The Journey
Public Speaking University is what I call this new journey
To begin with I am the worlds worst student! I hate to read, I am dyslexic and my spelling is atroteus (tried to spell the word for really bad 9 times and even spell check had no clue what I was trying to say.) See what I mean. So when I got laid off from my day job aka last Career as an Art Director, I decided to start learning how to be better at public speaking. I love people and talking not to mention the attention but did not know what to do or realize how hard it was. I was afraid to even try to take collage classes. I was "special ed" in hight school and went to The Art Institute where a "Sped" like me could graduate with a 4.0. scary, but the best move i could make. I was lucky enough to get a career that paid me very well and kept me employed regularly for 15 year. Now I am unemployed and want to make a change but cant think of going to school for it... So I am going to invent my own curriculum and see how it works for me.
Here is the path and steps I have taken so far and what I am doing to learn at the moment.
Comedy Class's:
Philadelphia: So I started off with a comedy class at my local comedy club. I left with a basic 5 min set that made me feel strong enough to do open mic nights and some basic Mic skills. It was good for me at the time but then the business man in my head total killed it for me. You pay for a class ( I think at the time it was $400.00) thought by a comedian I never saw on Comedy Central or TV for that matter. You go to about 4 Sunday sessions then you have a graduation show where your supposed to get 10 people to come and buy 2 drinks each. This is what is what I learned is called in the business as a "bringer show". So I paid a bout load of cash and conned 10 people to pay for a show just so I can tel 5 min of bad jokes in the show. Nothing against the teacher, but at this point in my life I want to see you on TV before I will take/ pay for your advice. If I want the advice of a comedian I don't know from Adam I will go to an open mike.
NY: My classes: I made friends with a fellow comedy wanna be and we started going to NY for classes . The classes were cheaper and teachers where comedians you actually saw on TV or Writing for shows today... nice. Useful information on what bookers are looking for and general comedy writing stuff. The best info was the ins and out of the business and comedy delivery, and some marketing yourself info. Sure I had to trek up to NYC but it was worth it. (FYI it takes about 2.5 hrs each way)
Bringer Shows:
NY is bringer show central...they do not hide the fact its a bringer...you know why you are getting your stage time and you know how to get it. You bring the designated number of people to pay a cover and have 2 drinks and you get 5 min or so on stage. I hate bringer shows today, but to be fair a good comedian that is rising should have a following and it would be easy for them to do this type of show.
I did do afew of these but decided it was kind of hack to be doing stand up for such a short time then going to NY to do shows and begging my friends and family to drive 2 hrs away to see me do a shitty 5 min set... Some of these even say that they will have bookers and agents at these shows... What ever... if I were a good comedian I would be in shows for my stand up skills not my ability to cone people to pay out the but for a well drink 2 hrs from where they live.
Books
Comedy Writing for Idiots... Have it but never read it
Judy Carter's The Comedy Bible: had it for about a year didn't read it.
Greg Dean's Step by Step to Stand Up: had it for about a year didn't read it.
But then I discovered DVDs and CD's with this info on it...
I started with the Judy carter DVD it changed my writing and my delivery style. (I love act outs!) I was so hooked I ripped it to my ipod so I could see it everywhere. She had a cd called 5 steps to joke writing... works very well for me. I was so impressed I emailed her to see if she ever comes to Philadelphia... Lucky me she was coming out about a week after my email so we met up and went over my goals and my current set and I had a few Skype's with her after and my wring and goals were more solid. She even helped me with my direction in Public Speaking.
At some point I ordered the Greg Dean Audio book. It was useful to me more for the way he suggests how to rehearse your stand up. It worked wonders for my set... I actually started getting complements on my delivery and felt more confident in my set. I never bring a set list or a cheat sheet. I don't read over the words before a set... I was very impressed with this for of learning my set. (This was worth every penny) if only for that one chapter.
The issues started when I had conflicting techniques and they were messing with my head and how I was writing... actually caused some writers block issues. this took me about a month to work out in my head...its all about taking what works for you and leaving the rest behind.
Around this time I started getting into Audio Books:
George Carlin's Last Words: was a great one for the way he worked and how he created a new set ever 18 months. A fun listen about the life of a comedian with that book I would say I'm Dying Up by William Knoedelseder is also a fantastic book about the old world of comedy and still relevant today.
I also have some Improv books I brows through from time to time:
Improvise This and Improvise I will bring them with me to the beach or something when I have time to actually read...
Listening to books can be done why driving and you can listen to a chapter as many times as you want why in traffic or on the train or taking a bath...
My Current rotation of Audio books at the moment are what I will call Public Speaking University
War of Art by Steven Pressfield
Talent is Overrated... Geoff Colvin
Improvisation Inc by Robert Lowe
Public Speaking Superstar (group of authors)
Improv: I have taken 3 classes and a workshop, at PHIT ( Philadelphia Improv Theater ) I think they do a great job the classes are affordable and my class mates and teachers are fantastic. Its a great environment to learn and grow in.
I am part of the improv group Iron Lung, this is a great way to become better at improv, get more stage time, become stronger at timing and for friendships with a great group of people.
The improv community and the stand up community: they could not be more different by design, The improv community is welcoming and friendly and just love to play and have fun. There is a Incubator that is run on Sundays where people go to just do improv games and play. It is fantastic. I haven't met a person with a bad attitude yet.
The Stand Up community is extremely clicky and I think its for a reason. (I am not sure why yet but I haven't gotten offended by it). I just find that is has circles and clicks that work well for some comedian. I have always been use to the outside. I don't fit into any one group but I also don't feel alienated by many either. Its just not as worm a cuddly as the improv community. I think the main difference is Stand up is all about you being on that stage "Alone" and Improv is all about the team and "Supporting the Team Mate"