To ensure everyone's good health, students in NYC classes must provide proof of full Covid vaccinations (the initial series of Covid vaccines plus at least one booster). We will accept your Covid vaccine card (or a digital scan), a NY State Excelsior digital card, or another form of government-approved proof. We will contact you before class begins about showing us proof. Masks are encouraged, but not required. We'll provide masks for those who need them.
More Covid details
Stand-Up Comedy Writing
Stand-Up Comedy Writing is a 10-week workshop, which includes lectures, exercises, and the critiquing of student projects. It’s for beginners or anyone who wants to brush up on the fundamentals. Farther down, you can view a syllabus for this course. As a bonus, the course culminates with an optional performance at an NYC comedy club.
Comics say it’s the greatest high. You step into the light, take a swig of water, pick up the mic, then reduce a crowd of people to a mass of helpless laughter. Sure, the risks are great—silence, heckling, humiliation—but on a good night a stand-up feels richer than Notaro and Rock combined.
You “kill” or “die” depending on your material. Here you will learn techniques for writing and performing stand-up comedy, as well as how to market yourself.
Whether you favor shtick or sophistication, we’ll show you how to write standup material that makes ‘em laugh, and laugh some more.
You don't need to know anything going into the course and you can still come out feeling like you're ready to try performing at some open mics.
Tiffany Peon
project manager
10-Week
-
NYC
In-person
Tuition: $465 (returning students: $435)
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One-on-One
Tuition: $1,795
Syllabus
This course gives you a firm grounding in the basics of stand-up comedy writing and gets you putting together a five-minute set, which you may perform in a club on a “class night in NYC.” Course components:
Lectures
Writing exercises
Workshopping and rehearsing material
Week 1
What is a Joke?: Joke analysis. Subject/point of view/twist. Information part/funny part.
Week 2
Point of View 1: Understanding point of view. Working on material for established comics to practice point of view.
Week 3
Ways to Improve a Joke 1: Editing. Repetition. Shock. Choosing the best words.
Week 4
Ways to Improve a Joke 2: Joke dissection. Adapting to circumstance. Adding relevance.
Week 5
The Audience: Knowing your audience. How to appeal to a particular audience.
Week 6
The Performer: Discovering your persona. Communicating your persona. Timing.
Week 7
Point of View 2: Find out what others think is funny about you. Refine your persona.
Week 8
Prepare for Show 1: Assemble your act. Microphone and stage technique. Working on delivery. Rehearsal.
Week 9
Prepare for Show 2: Continuation of above.
Week 10
Prepare for Show 3: Continuation of above.
Note: Content may vary among individual classes.
Teachers
David LaBarca
David LaBarca has appeared as a stand-up comic in New York City at Gotham Comedy Club, New York Comedy Club, Symphony Space, Anthology Film Archives, Broadway Comedy Club, the Knitting Factory, and Stand-up NY, as well as numerous clubs across the US, Canada, Mexico, and the Virgin Islands. He was featured on Comedy Central's Stand Up Stand Up and Short Attention Span Theatre. His material has appeared in many publications, including Women's Own Magazine and the New York Times. He holds a BS from Baruch College.
Read moreDavid LaBarca
David LaBarca
has appeared as a stand-up comic in New York City at Gotham Comedy Club, New York Comedy Club, Symphony Space, Anthology Film Archives, Broadway Comedy Club, the Knitting Factory, and Stand-up NY, as well as numerous clubs across the US, Canada, Mexico, and the Virgin Islands. He was featured on Comedy Central's Stand Up Stand Up and Short Attention Span Theatre. His material has appeared in many publications, including Women's Own Magazine and the New York Times. He holds a BS from Baruch College.
