Comedy material can come from just about anywhere when you know how to look for it. Learn to take creative ideas and real life experiences onto the comedy stage and speaker's platform. The author of "How To Be A Working Comic" and "Comedy FAQs And Answers" returns with an innovative guidebook dedicated to creating and writing original comedy material. Written in a conversational and easy to read manner, Schwensen relies on nearly two decades of comedy workshop and coaching experiences to cover topics provided by aspiring comedians and humorous speakers. Being original is a key element for success in the humor business. Following specific comedy writing formulas only succeeds in creating more copies of the same style. To stand out from the competition, Schwensen urges writers to explore their personal creativity and individual sense of humor through various writing methods. The final goal is simple - making audiences laugh. The shared advice and writing techniques in this book come from workshop experience and collaborations that have helped literally hundreds of aspiring and working comedians and humorous speakers create and write comedy material.

Comedy Workshop: Creating & Writing Comedy Material: For Comedians & Humorous Speakers

Humor & Entertainment

Schwensen, Dave

Humor

North Shore Publishing

Getting ahead in standup comedy means having an original slant on things. Many books and comedy classes offer “secrets” and “formulas” intended to make the aspiring comic a big success. In How to Be a Working Comic, author Dave Schwensen points out that the performers who are in demand never follow the same path—and neither should you if you want to excel in this demanding, competitive profession. Offering more insiders’ advice than any other manual, this book shows you how to try out material; get onstage experience; market your act to talent bookers, agents, and managers; go on the road; get on television, and much more. Supplementing the author’s own expertise are his interviews with more than sixteen proven talents, including Drew Carey, Carrot Top, Jeff Foxworthy, and Tommy Smothers—all of whom embody the qualities of originality, career know-how, and laughter. Schwensen assumes you already believe you’re funny enough to tackle a comedy career. Making sure you develop a comic vision that’s completely your own is the essential lesson in starting out in the exciting but crowded field of standup comedy.

How to Be a Working Comic: An Insider's Guide to a Career in Stand-Up Comedy

Business & Money

Job Hunting & Careers

Back Stage Books

Beatlemania swept across North America when John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr appeared on 'The Ed Sullivan Show' in February, 1964. The decade of the 1960s seemed to change overnight from black and white to color as a generation fell under the influence of the group's music, style and personalities. Hot on the success of their film 'A Hard Day's Night,' the Beatles 1964 summer tour filled auditoriums with screams of delight and excitement - and in some cases, full-blown fan hysteria. This was the case on September 15th in Cleveland, Ohio when police stopped the show in mid-performance and ordered the Beatles off the stage. The next year, they were banned from appearing in the city that is now home to The Rock'n Roll Hall of Fame. In August 1966, the group launched their final tour, but the innocence portrayed in 'A Hard Day's Night' only two years earlier was missing. Controversy raging over Lennon's remarks about Christianity and the group being more popluar than Jesus made their safety more of a concern than ever before. A scheduling change brought the Beatles back to Cleveland on August 14th for the tour's first outdoor show at Municipal Stadium. The results were the same, but on a much larger scale. The uncontrollable hysteria of Beatlemania reached a fever pitch as thousands of fans poured from their seats and crashed over police lines to be near their British Idols. It was obvious they could no longer be protected in front of audiences and the first murmurings were overheard that it would be the last tour. 'The Beatles In Cleveland' brings to life both these special moments in time: two of the wildest, out of control concerts in Beatles - and rock - history. Go behind the scenes to bring John, Paul, George and Ringo to the city, then grab a front row seat for back stage and on stage excitement through eyewitness accounts from the promoters, concert MC's, deejays, journalists, opening acts and fans. The story is also told through rare, never-before published photos, video stills and memorabilia. A concert by The Beatles was not just about the music, but also the emotions stirred by the most influential group in the history of popular music. Foreword by Bill Harry, Founder and Editor of the legendary 'Mersey Beat' newspaper.

