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COMEDY GYM PRODUCTS

THE COMEDY GYM DVD

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Audio/Visual library

* CW 101 STAND UP COMEDY MONOLOGUE PREMISE WRITING - SAM COX- Tools and pointers for successful premise writing. (52 min.)
* CW 102 THE BASICS OF JOKE WRITING - GENE PERRET- Mr. Perret's philosophy as explained in his book Comedy Writing Workbook. Illustrated by numerous jokes written during a career as head writer for Bob Hope. (40 min.)
* CW 103 VOLUME, VOLUME, VOLUME - how to create mo' better material - PAUL SEABURN- How to increase your stand up comedy monologue writing. (42 min.)
* CW 104 WRITING STAND COMEDY ON AN ASSIGNED TOPIC - PAUL SEABURN- A step by step description of how a professional writer develops jokes after getting an assignment from a comic. (35 min.)
* CW 105 COMED WRITING WITH ATTITUDE; self-help for the emotionally impaired comic - PAUL SEABURN. How to include your emotions in your writing. (46 min.)
* CW 106 THE 'GO NUTS' GUIDE TO STAND UP COMEDY WRITING AND CREATIVITY - PAUL SEABURN- Paul uses a peanut to illustrate the process of creativity.
* CW 107 COMEDY WRITING FROM A PERFORMERS POINT OF VIEW - JEFF JUSTICE. How one headliner comic writes comedy for himself.
* CW 108 OPPORTUNITY HAPPENS WHILE YOU ARE MAKING OTHER PLANS - Paul SEABURN. Ways to make money writing humor and comedy and the benefits of doing them while you wait for the Tonight Show to call.

ON STAND UP COMEDY PERFORMANCE:

* CP 102 COMEDY ONE DAY AT THE TIME - SAM COX- Run out of ideas? Sam points out life is full of comedy ( if you know how to recognize it).
* CP 103 PERSONALIZE  COMEDY WRITING - DEAN LEWIS- Ideas on how and why to make your act more personal.
* CP 104 USING YOUR BODY IN YOUR STANDUP COMEDY ACT - PETER KELAMIS- A Canadian professional comic describes different ways to include body movements in a monologue. (44 min.)
* CP 105 FINDING A CHARACTER VOICE - SAM COX- Bring characters to life in your stand up act using techniques to alter your voice. (55 min.)
* CP 106 EVALUATING YOUR STAND UP MATERIAL - OLIVER TULL- How to determine which jokes are your best and how to adjust the order of jokes. How to judge the audience's response. (27 min.)
* CP 107 PERSONA AND CHARACTER - SAM COX- How to create a congruent attitude in you rstand up act. (35 min.)
* CP 109 THE REST OF THE SHOW IS ABOUT YOUR MOMMA - OLIVER TULL- A professional comedy performers solution of how to deal with hecklers in a creative and fun way. (41 min.)
* CP 110 WHAT'S YOUR NAME? - TALKING WITH THE AUDIENCE - DEAN LEWIS- How to include the audience in your stand up comedy act. (51 min.)
* CP 111 ASSEMBLING A STAND UP COMEDY MONOLOGUE - DEAN LEWIS- A step by step guide to putting together a solid monologue. (32 min.)
* CP 112 A RECIPE WITH STAND-UP AND IMPROV MAKES A TASTY PERFORMANCE TREAT - LES MCGEHEE
    * CP 113 POLITICS IN COMEDY - RAOUL HEERTJE. An approach to political humor onstage and on his TV show. Why should there be a place for political comedy?

COMEDY GYM audio visual library 
ON THE BUSINESS OF STAND UP COMEDY:

