How to be a Working Comic: An Insider’s Guide to a Career in Stand-up Comedy by Dave Schwensen;
Foreword by Ray Romano
Copyright 1998 by Backstage Press
Are you tired of wasting your best comic material on your bill collectors and telemarketers? Are you friends and family constantly complimenting you on your innate comic timing? Have you ever dreamt about becoming a stand-up comedian?
If you answered “yes” to any of the above-mentioned questions; then “How to be a Working Comic: An Insider’s Guide to a Career in Stand-up Comedy” by Dave Schwensen is the book for you!
The author has worked as a performer, comedy writer and an adviser to television networks, film studios and comedy programs.
The first section of the book is entitled: Your Career in Stand-up Comedy. This section gives the reader a glimpse of how the business of stand-up comedy works. The author outlines the importance of promoting yourself, networking, lining up work, putting together an act, writing material and dealing with agents and managers.
The second section of the book is entitled: Talking and Joking with Working Comics.
This section contains interviews sixteen comedians including: Drew Carey, Carrot Top and Jeff Foxworthy.
“How to be a Working Comic: An Insider’s Guide to a Career in Stand-up Comedy” is a great introductory guide for someone at the beginning or considering a career in stand-up comedy.