|
Stand-Up
Oliver Double
Double's book is perhaps the best introduction to the world of
stand-up, detailing the highs and lows of a life behind the mic.
It also gives the profession in historical context, detailing
the evolution of the art from the music hall to alternative comedy
and beyond.
 Buy it
 It's
Not A Runner Bean
Mark Steel
More personal reminiscences about the good and bad times you
can have as an 'almost successful' comedian. Steele's book does
have a left-leaning stance, plus some funny anecdotes, and is
honest in its appraisal of how it feels to be a comic.
Buy it
 Step-by-Step
Stand-Up Comedy
Greg Dean
This US book seems to be almost universally seen as the best
'how-to' book around, with useful advice on developing an act
and writing gags. Of course there's no substitute for actually
doing it, but this might be a good place to start.
Buy it
 How To
Be A Working Comic
Dave Schwensen
Subtitled An Insider's Guide To A Career In Stand-Up Comedy,
this is a comprehensive guide to the business, including more
mundane topics as management and publicity, as well as tips on
the act itself. The book also includes interviews with a number
of US circuit stand-ups giving their advice.
Buy it
 Writing
Comedy
Ronald Wolfe
Wolfe's references may be a little old (after all, he wrote for
the likes of On The Buses), but this does give a number of useful
ideas about how to write funny stuff. It's slanted heavily towards
sitcoms, but the tips help develop a way of thinking that can
be useful to stand-up material, too.
Buy it
 Stand-Up
Comedy The Book
Judy Carter
Yet another American book giving some workshop-style lessons
on developing stand-up skills. Not as widely praised as Dean's,
but some have found it very useful.
Buy it
|