Download Mastering StandUp Stephen Rosenfield 9781613736920 Books

Product details Paperback 272 pages Publisher Chicago Review Press (November 1, 2017) Language English ISBN-10 1613736924

Mastering StandUp Stephen Rosenfield 9781613736920 Books Reviews

• Stephen Rosenfield has written the “Bible” of stand-up comedy. As an ex-comedian, I only wish I had had this book to refer to over and over again. I would have loved to have known the author “back in the day” when I was running from club to club and very often letting the “voice” enter my head which reiterated all the reasons why I should quit, not get on stage or why I wasn’t as funny as the other stand ups. Rosenfield is the kind of teacher who can help anyone get beyond the self-doubt and severe stage fright and re-channel those emotions for much better use –great comedy! I walked away from this book realizing no comedian is “undeniably good” until the material is worked out over and over and over again. What separates great comedians from average comedians for the most part comes down to who can hang in there and do the extraordinary work required and who simply can’t. Surprisingly there is no magic bullet, but if you take Rosenfield’s subscription and follow his recipe ingredient by ingredient, you too can become a paid comedian. Hard work is the centerpiece no doubt, but persona development, connecting with the audience, and the commitment to tirelessly refining the joke is too. The author teaches us that stand ups must painstakingly listen for the laughs and cut away the extraneous words that don’t contribute to the laugh, as deftly as an artist carving wood. The author also gets us to recognize and understand when and why it’s time to let go of that “A+ joke” that has ‘killed’ for years but may now be laying flat like a pancake. It may be that the “truth” of that joke is no longer true for us, or could be that it simply is no longer as good as the rest of our material.
  
  Rosenfield not only shows us the nuts and bolts of organizing jokes by subject, but urges us not to underestimate the importance of being present for the audience and how that plays into how the audience feels about the standup—“the audience feels what the comedian is feeling”. If the comedian is not having fun, sadly neither is the audience. Even if some of the jokes are bombing, but the comedian is likable, extremely committed to his material and having fun---all is not lost. The author expertly illustrates this by sharing how Johnny Carson would stare into the camera as if befuddled the laugh didn’t come, or how David Letterman would throw the joke card behind him accompanied by the sound of breaking glass. This also illustrates the importance of being present and not ignoring the reality of the situation which ultimately sends the message to your audience that you really want to be there and are somehow connected to them.
  
  There are so many other great aspects of this book like how to MC a show, the standard etiquette around performing at clubs, and the dark side of stealing jokes, but also this books reads like the most interesting history book you’ve ever read about many of the greatest comedians of all time---whom apparently many the author has personally known and worked with. As I read Steve’s book, I would constantly go to YouTube to witness the great works of Jonathan Winters, Jackie “Mom’s” Mabley (Loretta Mary Aiken), Bob Newhart, Andy Kaufman, and many more rising stars I’ve never heard of but will certainly see in the future.
  
  Rosenfield is whip-smart and knows his stuff inside and out which makes this a thoroughly enjoyable read for this ex-comedian. But honestly for anyone interested in comedy or just wants to better understand how comedians do what they do, this is THE MOST compelling book on standup to read.
• Although I've taken a couple of classes and have advanced to a few paid shows, I am hungry to improve my routines and performance. It's good to go over the basics again to remember what you may have forgotten and reinforce what's true and useful. To move up from there is critical when you're ready for it. Rosenfield helps by laying out stand-up craft in an organized, logical progression with examples and advice that's as tightly presented as a well honed routine. He points out what's important in the big picture and how details make a difference in your performance and connection with an audience. I will be re-reading this book for a long time. Thanks Stephen!
• There are a lot of books out there about creating comedy, but I have never read one with as much clarity, warmth, humour, intelligence, honesty, wisdom, humanity and dedication as Mastering Stand-up Comedy.
  
  Stephen Rosenfield speaks from the heart (and from many years of experience as a teacher and comedy writer) to help potential (and working) comedians fulfill their comedy dreams.
  
  He does it by creating a masterful set of chapters which move step by step through the whole process from neophyte to pro, along with brilliant advice about the psychology of both audiences and comedians. It is as if he’s talking to the reader personally and with empathy. He even supplies an email address in case you have questions for him.
  
  There are chapters on the forms of stand-up comedy, writing material, performing, dealing with nerves, creating a stand-up persona, getting “undeniably good”, dealing with fear and doubts, the importance of hard and consistent work, and the business of stand-up—all with a very personal voice. There is also insightful analysis of the work of actual comedians, including how some of the jokes were re-written make them stronger.
  
  Full disclosure I have seen Steve at work in the classroom, and have also worked extensively in the comedy and teaching world. People who are as knowledgeable and supportive and so absolutely dedicated to their students are relatively rare. If you have a burning desire to do stand-up, or even just a curiosity about what it takes to do it well, read this book.
• I signed up for an open mic comedy night with zero stand up experience, zero material, and one month to prepare. This book was exactly the scaffolding I needed, and I'm glad to report my set was a huge hit. I've been recommending it to everyone I know with an interest in comedy.
• Incredible. Mr. Rosenfield takes you on a step by step approach to being a stand-up comic. It is informative, insightful and hilarious all at the same time. It is not a text book. This book is a hands on approach in helping you bring out the unique essence of "you" through comedy. I couldn't put it down. Even if you never thought of being a stand-up comic Mr. Rosenfield takes you on a journey through the history of comedy and how it relates to events of the day that will make you laugh out loud and give you a good feeling.. I have been a professional actor for over 46 years and if your like me the thought of doing stand-up has always been frightening but after reading this wonderful book and and through Mr. Rosenfield's experienced technique he has instilled in me the confidence to think " maybe I could really do this." After you read MASTERING STAND-UP I think you will feel the same way to.
  PJ Benjamin
• As a motivational speaker looking to add some humorous nuances to my speaking and presentations, "Mastering Stand-Up" is a great resource. If you want to learn the nuts and bolts of stand-up comedy, the different genres, set-up/punchline delivery, and everything in between, this book is a must-read. Author Stephen Rosenfield is the founder and director of the American Comedy Institute, so he knows what he's talking about.