School Of Laughs

On this episode I sit down with Andy Beningo from Live at Gotham. Andy started comedy 12 years ago while attending Central Michigan University. The last 10 of those years he has been performing full time. Splitting his time equally between clubs, corporates and churches, Andy is a clean comic who is not afraid to hustle.

This week's episode is brought to you by Patreon Sponsor Kevin Hardy and the Clean Comedy Challenge!

We cover a lot of ground in this episode, including:

• Being the only comic at an open mic in college that included poetry among other things
• The funny people in our lives who don't try comedy
• Winning a funniest person on campus competition
• Opening for MAD tv's Bobby Lee
• Enduring the grind of driving because you are so juiced up to do comedy
• When Andy Beningo worked as a substitute teacher
• Having comics like Bert Challis, Rob Little, Dwayne Gill take him on the road
• Benefiting from opening for Frank Calliendo
• Calling the Ann Arbor Comedy Showcase his home club
• Performing on cruises and dipping lobster into the chocolate fountain
• Having your kids laugh at your jokes
• His path to getting a spot on Live at Gotham
• Watching out for the "No Talent" Police

And a whole lot more. Find out more about Andy Beningo at any of the links above.

If you love discovering comedy tips like this please consider joining our INSIDER TIP SHEET. Each month you'l'l receive an email with over a dozen links to articles online about stand-up comedy. Also included are blog recaps and articles written by myself or other School Of Laughs friends.

Sponsor Spotlight:

"Club 52" is a 52 week, email based stand-up program. It will include a weekly challenge designed to help you become a better comedian. This year long program will feature an email every Friday from me. I will ask you to take a serious look at some of your business practices, writing processes, performance techniques, branding, marketing and a whole lot more.

The program starts the week you join and continues for 52 weeks as long as you are still supporting the podcast through Patreon at the $7 a month level.

Questions? Email me (Rik) at [email protected]. Or call 1-888-895-8549. Or, if you are ready, head on over to www.Patreon.com/SchoolOfLaughs to get started.

On this episode I sit down with Andy Beningo from Live at Gotham. Andy started comedy 12 years ago while attending Central Michigan University. The last 10 of those years he has been performing full time. Splitting his time equally between clubs, corporates and churches, Andy is a clean comic who is not afraid to hustle.

This week's episode is brought to you by Patreon Sponsor Kevin Hardy and the Clean Comedy Challenge!

We cover a lot of ground in this episode, including:

• Being the only comic at an open mic in college that included poetry among other things
• The funny people in our lives who don't try comedy
• Winning a funniest person on campus competition
• Opening for MAD tv's Bobby Lee
• Enduring the grind of driving because you are so juiced up to do comedy
• When Andy Beningo worked as a substitute teacher
• Having comics like Bert Challis, Rob Little, Dwayne Gill take him on the road
• Benefiting from opening for Frank Calliendo
• Calling the Ann Arbor Comedy Showcase his home club
• Performing on cruises and dipping lobster into the chocolate fountain
• Having your kids laugh at your jokes
• His path to getting a spot on Live at Gotham
• Watching out for the "No Talent" Police

And a whole lot more. Find out more about Andy Beningo at any of the links above.

If you love discovering comedy tips like this please consider joining our INSIDER TIP SHEET. Each month you'l'l receive an email with over a dozen links to articles online about stand-up comedy. Also included are blog recaps and articles written by myself or other School Of Laughs friends.

Sponsor Spotlight:

"Club 52" is a 52 week, email based stand-up program. It will include a weekly challenge designed to help you become a better comedian. This year long program will feature an email every Friday from me. I will ask you to take a serious look at some of your business practices, writing processes, performance techniques, branding, marketing and a whole lot more.

The program starts the week you join and continues for 52 weeks as long as you are still supporting the podcast through Patreon at the $7 a month level.

Questions? Email me (Rik) at [email protected]. Or call 1-888-895-8549. Or, if you are ready, head on over to www.Patreon.com/SchoolOfLaughs to get started.

On this episode I sit down with two of my current writing class students to discuss their Stand Up Comedy First Steps. Beginning stand up comedy can definitely be confusing. I try to help guide them in directions that will result in quick wins and momentum.This week's episode is brought to you by Patreon Sponsor Greg Smrdel and the Clean Comedy Challenge!

