The Comedy Group Book - Hoe to run one! How to get laughs! How to make money!

Diz White

Smith and Kraus

2007

251 páginas

8h 22m

ISBN-10: 1575254522

This step-by-step guide demonstrates how to easily create a successful comedy group. By following the techniques in this book, actors will be able to do an end run around casting directors by casting themselves in their own group’s productions.
Create a Comedy Group is filled with practical advice, production information, resource guides, tips, short cuts, and amusing war stories culled from the author’s fifteen plus years of experience in running her own group. By covering every aspect of forming and running a comedy group, this book shows how to develop a profitable acting career by writing, touring, and selling stage shows as comedy product for Cable TV, Network TV, and for film.

Resenhas (1)

5 (Perfeito)

Steb by step

You may judge this book by cover, since it delivers what it promises. Diz was very straightforward, honest and open in writing a book she wanted herself as beginning her journey.

1- Why Create a Comedy Group?
To get above the crowd. Stop waiting for the phone to ring. To be your own boss, and in the case of comedy since to laugh is a vocation for the autor.

2- My Journey to Success

3- What is a Comedy Group?
Study of comedy groups throughout history: Comedia Dell'arte, Vaudeville, Silent Movies, Cartoons, Stand-Up, Sketches, Ventriloquists, Theater, Radio, Musicals, TV, Improvisation and more.

4- Finding Your Funny Bone
Have a look at everything, taste it, try it, study them. Dig deeper, follow your instinct. Write the kind of comedy you like. Perform for family and friends, even try plays or acts you like, to see how it feels like to be in their shoes. Latter you will develop your own (do this "inside" only). Comedy timing is important, and must be learned, trained and improved.

5- The Sum is More Than The Parts
Mind-melting exercises. A group at some point if well bonded is almost able to read each others minds.
Know what you need from actors. Maybe physical comedy is important, so you'll need a cast able to perform it frequently.
Multitask is important, money saving but most, it allows one to fully develop, to use one's complete potential. Look for diverse abilities your actor possess, and give room for them to develop it further as necessity arrises.
Keep food in rehearsals, and an live ear and eye for problems among members. Always treat especial requests (as long as possible), and communication should play a big role in both preventing and solving problems. A group is a live organism, needs to be taken care, feed, given attention and challenges to the right amount.

6- Ready, Steady, Go
Once a comedy stye is decides, it is important to cast actors. Have a rehearsal place, schedule actors, do not leave them waiting, provide water and know what you are looking for. Do everything professionally. An attorney should be consulted for contracts as needed. Make a questionary with everything you need to know about a actor, beyond acting skills. Can they travel? Do they work well in a group? Are they prepared to work long hours?..
Writing was a big thing since Diz decided to create original content always. Mind-melting and the group bond is important for that. They found that a overlay was a way to go for adding comedy to a story. Each group has a style, both as performing and as a writing signature. One can start with several sketches, since they are easier to write, and than maybe put them together. Think of 3 acts, beginning, middle and end, stick to the basic, sometimes it helps. Music is great for climate change during rehearsals.
Polish. Once a play is written, it only half-way. Cut everything that is unnecessary, rewrite, make it better, funnier, faster. Put more physical comedy, more action, more and less. Give it a try, listen to critics and decide on which ones to take in, to act upon. Punch up your material.

7- Nuts and Bolts
Breakdown of Departments: Writing, Casting, Rehearsal, Directing, Producing, Bookings, Business Affairs, Touring, Stage Management, Scenery, Set Dressing, Props, Costumes, Special Effects, Lighting, Sound, Marketing, Publicity, Press, Personal Relationships, Production Coordinator, Production Meeting.

Keep a daily production log, including contact information, rehearsal call times, etc, this call down on miscommunication. Thats production coordinator.
A budget is extremely important to be well made, and accompanied.
Each member of the group should be assigned a department that he or she heads up. Department heads will report on the progress of the current show. Outsourcing is sometimes very useful.
It is no good suffering from "nice-guyism" when heading up a group. Being a good leader means being firm and fair. Sometimes decisions you make are very unpopular. Clear communication is essential to the smooth running of the group.
Barter - exchange services is an option for low budgets. Hire students is another, such as friends and family. Go to flea markets, look out for bargains, internet, used stuff, always ask in theater you perform if they have anything to sell.

8- Sell! Sell! Sell!
Publicity and marketing are decisive. 35% of budget is not a bad idea. Find cheap ways to get promoted. Interviews, get to the news, always have photos, press releases and recheck every information you send out (site, number, etc).
Develop a publicity campaign, check out the competition, consider hiring a professional publicist, consider the advertising choices. Build a buzz.

9- No Biz Like Showbiz
Make a sound business plan. Form a legal one. There are start-up funding options, find out inverstors, and invest in your relationship with them.

10- Getting To The Top of Your Game
Have the right mindset. Visualize yourself there.
Build a power base (Diz one was a strong Name, a money income and a Network).
Leverage your powerbase continuously, and keep in touch. Let everyone knows you are going solo. A solo performance might be a good way to do so.