SF Free Introductory to Stand Up Comedy Workshop
Term: One session (two hours)
Tuition: Free

San Francisco – Tuesday Night June 18th at 6 PM

If you ever thought you were funny, you were absolutely right! This Free Introductory Workshop explains exactly what we mean. Being “funny” is not a special ability of gifted people; it’s an easy-to-learn skill that can be taught to anyone.

This workshop introduces you to all that the SFCC offers in the subsequent 5-week Beginner Class with an explanation of the writing sessions, advanced class audits, admission to pro shows, open mic stage time at the Purple Onion or San Jose Improv, in-house open mics, comedy workbook, membership to our online group and a network of funny friends, etc., etc.

You will be given free comedy theory and shown a proven formula that illustrates the structure of all comedy spoken, written, filmed or displayed silently. So, bring your questions, your skepticism and your willingness to learn!!

Meet teacher and SFCC founder Kurtis Matthews, who will talk you through the process. This interactive presentation is fun, funny and informative. And sometimes, there are free snacks. Where else can you go to receive comedy instruction, ask a bunch of questions and get some bad nutrition all for one low price of nothing?

This free workshop is limited to 20 students, with the corresponding Beginner Class limited to the first 15 people to register.

Feel free to check out a description of the Beginner Stand Up Workshop!
If you know our history in American stand up and are ready to invest in yourself. You can enroll now and pay via the homepage!

http://www.sfcomedycollege.com/beginner-stand-up-classes/

If you just want the free intro you can register below or call us 415 921 2051.

Please indicate the dates desired and any other info in the message section of the form below!!!

San Francisco classes are at 442 Post, 5th floor near Union Square.

Let seasoned storyteller and published author Margot Leitman teach you to take your comedic storytelling to the page and the stage in these two workshops on Saturday, May 18th from 1pm-5pm!

1pm-3pm: Comedic Storytelling Learn how to use your untapped humanity and embarrassing moments in a way that can reach a wide audience. You will finish this workshop able to fill in the blank, “———– is the story of my life.” Each student should leave class with a basic concept of how to make painful, strange or even mundane experiences from their life funny. The students learn to dig inside their own lives to find humorous, relate-able material, which unifies an audience making them laugh at their own experiences through the student’s performance.  Instructor, comedian and UCB faculty member Margot Leitman will work with each student honing their stories to a performable place. Students will leave class with a strong direction of how to structure a story for comedic purposes. Additional focus will be on getting through the fear of being judged for our honesty. In the past, many students have left saying, “I can’t believe I told a room full of strangers about that and I can’t believe they all laughed!”

3pm-5pm: The Stage Created Memoir Learn how to take your best stories from the stage and market and sell them as a book. In this class, storyteller and author Margot Leitman will teach you the process of translating your live work to the page. Topics include: how to market your book, the book proposal, looking for an agent, publishing options and process.  Her comedic memoir “Gawky” will be released this Spring 2013.

San Francisco Comedy College 442 Post St., 5th Floor between Mason and Powell San Francisco
Class admission $50 per class. Take both classes and receive $20 off! Just email StandupSF@aol.com or call the SFCC at (415) 921-2051 to register!

Margot Leitman is the creator and head instructor of the Comedian Storytelling training program at the Upright Citizen’s Brigade Theatre in both New York and Los Angeles. Last winter, she worked in Perth, Australia teaching a monthlong intensive through the Blue Room Theatre Company. She has taught for many corporations, including Thompson Reuters, Tata Beverages Worldwide, Universal McCann and  Intercontinental Hotel Group. This fall, she will teach workshops at the All For One Theatre Festival in New York, the First Person Arts Festival in Philadelphia and Speakeasy Stories in DC.
Margot’s offbeat, brutally honest, fearless comedy has earned her the title of Moth Grandslam Champion (and four-time Moth Storyslam Champion), two ECNY nominations for Best Female Standup and an additional ECNY nomination for Best Storyteller. However, Margot’s most prized accomplishments remain winning on both The Price is Right and Let’s Make a Deal. Margot Leitman’s television performances include appearances on Late Night With Conan O’Brien, Jimmy Kimmel Live, VH-1, ESPN, AMC, the Style Network, E! and  Comedy Central. Her own storytelling show, Stripped Stories, has  sold out venues coast to coast. She can currently be seen on VH1′s  “Stevie TV” and her comedic memoir “Gawky” will be released in Spring 2013, published by Seal Press.

http://www.margotleitman.com http://www.strippedstories.com http://www.sfcomedycollege.com

Margot’s true passion for comedy and storytelling helped me find the underlying meaning to my story and hilarious moments. – Corrine Ellingson, Filmmaker

My coaching session with Margot made me realize the amazingness and uniqueness of my story. She helped me get to the core and allowed me to figure out the true narrative and humor within it. Last but certainly not least, she totally empowered me to perform my story with chutzpah (as we say), which I did, and I was awesome! Margot changed my life. No seriously, she did. – Rachel Fleit, Producer

Margot pulled a story out of me I never knew was there! Don’t be surprised to see me in Margot’s next class! – Emmy Rivera, former student

This class was amazing. I have never performed before and after taking this class I feel I have the confidence and knowledge to get up onstage and give it my all! – Michael Jaros, former student

Class size is limited. Pay via the home page and we will send a confirmation or call us for more info 415 921 2051.