We cover a lot of ground in this episode, including:

• Tips for developing characters in your set, specifically real people you know
• How often do you work in new jokes to your set?
• Working on your new jokes until they are solid and then "setting them to the side"
• The benefit of working on 3-5 minute chunks at a time
• Finding out your best material by having your worst set
• Why new jokes sometimes get the biggest laughs
• Reviewing your set from the audience's perspective
• Finding success in the struggle
• What are good goals for your first year?

And a whole lot more.

If you love discovering comedy tips like this please consider joining our INSIDER TIP SHEET. Each month you'l'l receive an email with over a dozen links to articles online about stand-up comedy. Also included are blog recaps and articles written by myself or other School Of Laughs friends.

Sponsor Spotlight: CLEAN COMEDY CHALLENGE IN

CHICAGO, IL & PASADENA, CA

CLICK FOR DETAILS!

"Club 52" is a 52 week, email based stand-up program. It will include a weekly challenge designed to help you become a better comedian. This year long program will feature an email every Friday from me. I will ask you to take a serious look at some of your business practices, writing processes, performance techniques, branding, marketing and a whole lot more.

The program starts the week you join and continues for 52 weeks as long as you are still supporting the podcast through Patreon at the $7 a month level.

Questions? Email me (Rik) at [email protected]. Or call 1-888-895-8549. Or, if you are ready, head on over to www.Patreon.com/SchoolOfLaughs to get started.

On this episode I sit down with two of my current writing class students to discuss their Stand Up Comedy First Steps. Beginning stand up comedy can definitely be confusing. I try to help guide them in directions that will result in quick wins and momentum.This week's episode is brought to you by Patreon Sponsor Greg Smrdel and the Clean Comedy Challenge!

We cover a lot of ground in this episode, including:

• Tips for developing characters in your set, specifically real people you know
• How often do you work in new jokes to your set?
• Working on your new jokes until they are solid and then “setting them to the side”
• The benefit of working on 3-5 minute chunks at a time
• Finding out your best material by having your worst set
• Why new jokes sometimes get the biggest laughs
• Reviewing your set from the audience’s perspective
• Finding success in the struggle
• What are good goals for your first year?

And a whole lot more.

If you love discovering comedy tips like this please consider joining our INSIDER TIP SHEET. Each month you'l'l receive an email with over a dozen links to articles online about stand-up comedy. Also included are blog recaps and articles written by myself or other School Of Laughs friends.

Sponsor Spotlight: CLEAN COMEDY CHALLENGE IN

CHICAGO, IL & PASADENA, CA

CLICK FOR DETAILS!

"Club 52" is a 52 week, email based stand-up program. It will include a weekly challenge designed to help you become a better comedian. This year long program will feature an email every Friday from me. I will ask you to take a serious look at some of your business practices, writing processes, performance techniques, branding, marketing and a whole lot more.

The program starts the week you join and continues for 52 weeks as long as you are still supporting the podcast through Patreon at the $7 a month level.

Questions? Email me (Rik) at [email protected]. Or call 1-888-895-8549. Or, if you are ready, head on over to www.Patreon.com/SchoolOfLaughs to get started.

This week I sit down with Shawn Reynolds to discuss how you have to find a way to perform no matter what. He knows, with a house full of kids and running his own retail store - time is precious. But you can't make excuses, just jokes.

Thanks to this week's Patreon Sponsor Al Smith and the Clean Comedy Challenge!

We cover a lot of ground, including:

• Meeting at Comedy Off Broadway in Lexington, KY
• His "Stand-Up For Kentucky" fundraisers
• Managing 6 kids (ages 17, 15, 12, 8, 8 & 1) and running a business
• How there is no full time success with part time effort
• How learning comedy is like becoming a doctor
• What Apollo Creed taught Shawn about comedy
• Performing clean comedy in tough rooms
• What a cry room at church actually is and why a comic could use one
• What a story about swimming taught Rik about perseverance
• Advice I got from Jeff Gilstrap, former owner of Comedy Off Broadway
• How a supportive wife can make all the difference
• How advice from your friends can go either way
• How he is the second most famous Shawn Reynolds in his own house
• Why the early part of a show can be like throwing darts
• How to endear yourself to the audience
• Turning down shows that aren't right
• Finding out where your comedy should take you
• Raising money for others through comedy

Check out Shawn on YOUTUBE!

