Comedy workshops - are they a gentle introduction to the exciting world of stand-up comedy or just an exciting and challenging day packed with humour and laughs with supportive, like-minded people?
You'll only find out when you come along...
(DRUM ROLL...)
Virginmirth Comedy is proud and actually, really excited to announce our collaboration with a true master of comedy - Greg Dean (he wrote the bestseller "Step By Step to Standup Comedy").
JULY
2008 - LONDON - will see Greg fly over from Los Angeles to offer two
limited edition Comedy Workshops based on his 25 years experience
delivering comedy workshops. This offer will not be available in shops and
stores!
Virginmirth Workshops have always recognised the innovation that Greg's unique method of generating material has offered - and here is the "Dean of Comedy" - in person - delivering a Comedy Workshop based on many startlingly original ideas.
If you have any interest at all in pursuing the writing of original comedy material, whether as a standup or as a comedy writer - you can't afford to miss these workshops - which are equally suitable for beginners or experienced performers.
Email gregdean@stand-upcomedy.com right now!
JOKE WRITING INTENSIVE
In
this one day seminar, Dean will teach you five ways of generating material.
Anyone can write jokes spontaneously, but if you want to be a professional
comedian, you must be able to write jokes at will. You will learn to:
· Punch Up Your Show
· Learn Joke Structure
· Write Material on Any Topic
· Add Tags to Every Joke
· Create Jokes through Act-Outs
· Explore Details that Lead to more Material
· Build a Show with Five Laughs Per Minute
· Find More Material through Improv
Saturday · July 5th · 9:00am - 5:00pm
£125 Joke Writing Intensive Seminar
£75 / $150 US (Deposit required for Joke Writing Seminar Only.)
£200 (If you also sign up for Advanced Performing Seminar)
£100 / $200 US (Deposit required to reserve a seat in both seminars.)
To
Leave a Deposit Click Here
Reservations: GregDean@Stand-UpComedy.com
Drop Ins - Okay
ADVANCED
PERFORMING
(Eliminating
Self-Criticism)
In
this one day seminar, Dean places an emphasis on your individual performance.
Dean will teach you five skills used by professional comedians, then work with
each comic to integrate these skills into your show. Doing Open Mike Nights
without training is like playing a sport but without knowing the basics of the
game. You can still play, but everyone who knows the fundamentals is better at
it. You will also learn to:
· Eliminate Self Criticism
· Deal with Stage Fright
· Riff with the Audience
· Establish Your Comic Voice
· Identify Your Negative Opinions
· Remember with Non-Word Memorization
· Create Instant Audience Rapport
· Use Improv to Create Material
· Explore multiple Points of View
Saturday · July 12th · 9:00am - 5:30pm
£ 125
£75 / $150 US (Deposit required for Advanced Performing Seminar Only.)
£200 (If you also sign up for Joke Writing Intensive Seminar)
£100 / $200 US (Deposit required to reserve a seat in both seminars.)
To
Leave a Deposit Click Here
Reservations:
GregDean@Stand-UpComedy.com
Drop Ins - Okay
SIGN
UP FOR THE JOKE WRITING INTENSIVE AND
THE
ADVACNED PERFORMINING SEMINARS AND ONLY PAY
₤
200
FYM-FYG-BAR
(Backyard
Comedy Club)
(Central
Line Bethnal Green)
More
Info:
www.myspace.com/gregdeancomedy
Reservations:
Break a Funny Bone!
More about Greg Dean at http://www.stand-upcomedy.com/ - including video clips of his students in action!