Term: Five weeks

Upcoming SF Sessions: May 14th – June 11th at 6 PM
Upcoming South Bay Sessions: May 19th – June 23rd

Beginner Stand Up Class – The Technique Workshop

Working from The Stand-up Comedy Workbook, which you receive as part of your tuition, you will learn how to cut through writer’s block, build a premise and generate endless punch lines for that premise until you find the one that rocks. The Technique Workshop is a required prerequisite for the Performance Workshop. Even professional comedians with years of experience take this class to improve existing skills and push themselves in new creative directions. In this five-week workshop, you will learn to apply the Joke Diagram, association lists, organic development, characters and POVs to create your own jokes.

You will learn:

· Material generation techniques (Structured and Organic)
· Ranting (Improvisation)
· Riffing (Improvisation)
· Storytelling and Bit Construction
· Character Development (POVs)
· Staying connected to audiences
· Finding your voice on stage
· Eliminating self-criticism
· Stage fright
· Rehearsal
· Performance

As part of your tuition, you will receive: (1) The Step by Step to Stand-up Comedy Workbook, (2)Audits of performance workshops at the SFCC, (3) Discounted admission to performance showcases and special events, (4) Free admission to SFCC Pro shows and San Jose Improv headliner shows, (5)Guided weekly comedy writing sessions, (6) Membership in our online community, and (7) stage time every week during your enrollment.

Class sizes are limited to 15 comedians. Pay via the home page and we will send a confirmation of your spot with the discounted rate or call for more info 415 921 2051.
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South Bay/Santa Cruz Free Introductory to Stand Up Comedy Workshop
Term: One session (two hours)
Tuition: Free
South Bay/Santa Cruz – Sunday May 12th at 11 AM

If you ever thought you were funny, you were absolutely right! This Free Introductory Workshop explains exactly what we mean. Being “funny” is not a special ability of gifted people; it’s an easy-to-learn skill that can be taught to anyone.

This workshop introduces you to all that the SFCC offers in the subsequent 5-week Beginner Class with an explanation of the writing sessions, advanced class audits, admission to pro shows, open mic stage time at the Purple Onion or San Jose Improv, in-house open mics, comedy workbook, membership to our online group and a network of funny friends, etc., etc.

You will be given free comedy theory and shown a proven formula that illustrates the structure of all comedy spoken, written, filmed or displayed silently. So, bring your questions, your skepticism and your willingness to learn!!

Meet teacher and SFCC founder Kurtis Matthews, who will talk you through the process. This interactive presentation is fun, funny and informative. And sometimes, there are free snacks. Where else can you go to receive comedy instruction, ask a bunch of questions and get some bad nutrition all for one low price of nothing?

This free workshop is limited to 30 students, with the corresponding Beginner Class limited to the first 20 people to register.

Feel free to check out a description of the Beginner Stand Up Workshop!
If you know our history in American stand up and are ready to invest in yourself. You can enroll now and pay via the homepage!

http://www.sfcomedycollege.com/beginner-stand-up-classes/

If you just want the free intro you can register below or call us 415 921 2051.

Please indicate the dates desired and any other info in the message section of the form below!!!
South Bay Classes are held at the Discovery Gym in Scotts Valley!

THE PURPLE ONION has moved to KELLS IRISH BAR IN SAN FRANCISCO

The legendary comedy club will continue its tradition of great shows

The San Francisco Comedy College (SFCC), the largest comedy school in America, is happy to announce the opening of its newest performance venue, the Purple Onion at Kells Irish Bar just around the corner from its old space at 530 Jackson Street in North Beach. Although the club was given a well-attended send-off back in September, the owners have given the San Francisco Comedy College the name of the Purple Onion for its new space in hopes of keeping the tradition of great comedy shows alive.

