Corey Martin Craig - Stand-Up Comedy for Beginners

Stand-Up Comedy for Beginners

Corey Craig

Cool Beans Comedy

Copyright 2020 Cool Beans Comedy

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without express written permission of the publisher.
ISBN: 9798617867949
Typesetting: Roger Nikunen
Cover Design and Photos: Marc Wood

Special thanks to the Cool Beans Comedy community including: Matthew Moore, Improv For The People, Dessa Craig, Jack Sullivan, Roger Nikunen, Marc Wood, Andrew Cornelius, Torrance Hill, Alexandra Catalano, Candida Rodriguez, Stevie Rae Dominguez, Howard Aronin, Roxy Cook, Max Karz, Mike Karz, Kathleen Duncan, Gabrielle Nevaeh Green, Chinguun Sergelen, Lex Lumpkin, Mike Knox, Denise Wax, James Spadafore, Stephanie Diane, Harrison Leahy, Quentin Gauge, Veronica Pacheco, Daniel Garza, Alexis Shafira, Joaquin Garay III, Ai Yoshihara, Megan Thomas, Nicole Burch, Audrey Stewart, Nicole Cunningham, Alan Weiss, Kevin Mosansky, Ernie Enriquez

Contents

Why Stand-Up Comedy?

Because stand-up comedy is not just about finding your funny. Its about finding yourself. This is one of the best art forms for building self-confidence.

Confidence comes from connection, from owning your flaws and insecurities, and showcasing your scars and imperfections. If you bare all, raw and vulnerable, you will become confident in much more than comedy. You will find confidence in who you are as a person and recognize that what you say has value.

Real comedy is all about finding your voice and giving voice to others. Your point of view matters and audiences want to hear open and honest reflections of one-self through personal stories and self-deprecating humor. Through empathy and relatability, audiences connect to the comics voice and can see themselves in the performers stories. This specific style of comedy is thriving and can be a gift for audiences, as it is for the comic alike.

There is no better time to find your funny. Comedy is flourishing and everyone deserves to have humor in their lives. This book is for those new to comedy and are hoping to learn the art form. This book is also for the experienced comic determined to learn something new on their journey to their Netflix special. This book is also for the fan of comedy wishing to learn more about the comics journey.

Laughter is a universal bond. My goal is to breakdown stand-up comedy from a multitude of angles. We will start by exploring lessons from our stand-up comedy course. Then provide you with tools and insight to help you accomplish your wildest dreams, or simply learn about the process of stand-up comedy.

Whether you choose to make a career out of this or not, I highly recommend everyone try stand-up comedy at least once. Public speaking is the number one fear across the globe. Stand-up comedy only multiplies that fear with the added pressure of making someone laugh. Its no doubt that this is the most challenging art-form to attempt in show business.

Most individuals allow fear to dictate any potential pursuit. We have seen students come through our school who have contemplated comedy for over 20 years. Other students have shown up to class one with such anxiety that they are petrified even to hold the microphone. Through positive encouragement and support, these fears eventually fizzle out.

I have personally seen comedy work wonders for a variety of individuals. It helps actors have improved comfortability in an audition room. It has helped accountants who desire improved poise with co-workers in large group meetings. It has even been an outlet for stay-at-home moms who want to step out of their comfort zone.

This book aims to teach you how to be a student of comedy by exploring comedic timing, joke structure, and the art of writing, performing and re-writing.

Who Am I?

My name is Corey Craig, and Im a prime example of taking tragedy and translating that into comedy. Growing up in Nebraska, I was loud, obnoxious, and suspended over 30 times between middle school and high school. I was diagnosed with ADHD, OCD, Tourette Syndrome, and given medications to fix my behavioral challenges.

Good news (enter irony): the medication did not make me less hyper, nor did it calm my nerves or stop my vulgarity. It did, however, help me gain 45 pounds over one summer break.

Did I get picked on from my medications side effect of dramatic weight gain? Yes. Did I cry (and eat my feelings)? Yes. Did I turn my pain into humor? You better believe it.

In hindsight, I was just an energetic kid searching for acceptance. To date, I have no symptoms of the disorders above. In my darkest days, what I wanted most from others was to be heard.

In 8th grade, I found theatre and acting, which saved my life, literally and figuratively. I had a reason to wake up every morning: to make it to 5th-period Theatre class. We studied comedy, played improv games, and I used self-deprecating humor about my weight and appearance to get my classmates to laugh with me daily.

I took my power back with the help of humor and started to feel good about myself for once. It was my artistic awakening, and I followed that yellow brick road of the arts to this very day.

Residing in Los Angeles, I am an award-winning producer and director. Ive helmed comedy specials such as Normal Behavior for Samuel J Comroe ( Americas Got Talent ), Love at First Cousin for Delanie Fischer (FOX), Never Been Kissed for Nicole Burch (HBO), Dumb is Gooder for Jeff Dye (NBC), and received special thanks on Showtimes Tone Bell: Cant Cancel This .

Ive directed comedic shorts for Americas Got Talents Drew Lynch, including Service Dog Bodyguard co-starring Brandon Rogers and If People Acted Like Dogs co-starring Preacher Lawson.

Ive recorded comedy albums for the likes of Francisco Ramos (Last Comic Standing), Kane Holloway (Laughs), Steve McGrew (Comedy Central), and Jerry Rocha (Conan).

I have also produced thousands of live comedy shows and events through my critically acclaimed comedy brand, Cool Beans Comedy. Frequent performers include Taylor Tomlinson (Netflix), Amir K ( MADtv ), Alonzo Bodden ( Last Comic Standing) , to name a few.

As a comic, I have performed across the country. As an acting and comedy coach, I have worked with performers from ages 8 to 80. Ive also coached performers onto series regular roles for Nickelodeon and more. I believe the key to my success comes from empowering individuals through positivity and growth-mindset beliefs. My approach to life and helping others is to inspire and give back, while laughing along the way.

Anyone has the ability within themselves to laugh at their past. Life is to be lived to its fullest, and nothing should hold us back. Its time to talk about that pain and make it your gain. Give yourself permission to go there, to open up fully, and to stifle those feelings of fear. If we cant laugh at the pain, what else is there? Lean in and love your labels, embrace your curves and jagged edges, and look at each day as an opportunity to create a masterpiece.