Virginmirth Comedy Workshop offers free advice on hecklers, setting up clubs and was featured on BBC1's Inside Out programme. Read a copy of the page from the BBC website by clicking on the Inside Out banner below:
You can also watch a video clip showing the workshop in action
Virginmirth Comedy Workshops started in Bristol, where we're lucky enough to be able to run them at Backwell Playhouse Theatre. Read about this remarkable venue at www.backwellplayhouse.co.uk
We are now expanding to major cities in the UK and Europe
e.g.
 | London - at the DIORAMA ARTS CENTRE |
|
Birmingham |
| Manchester |
|
Glasgow |
|
Edinburgh |
|
Dublin |
|
Germany (various) |
|
Anywhere else there is sufficient interest! |
CLICK HERE TO MAKE A SPECIFIC NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL ENQUIRY
Click Here to Enquire/Book or read on for more details...
TOP TEN REASONS PEOPLE HAVEN'T BOOKED YET
CLICK HERE for details of how to get one COMPLETE MODULE from the pre-workshop minicourse
MEDIA OPINIONS
The Virginmirth Comedy Workshop was first featured on TV in March 2002, and again on BBC1 in January 2003. To find out how you can watch a short realplayer video clip CLICK HERE
WARNING: This video includes the infamous "Gorillas On Heat" scene.
To watch Spiky Mike debut his material at The Bunch Of Grapes on the evening of his Virginmirth Comedy Workshop - CLICK HERE (Plays on Windows Media Player)
Click Here to Enquire/Book or read on for more details...
TOP TEN REASONS PEOPLE HAVEN'T BOOKED YET
CLICK HERE for details of how to get one COMPLETE MODULE from the pre-workshop minicourse
WHAT'S IN THE PACKAGE
Virginmirth Comedy have been running regular comedy workshops since 1999.
We've now built on all the great features people have enjoyed so much in the past to provide what we believe is the premier value comedy workshop in the world, in an unbeatable 10-point package.
- FREE Pre-workshop 4-week Distance Learning MiniCourse
- Comedians with professional experience as your workshop coaches
- Locations accessible from major motorway junctions - reduced traffic delays
- Small, friendly informal group for maximum camaraderie/co-support/fun
- Video Recording & Detailed Personal Feedback during workshop
- Workshop coaches have a deep understanding of what it's like to start out in comedy. And being able to relate to people at an early stage in their careers. (Sometimes experienced acts forget what it was like - we haven't!)
- We treat people like adults and build on your existing skills and experience.
- We offer constructive feedback which is forward looking, esteem-building and emphasises the positives.
- We have a background of coaching training and relevant qualifications.
- Most fundamentally - we have an unshakeable belief in the potential of anyone to put together and perform a successful open spot.
Get a FREE flavour of our tongue-in-cheek style by looking at our top ten tips
Click Here to Enquire/Book or read on for more details...
CLICK HERE for details of how to get one COMPLETE MODULE from the pre-workshop minicourse
YOUR INVESTMENT IN YOURSELF
So exactly how much is the investment in your comic talents?
Click Here to Enquire/Book or read on for more details...
TOP TEN REASONS PEOPLE HAVEN'T BOOKED YET
WHAT PEOPLE SAY
Examples of typical feedback we get:
"Very friendly environment, which I think was a brilliant aspect of the workshop, and made doing my material much easier"
"Incredibly helpful...mega useful...I feel encouraged and elated"
"Very supportive, extremely useful, and has given me the confidence to make the next step"
"A hugely entertaining and fun day"
"Great confidence booster"
"If it wasn't for the Virginmirth Workshop I really wouldn't have found the courage to stand up on stage and I'd still be talking about doing it. I was so nervous about even doing the workshop that I went out and got very drunk the night before to take my mind of it. So you've helped to turn a coward into a stand up comedian and I've really enjoyed myself"
"really left me on a high"
"I learned so much"
"It was a lot of fun and I feel ready to get some open slots now"
"Gave me the confidence I needed to actually give it a go"
Click Here to Enquire/Book or read on for more details...
TOP TEN REASONS PEOPLE HAVEN'T BOOKED YET
CLICK HERE for details of how to get one COMPLETE MODULE from the pre-workshop minicourse
OUR
APPROACH
We run our workshops with 2 workshop coaches, successful in national UK comedy competitions and actively engaged in performing stand-up comedy in professional comedy clubs.