* CB 110 BECOME A RICHER STAND-UP COMIC -GENE PERRET- Mr. Perret gives tips about how to present and sell yourself in the show biz world.
* CB 111 CLIMBING THE STAND UP COMEDY LADDER - TOM HAINES- Tips on how to hook up with an agency from the senior booking agent of Creative Entertainment. * CB 112 THE CUTTING EDGE - tomorrow's comic - CORI CHAMBERS and DOUG STERN- A Los Angeles writer/ for animated children's shows, The Disney Channel, and music videos; a comic team talks about what Hollywood is looking for. (46 min.)
* CB 113 A EUROPEAN STAND-UP IN THE USA - RAOUL HEERTJE- Raoul talks about stand-up in his native Holland, and expresses his opinion on American stand-up. (40min.)
* CB 114 MAKE IT HAPPEN - SAM COX- Sam gives examples and ideas on how you can create stage time for yourself and support you local comedy scene at the same time. (35 min.)
* CB 115 SURVIVING IN TODAY'S STAND UP COMEDY BUSINESS - DON LEARNED- Keep your career moving forward in an industry that is experiencing a down turn. (43 - min.)
* CB 116 THE STATE OF AFFAIRS IN STAND UP COMEDY IN THE NEXT CENTURY - DON LEARNED- A club owner's perspective of American stand-up in today. (28 min.)
* CB 117 YOU WANT TO BE AN OPENER? - DON LEARNED- What a club owner is looking for in a stand up comedy opener, and how to get work. (48 min.)
* CB 118 COMEDY IS A JOURNEY, ENJOY THE RIDE - SAM COX. How to get the most out of your comedy, both professionally and personally.
* CB 119 TV OR NOT TV - JUDY BROWN. The importance of taaaking your stand up comedy act from the club circuit to TV for exposure and money.
* CB 120 WEARING TWO SUITS: THE BUSINESS SUIT AND THE CLOWN SUIT - ROBERT HAWKINS talks about how he learned to balance the business and the creative, funny side of the stand up comedy world.
* CB 121 LOVE DOING STAND UP COMEDY AND THE MONEY WILL FOLLOW - SAM COX Focus on the enjoyment of craft and succeed.

Who's Who?:
* JUDI BROWN: Talent coordinator of the US COMEDY ARTS FESTIVAL at HBO. Served as Talent Executive and Casting Director on numerous TV shows (The “Weird Al” show, The Jenny McCarthy Show, Extreme Comedy).
* CORI CHAMBERS and DOUG STERN: Los Angeles based writer /comic team. Chambers as an Executive Producer for Fox TV. until she became head of new development for Disney Studios.
* SAM COX: Founder of COMEDY GYM, head coach, producer, of Comedy Gym Showcases for 25 years, writer, public speaker, produce,r (LA, Amsterdam), author of COMEDY GYM WORKBOOK. Former freelance writer for Jay Leno.
* TOM HAINES: Senior booking agent for Creative Entertainment in Charlotte, N.C. Carrot Top and Rodney Carrington).
* ROBERT HAWKINS: A touring headliner, Robert got his start at the COMEDY GYM in 1990. He has appeared at Late Night with Conan O'Brien, Showtime's Full Frontal Comedy, supporting actor and staff writer for The Christopher Titus Show and other comedy programs. His comedy CDs “Serious” and "Smacking Kittens" are national hits.
* RAOUL HEERTJE: Dutch comic, club owner; TV producer and show host in Amsterdam.Competed in ‘94 San Francisco Comedy Competition.Voted most influential perfumer in the Netherlands19990.
* JEFF JUSTICE: Comedian Jeff Justice entertains the corporate world with key note speeches on humor in the workplace. He also teaches stand-up comedy in Atlanta, Georgia.
* PETER KELAMIS: Professional Canadian comic, sitcom writer and actor.
* DON LEARNED: Comedy Club owner, touring comic, books clubs in Las Vegas.
* DEAN LEWIS: Professional comic and writer, a regular in Las Vegas; host of TV-show “Videostore 39” in Dallas. Regular at The Addison Improv
* LES McGEHEE: Les is a well-known actor and comedian. He has trained hundreds of comedians through his Comedy Sportz Austin Troupe and owns the local ComedySportz Playhouse.
* GENE PERRET: Emmy Award winner, headwriter for Bob Hope and Carol Burnet, author if “COMEDY WRITING WORKBOOK“ and many others.
* PAUL SEABURN: writer for Rich Little, Richard Jeni and others; co-author of a joke book with Diane Jordan, currently writer and frequent guest On Taylor Mason's comedy children's show "Taylor's Atic"
* OLIVER TULL: Dallas based actor and comic.Gets more commercial acting than any other Comedy Gym grad.