"Club 52" is a 52 week, email based stand-up program. It will include a weekly challenge designed to help you become a better comedian. This year long program will feature an email every Friday from me. I will ask you to take a serious look at some of your business practices, writing processes, performance techniques, branding, marketing and a whole lot more.

The program starts the week you join and continues for 52 weeks as long as you are still supporting the podcast through Patreon at the $7 per month level.

Questions? Email me (Rik) at [email protected]. Or call 1-888-895-8549. Or, if you are ready, head on over to www.Patreon.com/SchoolOfLaughs to get started.

This week I sit down with Shawn Reynolds to discuss how you have to find a way to perform no matter what. He knows, with a house full of kids and running his own retail store - time is precious. But you can't make excuses, just jokes.

Thanks to this week's Patreon Sponsor Al Smith and the Clean Comedy Challenge!

We cover a lot of ground, including:

• Meeting at Comedy Off Broadway in Lexington, KY
• His "Stand-Up For Kentucky" fundraisers
• Managing 6 kids (ages 17, 15, 12, 8, 8 & 1) and running a business
• How there is no full time success with part time effort
• How learning comedy is like becoming a doctor
• What Apollo Creed taught Shawn about comedy
• Performing clean comedy in tough rooms
• What a cry room at church actually is and why a comic could use one
• What a story about swimming taught Rik about perseverance
• Advice I got from Jeff Gilstrap, former owner of Comedy Off Broadway
• How a supportive wife can make all the difference
• How advice from your friends can go either way
• How he is the second most famous Shawn Reynolds in his own house
• Why the early part of a show can be like throwing darts
• How to endear yourself to the audience
• Turning down shows that aren't right
• Finding out where your comedy should take you
• Raising money for others through comedy

Check out Shawn on YOUTUBE!

"Club 52" is a 52 week, email based stand-up program. It will include a weekly challenge designed to help you become a better comedian. This year long program will feature an email every Friday from me. I will ask you to take a serious look at some of your business practices, writing processes, performance techniques, branding, marketing and a whole lot more.

The program starts the week you join and continues for 52 weeks as long as you are still supporting the podcast through Patreon at the $7 per month level.

Questions? Email me (Rik) at [email protected]. Or call 1-888-895-8549. Or, if you are ready, head on over to www.Patreon.com/SchoolOfLaughs to get started.

Today I talk with Jamison Yoder of the Funny Business Agency in Grand Rapids, MI. Funny Business Agency books comedians in clubs, at colleges and for corporate events. They also coordinate and book all the comedians for the annual LaughFest comedy festival created by Gilda's Club in Grand Rapids, MI every March.

Thanks to this week's Patreon Sponsor Sandi Joy Chadwick

and the Clean Comedy Challenge!

Jamison gives us countless nuggets and endless insights into the booking agency world.

We cover a lot of ground, including:

• How many calls and emails a day an agency receives
• Working for his father and with his brothers Eric and Michael
• How far out they book comics in the clubs they support
• Dr. Grins Comedy Club in the "B.O.B."
• The myriad of changes that came due to the digital age
• The evolution of Laugh Fest
• The Clean Comedy Showcase at Laughfest
• The process for getting booked at the festival
• How to get "on the radar" of a booking agency
• Why a comic's recommendation can be a vital key in your progress
• Why you might not be your best salesperson
• How you can eliminate steps and make it easier for the agency to find you
• How to utilize your local scene as a launching point
• Why being professional is as important as being funny
• The #1 thing you need in your promo kit
• Why a website is more important than a Facebook page
• Showing that you are working on the web site
• Tips on making a great corporate video
• Why focusing on your client is more important than you think
• The value of relationships
• How you can lose an agent

and much, much (a whole lot) more.

This podcast is a production of the Rik Roberts School of Laughs. www.SchoolOfLaughs.com

"Club 52" is a 52 week, email based stand-up program. It will include a weekly challenge designed to help you become a better comedian. This year long program will feature an email every Friday from me. I will ask you to take a serious look at some of your business practices, writing processes, performance techniques, branding, marketing and a whole lot more.

The program starts the week you join and continues for 52 weeks as long as you are still supporting the podcast through Patreon at the $7 a month level.