The Beatles In Cleveland: Memories, Facts & Photos About The Notorious 1964 & 1966 Concerts

Biographies & Memoirs

Arts & Literature

The classic business book on stand-up comedy is back - revisited, revised and revamped. Considered "The Guidebook" by many aspiring and working comics, Schwensen shares more insider advice than any other manual including how to try out material; get onstage experience; create promotional material and market your act to talent bookers; work with managers and agents; book yourself on the road; online networking and building a fan base; get on television, and much more. Adding to the author's behind the scenes expertise are insightful and advice filled interviews with proven comedy talents and industry insiders including Drew Carey, Jeff Foxworthy, Carrot Top, Jeff Dunham, Margaret Cho, Scott LaRose, Rick Overton, Bobby Collins, Shang Forbes, Rondell Sheridan, Tommy Smothers and Budd Friedman."Schwensen certainly knows the ins and outs of making it in comedy. He has put his knowledge to work in 'How To Be A Working Comic,' a book that shows aspiring comics everything from how to hire an agent to how to handle road gigs." - Chicago Tribune"A MUST for all in the comedy industry." - The Comic Bible"Full of proactive ideas and hands-on experience... a valuable resource no matter what career level you may have achieved." - Back Stage, The Performing Arts Weekly"Comedy is a serious business. Schwensen, in creating a 176-page labor of love and laughter, underscores just how serious a business it is." - Cleveland Plain Dealer"This instant industry classic is brimming with enough priceless tips on every aspect of comedy to help even the most clueless comedian write his own gags to riches story." - Spot Entertainment Magazine

How To Be A Working Comic: An Insider's Business Guide To A Career In Stand-Up Comedy - Revisited, Revised & Revamped

The Beatles' performance at New York's Shea Stadium on August 15, 1965 is one of the most exciting and important concert events in the history of popular music. Produced by Sid Bernstein and introduced on stage by television legend Ed Sullivan, John, Paul, George and Ringo played, sang, sweated and laughed for a record crowd of 55,600 fans. It was the height of Beatlemania and launched the modern era of outdoor stadium shows."The Beatles At Shea Stadium" tells the story of this concert through researched commentary and exclusive interviews with Beatles insiders, friends and fans. The story begins in 1963 with Bernstein scheduling the then-unknown group for two concerts at Carnegie Hall and the first wave of U.S. Beatlemania. Follow events leading up to the concert as the Beatles arrive in New York, tape "The Ed Sullivan Show" and attend a never-before revealed dinner at Rockefeller Center. Then go backstage as they nervously prepare to face their largest live audience.The concert and excitement surrounding their performance are described in detail based on unedited live recordings and eyewitness accounts, and gives new insights into making the television special, secret recording session to overdub the live audio for network broadcast, and subsequent restoration of the classic film. Book includes rare photos, memorabilia, and never-before published correspondence, documents and production notes.

The Beatles At Shea Stadium: The Story Behind Their Greatest Concert

From the author of "How To Be A Working Comic: An Insider's Guide To A Career In Stand-Up Comedy" and "Comedy FAQs And Answers: How The Stand-Up Biz Really Works," comes this comprehensive guide on how to launch and build your career in the lucrative corporate entertainment market. Originally developed as an online training course, this workbook is divided into eight step-by-step sessions with detailed instructions and lessons in writing and performing for corporate, association and special events; experienced advice, accepted business methods, achievable goals and focused assignments designed to help experienced and aspiring comedians achieve success. *Topics include: writing corporate comedy material, the corporate comedy open mic circuit, networking, event planners and talent bookers, business tools and examples, online marketing and promotion, working with talent agents and speakers bureaus, and much more. *"How To Be A Working Corporate Comedian" joins the author's previous books as indispensable resources into the comedy industry. Written in a conversational manner that is easy to understand and follow, this manual is designed to combine your unique and individual creativity as a comedian or humorous speaker with professional business and marketing methods to lay the foundation and build a serious career in a business with a lot of laughs.

