| Home
Page
Comedy Workshops
About Workshops
About Dave
Reviews
Sign Up Now!!
Join Email List
How To Be A Working Comic
About The Book
Reviews
Purchase
Comedy FAQs And Answers
About The Book
Reviews
Contributors
Purchase
More Dave Stuff
Keynote Speaker
Programs & Video
Radio Host
Contact
The Beatles In Cleveland
About The Book |
|
Comedy workshop performance at The Cleveland Improv
on...
Wednesday, March 3, 2010 at 7:30 pm
Next workshop begins late spring / early summer
2010
Space is limited - see information below on how to
register
Email Dave
to receive notice of upcoming workshop dates
|
"To
say Dave Schwensen knows the comedy business would be an
understatement." - Ohio Magazine |
Being
a stand-up comedian is a serious business, with a lot of laughs. Stand-up comedy
has become a giant industry and a major source of talent for movies, television
and radio. The entertainment world is constantly looking for "new
faces." Becoming a successful comedian takes more than just talent and
luck. It involves preparation, experience, a knowledge of the business and
knowing what is expected of you. Today's top comedians developed their humor
without conforming to any trends or formulas. Talent and originality are the
keys to success. However, there are established business methods within the
comedy industry that performers should be aware of. Developing, writing and
performing a stand-up comedy act and learning how the comedy industry works from
an insider's point of view is what this workshop is all about.
|
Email
us with "comedy workshop" in the subject
line to be on our mailing list. We'll let you know when upcoming
workshop dates are confirmed. |
Dave's
comedy workshops have been the subject of numerous television, radio and print
features. Among those we'd like to thank are...
PBS
Television & Radio, The Hollywood Reporter, Chicago Tribune, Cleveland Plain
Dealer, Back Stage Performing Arts Weekly (NYC & LA), Creative Loafing
(Charlotte, NC), The Joey Reynolds Show (NYC), The Lanigan & Malone Show
(Cleveland), The Dan Brennan Show, (St. Louis), Charlotte (West Virginia)
Observer, Ohio Magazine, The Comic Bible (NYC) - and many other national and
regional television, radio, newspaper and magazine features.
|
"Think
you're funny? If so, it may be time to take your talents
onstage. However, honing your craft in front of a live audience
doesn't do much for either your self-esteem or drink sales.
That's where comedy veteran Dave Schwensen enters the
picture..." - Cleveland Magazine. |
Dave's workshops are meant to be fun, supportive and
informative about the comedy industry. They're based on similar workshops in New
York and Los Angeles, brought together to give participants an idea of what to
expect on both coasts and everywhere in between. "Comedy coaching"
best describes what these types of workshops are all about, but the difference
we offer is a knowledge of what goes on behind the scenes. Any "good"
workshop will send you out with five minutes of audition night-worthy material,
but most leave you wondering where to go from there. We'll tell you how to go
about finding work, with enough information on where and how to get your comedy career
started.
In addition to the aspiring stand-up's who've taken our
workshops, we have many who come to us with different interests. Teachers and
public speakers want to add more humor to their presentations. We've worked with
doctors, lawyers, psychologists, grandparents, students and others who are
looking to add more humor into their lives. Even those interested in only trying
something different... well, we've been told it beats the heck out of a
basket-weaving class.
The bottom line is talent. We work to bring out your own
individual and creative sense of humor and take the time to do it - that's
why these workshops are limited to no more than ten people. You already have the ideas, (whether you
know it or not), and we help you to bring it out and organize it to a level that
can be performed on a comedy stage.
Comedy workshops are not uncommon and quite a few clubs
have their 'local' favorites teaching these. That's another area where
we're different. Dave Schwensen Entertainment supports local comics, but also
has an experienced knowledge of what the industry is like in the entertainment
capitals of New York and Los Angeles. If you want to remain a 'local'
comic, then choose to work with the best in your area. If you want to know what
it takes to go beyond that, then contact us.
|
"Listening
to his insider stories is worth the price of admission. But the
purpose of the name dropping isn't to impress - it's to
illustrate how comedians make it in the business as well as
demonstrate that anyone can do comedy with the right amount of
luck, dedication and laughs." -
The Sunday Register
|
|
Since
we're based in the Cleveland area, our main workshop is designed
to take place over a three week period at The Cleveland Improv
Comedy Club. We meet for three Saturday afternoons between noon
and 4 pm, followed by a weeknight evening performance at The
Improv. Each workshop is limited to ten people due to the time
spent working with everyone on an individual basis. Each
participant has performance time on stage during every meeting
and members of the workshop are encouraged to help with ideas,
suggestions, punch lines, jokes and experiences. To make a long
story short, a lot of friendships have been made through the
workshops and we laugh a lot while getting the job done. |
|
"The
nice thing about Dave is he doesn't tell you, 'if you want to be
funny, do this.' He looks at what you're trying to do and then
he helps you fine-tune it." - The Chronicle Telegram |
|
HERE'S
WHAT'S INCLUDED: |
|
*
Tips, techniques and top secret information on how professional
comedians write comedy. Each workshop member will write an
original five minute stand-up comedy routine. |
|
*
Performance coaching. It's one thing to create and develop a
comedy act and another to deliver it successfully, (get
laughs!), in front of an audience. Each member will have in
class performance time on stage at The Improv during each
session..
|
|
*
Three
Saturday afternoon sessions from noon to 4 pm.
|
|
*
Accepted and effective business methods used within the
comedy industry. Included are examples on how to use your
creativity to your advantage when developing promotional material,
along with insider tips on how to contact talent agents, comedy
club bookers and use open-mic rooms to your advantage.
|
|
*
In class discussions aimed at answering all your questions
about the comedy industry and pursuing a career in comedy.
|
|
*
Insider stories about your favorite comedians and behind
the scenes experiences.
|
|
*
An Evening At The Improv. Each workshop member will perform
an original comedy routine at The Cleveland Improv in front of a
"real live audience." Of course your family, friends,
co-workers and anyone else can also be there to show support and
share in the fun and laughter. An unforgettable experience! |
|
"As everyone who's read How To Be A Working Comic,
Comedy FAQs And Answers, or taken one of my workshops knows, I
don't make this stuff up. It's
either been learned through experience from dealing with the best in the
biz, or told to me by comics, agents, managers and talent bookers who
are all 'working' in the comedy industry." - Dave Schwensen |
|
The Cleveland
Improv comedy workshop is limited to no more than
ten people and pre-registration is required. Total price is $200, which
is refundable up until the
Monday before the first
Saturday meeting. To reserve a space in the next workshop, visit the
page for Sign Up Now!
|
|
Dave
Schwensen Entertainment
P.O.
Box 318
Vermilion,
OH 44089 |
|
|
|