Questions? Email me (Rik) at [email protected]. Or call 1-888-895-8549. Or, if you are ready, head on over to www.Patreon.com/SchoolOfLaughs to get started.

Today I talk with Jamison Yoder of the Funny Business Agency in Grand Rapids, MI. Funny Business Agency books comedians in clubs, at colleges and for corporate events. They also coordinate and book all the comedians for the annual LaughFest comedy festival created by Gilda's Club in Grand Rapids, MI every March.

Thanks to this week's Patreon Sponsor Sandi Joy Chadwick 

and the Clean Comedy Challenge!

Jamison gives us countless nuggets and endless insights into the booking agency world.

We cover a lot of ground, including:

• How many calls and emails a day an agency receives
• Working for his father and with his brothers Eric and Michael
• How far out they book comics in the clubs they support
• Dr. Grins Comedy Club in the "B.O.B."
• The myriad of changes that came due to the digital age
• The evolution of Laugh Fest 
• The Clean Comedy Showcase at Laughfest
• The process for getting booked at the festival
• How to get "on the radar" of a booking agency
• Why a comic's recommendation can be a vital key in your progress
• Why you might not be your best salesperson
• How you can eliminate steps and make it easier for the agency to find you
• How to utilize your local scene as a launching point
• Why being professional is as important as being funny
• The #1 thing you need in your promo kit
• Why a website is more important than a Facebook page
• Showing that you are working on the web site
• Tips on making a great corporate video
• Why focusing on your client is more important than you think
• The value of relationships
• How you can lose an agent

and much, much (a whole lot) more.

This podcast is a production of the Rik Roberts School of Laughs. www.SchoolOfLaughs.com 

"Club 52" is a 52 week, email based stand-up program. It will include a weekly challenge designed to help you become a better comedian. This year long program will feature an email every Friday from me. I will ask you to take a serious look at some of your business practices, writing processes, performance techniques, branding, marketing and a whole lot more.

The program starts the week you join and continues for 52 weeks as long as you are still supporting the podcast through Patreon at the $7 a month level.

Questions? Email me (Rik) at [email protected]. Or call 1-888-895-8549. Or, if you are ready, head on over to www.Patreon.com/SchoolOfLaughs to get started.

Today I talk with CLUB 52 member and PATREON supporter Susan Sussman about setting up your first fundraiser show. Susan is a comedienne from Norfolk, VA who I met through the podcast. She followed through on some of the suggestions I made in THIS BLOG about setting up a show. Then we talked live about the event. And, next I followed up afterwards to see how it went.

Thanks to this week's Patreon Sponsor Ron Havens and the Clean Comedy Challenge!

Lot's of great info on this episode about setting a comedy show, whether it be your own show or a comedy fundraiser show.

We cover a lot of ground, including:

• How many comics to have on the show
• How long the comedy show should be
• Where to set ticket prices
• Stage, sound and lights set up
• Expecting the unexpected at a fundraiser show
• Marketing and advertising
• Food and beverage
• Structuring the line up of the show

and much, much more.

Thanks to this week's Patreon Sponsor Ron Havens and the Clean Comedy Challenge!

This podcast is a production of the Rik Roberts School of Laughs. For more information on stand-up comedy classes and posts on how to go about getting the business visit: www.SchoolOfLaughs.com.

Today I talk with CLUB 52 member and PATREON supporter Susan Sussman about setting up your first fundraiser show. Susan is a comedienne from Norfolk, VA who I met through the podcast. She followed through on some of the suggestions I made in THIS BLOG about setting up a show. Then we talked live about the event. And, next I followed up afterwards to see how it went.

Thanks to this week's Patreon Sponsor Ron Havens and the Clean Comedy Challenge!

Lot's of great info on this episode about setting a comedy show, whether it be your own show or a comedy fundraiser show.

We cover a lot of ground, including:

• How many comics to have on the show
• How long the comedy show should be
• Where to set ticket prices
• Stage, sound and lights set up
• Expecting the unexpected at a fundraiser show
• Marketing and advertising
• Food and beverage
• Structuring the line up of the show

and much, much more.

Thanks to this week's Patreon Sponsor Ron Havens and the Clean Comedy Challenge!

This podcast is a production of the Rik Roberts School of Laughs. For more information on stand-up comedy classes and posts on how to go about getting the business visit: www.SchoolOfLaughs.com.