How To Be A Working Corporate Comedian: A Step-By-Step Guide Into Launching & Building Your Career

Industries

Something To Laugh About: 144 Essays On Being A Guy, Parenting, Holidays & Stuff Other People Think Is Funny

Literature & Fiction

Humor & Satire

The classic business book on stand-up comedy is back - revisited, revised and revamped. Considered "The Guidebook" by many aspiring and working comics, Dave Schwensen shares more insider advice than any other manual including how to try out material; get onstage experience; create promotional material and market your act to talent bookers; work with managers and agents; book yourself on the road; online networking and building a fan base; get on television, and much more. Adding to the author's behind the scenes expertise are insightful and advice filled interviews with proven comedy talents and industry insiders including Drew Carey, Jeff Foxworthy, Carrot Top, Jeff Dunham, Margaret Cho, Bobby Collins, Shang Forbes, Rondell Sheridan, Tommy Smothers and Budd Friedman. "Schwensen certainly knows the ins and outs of making it in comedy. He has put his knowledge to work in 'How To Be A Working Comic,' a book that shows aspiring comics everything from how to hire an agent to how to handle road gigs." - Chicago Tribune "A MUST for all in the comedy industry." - The Comic Bible "Full of proactive ideas and hands-on experience... a valuable resource no matter what career level you may have achieved." - Back Stage, The Performing Arts Weekly "Comedy is a serious business. Schwensen, in creating a 176-page labor of love and laughter, underscores just how serious a business it is." - Cleveland Plain Dealer "This instant industry classic is brimming with enough priceless tips on every aspect of comedy to help even the most clueless comedian write his own gags to riches story." - Spot Entertainment Magazine

How to Be a Working Comic: An Insider's Business Guide to a Career in Stand-up Comedy (Revisited, Revised & Revamped)

Createspace Independent Pub

The Beatles performance at New York's Shea Stadium on August 15, 1965 is one of the most exciting and important concert events in the history of popular music. Produced by Sid Bernstein and introduced on stage by television legend Ed Sullivan, John, Paul, George and Ringo played, sang, sweated and laughed for a record crowd of 55,600 fans. It was the height of Beatlemania and launched the modern era of outdoor stadium shows. "The Beatles At Shea Stadium" tells the story of this concert through researched commentary and exclusive interviews with Beatles insiders, friends and fans. The story begins in 1963 with Bernstein scheduling the then-unknown group for two concerts at Carnegie Hall and the first wave of U.S. Beatlemania. Follow events leading up to the concert as the Beatles arrive in New York, tape "The Ed Sullivan Show" and attend a never-before revealed dinner at Rockefeller Center. Then go backstage as they nervously prepare to face their largest live audience. The concert and excitement surrounding their performance are described in detail based on unedited live recordings and eyewitness accounts, and gives new insights into making the television special, secret recording session to overdub the live audio for network broadcast, and subsequent restoration of the classic film. Book includes rare photos, memorabilia, and never-published correspondence, documents and production notes.

The Beatles at Shea Stadium: The Story Behind Their Greatest Concert

This guide to the world of stand—up comedy, written in easy—to—use Q&amp;A format, provides current and potential comedians with the no—nonsense advice they need for every stage of their careers. Schwensen's lively book features interviews with many of the top names in stand—up—Ray Romano, George Carlin, Christopher Titus, Weird Al Yankovic, Margaret Cho—all sharing lessons learned along the way. Additional interviews with club owners, talent executives, publicists, and others provide behind—the—scenes expertise. Allworth Press, an imprint of Skyhorse Publishing, publishes a broad range of books on the visual and performing arts, with emphasis on the business of art. Our titles cover subjects such as graphic design, theater, branding, fine art, photography, interior design, writing, acting, film, how to start careers, business and legal forms, business practices, and more. While we don't aspire to publish a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are deeply committed to quality books that help creative professionals succeed and thrive. We often publish in areas overlooked by other publishers and welcome the author whose expertise can help our audience of readers.

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

Allworth

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