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FCU's Site Director Comedy Tip of the Week
"Putting the Business in Show Business"
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Paul Douglas Moomjean
Site Director, Flappers University
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Hello Students, Comedians, and Citizens of Earth alike!
Many comedians hate the term "show business." It sounds like a
P.T. Barnum
hack into the art of what we want to accomplish as comedians. While we can see the business side as a distraction or frustration, the reason everything from comedy to music to movies is called show business has to do with the somber fact that without business there is no show.
Instead of looking at the two nouns as adversaries, look at them as two sides of the same coin. Very often comics feel like the manager/studio/booker is only seeing the financial side and forgetting the artistic side, whereas the money movers see the comic as not taking promoting and generating revenue as seriously as they should. In the end, everyone wants the same thing: a big audience to entertain.
Right now, with three more weeks in Los Angeles on lock down, comics have an opportunity to rethink how they can present themselves to managers, agents, bookers and producers. If you are making any name for yourself right now, then people are googling you. So what are they seeing? Is your website updated with easy to find clips, contact info, and performance dates (Yes! Zoom shows count!)? Can they get an idea of your comedy content from your social media? Is your branding consistent and across the board similar? Do your head shots reflect your comedy persona? When was the last time you cleared and cleaned up your YouTube? While I'm sure that set from 2007 is funny, do they have outdated All of this helps the business side of show business.
What I usually hear first when I talk to comics about this is: "I'm the talent. That's not my job." And yes, your are right. But only if you plan on having everyone dictate your fate in the world of booking gigs and getting paid. You shouldn't be doing these things for anyone but you. Think of your comedy as a small business and you are the CEO making connections with everyone from vendors (show business connections) to direct customers (fans and potential fans). Think of re-evaluating your business sense and platform as the way to rejuvenate your comedy showcasing opportunities.
I don't know when we will be back up and running as a live art form, but please remember we not a dead platform! While we write, create content, and perform in the ways that are possible, make sure you are also keeping the platforms we use to promote as clear, recent, and viable as possible.
Stay Safe with Your Masks and Clean Hands
Flappers Comedy Club and Restaurant is still running classes and virtual shows and hopefully live comedy will be back soon. W
e are doing our best to ride this COVID-19 season out. Stay safe, and know that we love and care about you!
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ONLINE Stand Up Classes and Television Writing Classes!
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Students taking a break during class. Humor is key. |
If you are looking for ways to expand your comedy platform, here is what we are offering! All Stand Up Classes have an ONLINE showcase you can invites friends, family, and fans too at the end!
Take a look at our classes and workshops on the Flapper's University website. We have classes in Stand Up, Writing for TV, and workshops on making money, building an audience, and promoting your brand.
Not sure how it works? This is what our classes look like:
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Flappers University Online Comedy Class Demo
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Multi-Week Classes ($195)
WRITING CLASSES
The Sitcom Writers' Room: Writing YOUR TV Pilot
7/16/2020 - 8/27/2020 7:00PM - 10:00PM - Thursday Virtual Zoom Class
Through a series of lectures, prompts, and other exercises, you'll have your TV pilot script ready to be seen after 6 short weeks. Learn what TV writers do to create memorable characters, interesting plot hooks and devices, as well as how to contribute and support writers in this fun and engaging class taught by WGA Education Committee member Steve Trautmann.
Writing for Late Night with Gabe Abelson
7/20/2020 - 8/10/2020 7:00PM - 9:00PM - Monday Virtual Zoom Class
In this course students will learn basic late night comedy writing including monologue, desk pieces and remotes, with the goal of becoming technically proficient, confident and comfortable submitting material to various late night television programs. All with the emphasis of finding your unique voice as a comedy writer!
Sketch Comedy Taught by SNL Emmy Winner Hugh Fink
7/14/2020 - 8/25/2020 6:00pm - 9:00pm - Tuesday Virtual Zoom Class
Have you always wanted to write hilarious sketches for TV and live performance? This
course, created and taught by an Emmy Award-winning Saturday Night Live
writer will not only teach you the various templates of sketches (TV and movie parodies,
character driven, fake commercials, etc) but you'll also acquire invaluable sketch
writing do's and don'ts that will help your work stand out. In order to master sketch
writing, you'll learn how to identify whether your premise is strong enough, as well as
comprehend the best structural options for your material You will also have the opportunity to pitch your original sketch premises/characters and receive professional feedback!
BUSINESS CLASSES
7/15/2020 - 8/26/2020 6:00PM - 9:00PM Wednesday Virtual Classroom
Our Business and Branding courses are intended for students with a strong grasp of basic comedy technique and ample performing experience who are looking to focus their attention to the business side. In our Business and Branding class focuses on social media, video review, branding correctly, and website reviews. Taught by H2F comedy manager, Barbara Holliday, you will get the expert experience you need to make sure you are ready for that next level. Her clients have played numerous colleges and charity shows, been on late night comedy shows like Conan, and perform nationally and internationally all year long. This could be the most important 5 week class you take.
