Mastering Stand-Up: The Complete Guide to Becoming a Successful Comedian

Stephen Rosenfield

Nov 2017 · Chicago Review Press

About this ebook

Stephen Rosenfield, founder and director of the American Comedy Institute, the premier comedy school in the United States, has taught literally dozens of major standup comics in North America, and has also pioneered comedy as an academic discipline in many universities, a trend that is rapidly spreading. Mastering Stand-Up draws on Rosenfield's own extensive experience (and those of countless stars like Lenny Bruce, Richard Pryor, Chris Rock, Rodney Dangerfield, Louis C.K., Steve Martin, Roseanne, and Johnny Carson) to show the reader—and would-be comic—what works, what doesn't, and why. Forty sharply written chapters cover every conceivable angle of the joke and how to tell it. There are a number of books on comedy and how to do it, but none has the breadth and authority Rosenfield brings to his theme. It's not for nothing that the New York Times has described him as "probably the best-known comedy teacher in the country." Rosenfield's book is sure to become the classic text on its subject. And it should help thousands who long to make others laugh to realize their fondest hopes.

About the author

Stephen Rosenfield is the founding director of the American Comedy Institute, whose alumni include major stand-up comedy headliners. He has taught comedy at major universities and has been profiled by many major newspapers and magazines. His methods have been the subject of shows on Starz and NPR.