The emphasis is on allowing you to try out your original material and experiment with your performance style to gain positive feedback on how best to find/apply your natural comic genius.
The objective is to provide you with the tools and insights to be able to get the best response with your material in a 5 minute open spot.
The workshop starts with deciding and discussing what you personally want to get out of the day, and how you want to use what you learn in the future. We then start having fun with some improv games derived from Drama School. This in itself can often allow you to generate material, as well as loosen you up and make you far more at ease with your natural performance style.
Click Here to Enquire/Book or read on for more details...
TOP TEN REASONS PEOPLE HAVEN'T BOOKED YET
CLICK HERE for details of how to get one COMPLETE MODULE from the pre-workshop minicourse
WORKSHOP TIMETABLE
10.30 Pre-workshop time to meet other participants
11.00 Registration & Refreshments after your journey
11.15 Introduction to workshop participants and coaches
11.30 Guidance on planning your personal workshop goals
11.45 Specially designed Improv Games to loosen you up and get your creative juices flowing! (PART 1)
10-MINUTE TEA/COFFEE BREAK & INFORMAL DISCUSSION
12.30 Inside Knowledge on How to make "the heckler problem" disappear!
12.45 Improv Games (PART 2) including unique "Hot Seat" !
30-MINUTE LUNCH BREAK & INFORMAL DISCUSSION
14.15 How to arrive/leave the stage and handle the microphone
14.30 Performing your 3 minute set
15.45 Group feedback on your performance
10-MINUTE TEA/COFFEE BREAK & INFORMAL DISCUSSION
16.00 Improving your set
16.15 Performing your set - with video recording
17.00 Detailed personal feedback
17.30 Q & A on
| Performing with Confidence |
| Comedy competitions |
| Memorising Material |
| Timing & Pacing |
| Your career in comedy? |
| Getting a spot |
18.00 The end of the workshop - the start of your comedy career!
Please note all timings are approximate and are driven by the individual needs of each group!
Click Here to Enquire/Book or read on for more details...
TOP TEN REASONS PEOPLE HAVEN'T BOOKED YET
CLICK HERE for details of how to get one COMPLETE MODULE from the pre-workshop minicourse
EXPERIENCE/PREPARATION
No previous experience is required, however there is some pre-workshop preparation. This is organised in the form of a 4-module Distance Learning MiniCourse (at no additional cost) delivered by email leading up to the workshop. The aim is to generate between 1 & 3 minutes of memorised original material to play with on the day.
No material? No problem! Come along anyway and while you won't end up with a ready-to-go act, you'll understand how to structure and present your act. That way can "slot-in" your material as and when you write it. However, we do recommend that you have at least a few observations to perform.
Course participants can continue their progress after the workshop by
sharing their experiences/thoughts and gaining feedback with others from the
workshop.
If you are potentially interested (or you know someone who might be), please
email us - and feel free to ask any questions you may have. Once we receive
your payment we'll send
out the pre-course materials. If over-subscribed, places will allocated in order
of response, and your investment carried over to the next workshop or returned in full
- your choice.
If you're still not sure about coming to our comedy workshop, feel free to email us with any general or specific questions, and together we can explore whether a comedy workshop is right for you at this time. We are also able to customise particular workshops to specific needs, special interests or within a corporate environment.
We look forward to hearing from everyone looking for an intensive, energising & fun day!
Click Here to Enquire/Book or read on for more details...
CLICK HERE for details of how to get one COMPLETE MODULE from the pre-workshop minicourse
TOP TEN REASONS PEOPLE HAVEN'T BOOKED YET
Still not entirely convinced ? Dozens of people just like you have had the exact same thoughts - they came along anyway and went home having enjoyed the whole experience!
TOP TEN REASONS PEOPLE HAVEN'T BOOKED YET
CLICK HERE for details of how to get one COMPLETE MODULE from the pre-workshop minicourse
If you want to know more about our coaching background, please click on the Coachville logo.