FPIA SEMI FINALS AND FINALS IN 2010

FPIA SEMI FINALS AND FINALS IN 2009

FPIA SEMI FINALS AND FINALS IN 2008

FPIA SEMI FINALS AND FINALS IN 2007

FPIA SEMI FINALS AND FINALS IN 2006

FPIA SEMI FINALS AND FINALS IN 2005

FPIA SEMI FINALS AND FINALS IN 2004

FPIA SEMI FINALS AND FINALS IN 2003

FPIA SEMI FINALS AND FINALS IN 2002

FPIA SEMI FINALS AND FINALS IN 2001

 

ONE-ON-ONE COACHING

One-on-one coaching and advice is available by email. You will learn how to write, edit, punch up and polish material and will be given an opportunity to perform a standup comedy routine for a live audience in a professional comedy nightclub. Through daily email exchanges you will be given exercises and advice on writing and creating an act.

For those who want to learn how to write material professionally coaching and advice are also available.

THE COMEDY GYM WORKBOOK

The Comedy Gym Workbook is a guide for anyone who wants to exercise their funny muscle - aspiring comics, public speakers, trainers, teachers, lawyers, and anyone who occasionally has to entertain or speak to groups of people and know that their efforts will be infinitely more effective and successful when humor is applied effectively.  A primary aim of the workbook is to apply the tools of the professional entertainer and performer to drive home points and engage audiences in a way that has a lasting effect. Everyone has heard lecturers and ministers enthrall audiences while educating or enlightening an assemblage. Humor may be the most powerful tool of the spoken word. Everyone from comedians, public speakers, teachers, trainers, to sales force trainers, know that they have to make a thoughtful and dynamic presentation in order to be successful. Funny comments are insightful or irreverent remarks made about serious matters. Therefore, all the world`s a set up. The punchline is generated by a reaction to the setup, the stimulus, or circumstances. Mr. Cox has written speeches and roasts for those honored as distinguished alumni at The University Of Texas and he has written and coached presentations for Senators who have presented addresses to the National Press Club in Washington DC. There is not a politician in the land who could not benefit from advice to help liven up speeches.
Real estate agents have sought the help of Comedy Gym. Lawyers and judges have also sought the advice of writers and performers. Comedy offers assistance to anyone from health care professionals to dentists and surgeons. Even ministers and psychologists have found support in their efforts to offer comfort and amusement to lighten up the toughest of situations. All it takes is a sense of humor and a measure of desire to contribute to those in need of a good laugh.
The world is full of smart alecs, and this book will give them a way to express their inner smartass. One of my most successful grads, star actor Seth Rogan, turned his acting ability and his keen sense of wit to become a millionaire. Of course not everyone who wants to be funny can become a mega star like Seth Rogan, but it is entirely up to the individual to take his skills, the lessons he has learned, and with a healthy measure of luck, turn his avocation into a veritable industry. When Sam saw Seth begin as a scrawny teenager who made his friends laugh and used the skills he developed to create a legacy for himself. The opportunity is there and there are many talented people who just need a little encouragement and some gentle guidance to help them along their way.
There have been many books written about comedy. Judy Carter has a couple of publications that Mr. Cox has recommended to many people. Sam Cox has worked with Ms. Carter on the staffs of several conferences, and does not hesitate to recommend her works. Comedy Gym Workbook focuses on the-ins-and outs of professional etiquette and stresses tried and true methods of writing and performing.
The Comedy Gym Workbook is packed with professional advice from cover to cover and stresses the use of original material created for the express purpose of teaching writing procedures. Mr. Cox believes a comic`s journey is one of self-exploration, and that they find who they are during the process of trial and error. Humor is so uniquely individual and you can`t just tell someone what his persona is. He prefers to let the comic have a free rein and then pull them in when they begin to take pathways that are detrimental to their professional reputation.
Mr. Cox has also co-chaired conferences with Gene Perret, (of Bob Hope and Carol Burnet fame). He studied comics from Lenny Bruce to Bill Hicks and have read books by Greg Dean, Franklin Ajai, Melven Helitzer, Steve Alan and Jeff Justice. He learned from all of these people but have modeled hisinstruction on wide-open style of experimenting and allowing the audiences to tell a person when they are on the right track. Today`s comic has to have a finger on the pulse of today`s audience. The material has to be original, personal, confrontational and thoughtful.
Put Comedy Gym Workbook into the right hands, and the book will sell itself.
To purchase the Comedy Gym Workbook contact Comedy Gym by phone: 512-914-3985 or by email:comedygym@austin.rr.com