On November 2nd and 3rd, 2012, headliner Will Franken will re-open the renowned performance space in its latest incarnation at Kells Irish Pub with two shows of innovative stand-up comedy in a weekend showcase called “Headliner.” Local favorite Will Franken will christen the Purple Onion stage with his hilarious characters and comedic brilliance. “I’m really excited that the Purple Onion will live on,” says former owner Mario Ascione. In its new digs, the Purple Onion at Kells will feature stand-up comedy five nights a week with a variety of different shows. Every weekend at 8:30pm, “Headliner” will showcase the best performers in town. Tickets are $15. Like the Phoenix, the Purple Onion and its comedic prowess will forever regenerate and keep the laughs coming to its devoted San Francisco audiences. For more information, go to www.purpleonionatkells.com.

The SFCC currently trains between 80 and 130 new comedians a month in San Francisco and prides itself on updating its curriculum and preparing students to compete in the larger comedy markets and comedy competitions worldwide. For more information, contact the SFCC at (415) 921-2051 or go to www.sfcomedycollege.com.

Even professional comedians and speakers with years of experience take this type of training to improve their existing skills, learn new unorthodox yet effective techniques or push themselves into new creative directions. Every successful comedian or humorous speaker has writers and other funny people in their network that help them succeed. Let us be your network and get to work for you and with a free initial consultation. What do you have to lose?

If you want to learn how to be a killer stand-up comedian or hilarious speaker in your own time, this is additional tool for your comedic tool belt. If you aren’t making strangers laugh or being regularly paid for your sense of humor, then you probably aren’t as funny as you’ve made up in your mind. So, set aside your ego and let’s get to work!

Great Reasons to Work with Us:

1. You live in Guam, Europe, Africa or a place that may or may not be found via Google Earth.
2. You live in the San Francisco Bay Area, and you have some comedy experience, but you’d like to skip the SFCC beginner class take the advanced classes and work out with our comedians weekly at the Purple Onion and the San Jose Improv.
3. You are too busy to make group classes and need training that works around your full schedule or you just want to SKYPE us from your couch!
4. You want all the perks of being an SFCC student without being in a group setting, including writing sessions, grad show, video review, character class, networking and the stage time.
5. You want to develop your skills quickly.
6. You want teachers who still perform and are actually relevant to the stand-up comedy industry in 2012.
7. You want a money-back guarantee*** and a free consultation because we’re confident that we can help and we are willing to show our work before you invest.

What to Expect:

Your lessons will be specifically created to address your act/speech/presentation and performance issues. You will receive and learn:
1. Four to six full hours of one on one attention tailored to your needs.
2. Thousands of dollars worth of original material that you may use in your act/presentation forever.
3. Acting and comedy development exercises based upon your specific needs.
4. Focus on a strong stage persona and being present in your performance.
5. Assisted guidance through stage fright and other mental blocks that keep you from sharing your unique sense of humor.
6. Material development via multiple structured and organic techniques
7. Riffing techniques and skills to assist in the creation of in the moment comedy
8. Point of view development via exclusive techniques not offered from any other training facility in the world.
9. Group writing, character classes and stage time based on your availability.
10. Inclusion in the exclusive online SFCC comedy group
***if you don’t find us hilarious and helpful after the free consultation and our first meeting, we’ll happily refund your money minus the one class fee.

Term: Four 1 hour to 1.5-hour  sessions tailored to your schedule. Take them in a year, a month or in four days!!! Take them at our facilities in San Francisco and San Jose or work with us online from anywhere in the world.
Tuition: At our training facility in San Francisco – $325, At the Improv in San Jose – $325, Via Skype, Phone, YouTube and Email – $275

Inquire here or call us 415 921 2051

Looking for the perfect gift for the comedian in your life?

Give the gift of Funny!!

Beginner Class with Gift Certificate and Workbook – $250

Beginner and Advanced class with Gift Certificate and Workbook – $425

Classes may be taken any time in 2013

Purchase Online – www.sfcomedycollege.com – > make payment of call us 415 921 2051.

We accept cash, check, electronic check, American Express, Visa, Mastercard and Discover.

In order to be considered for a free beginner stand up session, send a note explaining why you or the person you are nominating should be given free training. Be authentic and provide as much information about the candidate as possible.

Every month, we will publish the name of the recipient on this blog and update you as they progress through the comedy ranks!

November 2011 Recipient – Justin Ivey (Santa Cruz)
Justin has moved into the Advanced Comedy ranks in San Jose and continues to Improv as a performer!

December 2011 Recipient – Aaron Dabney (Sonoma)
Aaron is finishing beginner training in San Francisco and has appeared onstage multiple times.

January 2012 Recipient – Graham Wilson (San Francisco)
Graham has just started his beginner class in SF. We expect big things from him!

Send us something compelling and good luck!!!
What’s the catch? There isn’t one. Just be in the Bay Area for the 5 week training!!!