	"friendly, informative and well-structured. A supportive environment allows wannabe stand-ups to develop material quickly, and the course even offers opportunities to perform on stage... A no-brainer for anyone interested in the business, and a fun experience for any weekend wonder whose always wanted to know what it was like behind the mic stand." - Paul Doncaster, graduate of the 2005 courses

Participants in the courses will be asked to bring one A4 page of their comedy ideas, which over the course will be turned into workable material. The course runs over two afternoons, from 2pm to 6.30pm. The graduation show will run from 9pm to 11pm in the evening of teh second course day.

The areas studied will be as follows:

Comedians Talking: What makes a comedian work? How do they work on Stage - what is their attitude? Learn through watching and discussing experienced stand-up comedians.

Style of humour: What style suits you as a performer and writer?

Joke writing Skills: How to Edit material, and pick funny material from ideas and concepts.

Deconstructing Comedy: What makes a good comedian? What is the form of a Joke? Rule of three, lists, working forwards and backwards, topics, methods of developing punchlines and routines.

The history of Comedy: What is 'alternative' comedy, and what are the roots of stand-up comedy. Take a look at where we fit into things.

Finding material:  How? Where? Exercises to get you thinking and writing funny on subjects you are passionate about, or subjects that are new to you.

Technical and general Skills: Microphone technique. Dealing with Hecklers. The business of Comedy - dealing with comedy clubs and comedy Promoters.

Market information:. How, practically - to go about getting your act out there. Where can you perform in Edinburgh, or around the UK. Useful contacts.

Preparation for the first open spot: Included in the course is a spot at The graduation show, and following this at leat one booking at a Laughing Horse Comedy Shows in Edinburgh or London.

The course will include several sessions performing in front of your fellow students, and the tutor, and all areas will be achieved through lively, interactive exercises, improvisation and demonstrations.

You will be able to use a fully set-up comedy room for practice at Linsay's, and you will also get the opportunity to meet others of like mind and to do homework.

"It's improved my confidence and the open spot I performed went down really well! And it's pretty cheap too! If you've got funny bones, you can do no better" - Duncan Hart, graduate of the 2005 courses.

Jay Sodagar

Jay Sodagar Jay Sodagar is a leading UK comedian, who has been performing in the UK since 1998, and can be seen regularly at Jongleurs comedy clubs across the country, as well as at numerous other venues including the Comedy Store, Comedy Cafe and many others. He also comperes widely across the country, and at all Laughing Horse Comedy Clubs. Since 2004 Jay has taught comedy at the Hastings adult education Forum, leading students of all standards to becoming successfull stand-up comedians with a programme similar to that of the About Comedy Courses, and Jay has also been involved with comedy  seminars and teaching at the University of Surrey, alongside our otehr course tutor, Kevin McCarron. Jay has performed at the Edinburgh Fringe in his own show 'Life ain't Hard' in 2003, and in partnership with Jewish comedienne Juliet Meyers in 2004 in '4.2 Tolerance". He returned in 2006 with the sequel to 'Life ain't hard' for a three week run at Linsay's, and will also in 2007 with 'Life ain't hard 2' at Hillside. "A very slick performer" Edinburgh Evening News "Challenging and extremely funny" - Evening Standard "Induces Belly Laughter" - The List “What comedy night would be complete without the talents and rapier-like wit of Jay Sodagar?" - The BBC

Prices

Further information

For any further information, please contact us at: info@aboutcomedy.co.uk - or call 07796 171 190

click here for details of the venue