STAND UP COMEDY CLASSES
STAND UP: Persona and Character Work - Virtual Zoom Class
Why are some comedians able to take on a stylized personality on stage, and how does it affect their material? What's the difference between a comedian and somebody who just tells jokes? In this monthly class, veteran comedy coach Steve North (comedy manager for Brook Forest Entertainment) teaches the idea of 'comedic characters' and how comedians are able to find their onstage persona through the discovery of flaws and applied exaggeration, as well as how the concept of character exaggeration can be used to strengthen comedy act-outs.
Links:
ONLINE COMEDY CONTENT PRODUCTION
Production 102: Creating Online Comedy Content
7/6/2020 - 8/3/2020 6:00pm - 9:00pm - Monday Virtual Class
Learn to create comedy content for YouTube, Social Media platforms, and short films. By learning how to write, produce, and shoot your own content, you create better opportunities to showcase your comedic brand and voice! This class is recommended for people who have experience in making online content.
FREE ONE DAY WORKSHOPS
Punch it Up Joke Labs (Wednesday 1pm - 4pm) FREE!
Already got your set down - but you could still use help fine-tuning a bit or getting a different perspective on a new joke? Jump in this FREE workshop and get feedback and punch-up on your set from our top instructors at FCU and other working comics!
Date with Links: 8/12 - FREE COMEDY WORKSHOP!
Joke Structure Workshops
ONE DAY Comedy Joke Writing Workshop (Saturdays 11am - 2pm) $25.00
In this one day workshop, a Flappers University Instructor will walk through joke writing structure, mining for material, and how to deliver a punchline to maximize the laughter from the audience. Comedians make it look easy, but there is an art form behind stand up comedy, and this workshop focuses on those principals.
PRODUCTION/BUSINESS WORKSHOPS $25.00
Creating Your Web Series
Creating content is an important part of the comedy and writing experience. With so many digital platforms, creating your own web series can get your unique voice out to the masses much faster than waiting for someone to read and produce your script. In this one day workshop, you will learn how to produce, write, and plan out each stage for YOUR web series. You have great ideas! Let's get them out there!
Creating Your Podcast
There's no better way to get your 'brand' out there in the world than producing your own podcast! Right now podcasts are hotter than ever! Comedians like Marc Maron, Adam Corrolla, Kevin Pollak, Chris Hardwick and Paul F. Tompkins are basically bypassing the 'Hollywood Machine' and creating their own content and building global audiences. Now it's time for you to see exactly how easy it is to create a podcast and build your audience.
Working Clean to Make Some Green
Ever heard the expression "Clean is green?" In this one day workshop, Site Director Paul Moomjean explains the tricks to writing clean jokes to get bigger pay checks. Learn how the casinos, colleges, churches, corporate events and even clubs reward clean comedy. This workshop will even help you take current "blue" material and find new ways to create cleans jokes. This course will even help with social media branding ideas, sketch content, and other ways to build a brand and get paid!
ONGOING PRIVATE COACHING
Private Coaching (Prices Vary $50 - $125/Hour)
If you are interested in just having one on one time with one of our highly trained and professional instructors, please visit our
Instructors Page
to pick the instructor you want to work with. Just email Classes@FlappersComedy.com to schedule a meeting. Prices are based on instructor's rate. Email classes@flapperscomedy.com to learn more.
FCU is dedicated to creating a community of comedians that can help and support each other.
Therefore, if you find these prices out of your range, PLEASE email us, and we will work with you!
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Flappers University Student Open Mic
Sundays 4:00pm-5:30pm
FREE if You Use This Link:
Flappers University School of Comedy wants to continue one our greatest traditions alive during the Apocalypse, our FREE Student mic open to current students and alumni. This supportive feedback mic is designed to help comics think of new angles and tags and set ups after they perform 5-6 minutes. Lead by PJ Baio, the mic will allow for 10 comics to sign up in advance. Considering all the students that are interested, we are asking that you try not to sign up every week, as to give others an opportunity. Upon registering, you will be sent a ZOOM link an hour before the show.
Looking forward to keeping this great mic going!
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information!
or... like Flappers University on Yelp!
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Flapper's University Instructor Steve North's NEW BOOK!
How to KILL in Comedy
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Steve North the Comedy Coach, voted #1 Comedy Coach in the USA, starts by teaching you how to create your own unique comedic character for stand up, then offers the twenty best joke-writing formulas developed over 20 years in his workshops, and then helps you put it all together to work as a stand up comedian. Whether you're a beginner or advanced comedian, you need to learn the character method first. Then slay the audience, or just be funnier in life.
or... like Flappers University on Yelp!
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Beginning, Intermediate and Advanced Stand Up and many more comedy classes available!
For a full list:
email: Classes@FlappersComedy.com
818-845-9721
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