Mastering Stand-Up

The Complete Guide to Becoming a Successful Comedian

By: Stephen Rosenfield

Narrated by: Stephen Rosenfield

This entertaining and sharply written guide - for both beginners breaking into comedy and professionals seeking to improve their sets and advance their careers - examines the work of great comedians such as Louis C. K., Jerry Seinfeld, Eddie Izzard, Moms Mabley, Hannibal Buress, Sarah Silverman, Richard Pryor, and more as a means of illustrating the most important techniques of performing and writing stand-up.

Here, Stephen Rosenfield lays out a clear plan for achieving success, candidly explaining what works, what doesn't, and why. Including a 12-item "Successful Comedian's To-Do List," Rosenfield states, "Get undeniably good at each of these and you can kiss your day job good-bye. You will be a pro."

©2018 Stephen Rosenfield (P)2019 Tantor

Critic reviews

"An absolutely essential instructional guide and reference for anyone aspiring to a career as a comedian." (Midwest Book Review)

Brilliant

This book starts with short chapters on the kinds of comedy available to you as a standup. Then it goes into writing jokes. The advice is very good. It even has sections on being an MC and overcoming self-criticism. The writer is deeply knowledgeable and experienced. The book is right up to date, talking about YouTube and social media. Start with this book and if you like it, go on to Greg Dean and Judy Carter and the other great writers about comedy. If, like me, you’ve hit a slump in your comedy performing this inspiring book will jolt you from your lethargy. You’ll need more than a book to get “undeniably good”.

very helpful and confidence building

this book is extremely detailed and helpful. with this book and the work of Jerry Corley you'll be set up for your first open mic!

Great book! Very slow reader.

This book was great! I've worked with performing variety shows for a long time, and this gave me many clear direct tips for adding more comedy elements.

My only critic was how very slow the reader spoke. I speed it up in the player and then it was no problem.

Best book on stand up.

I’ve tried to get through several other books on stand up, and most of the time I find them preachy and restrictive. I don’t think anyone can tell an artist how to find their voice and be themselves, or tell them an exact process they need to go through. This book doesn’t try to do that, it gives great advice and sage wisdom.

I’m on my second listen, thanks to COVID-19 and it really is an awesome audiobook.

Never Knew I needed this book.

if it wasn't for this pandemic I never would've tried to look this way as a career. "The Voice" of my own immediately felt tiny once the chapter exposed it and the strength of nerves. Comedy helped me through the worst times, and this book just helped me realize how important it is to share those moments.

Wow. Great book!

If you are at all interested in performing comedy, buy this book. Mr. Rosenfield teaches how to do it in a personable manner with concepts that are easy to understand.
Now, to get back to writing comedy...

The greatest book I've ever read........on standup

I'm still a newbie to the standup scene. Shameless plug...check out the youtube of my first set at the DC Improv.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PjXGiM3Rfe0

Anyway, this book was AMAZINGLY helpful, and continues to be. I've listened to it twice, read thru it twice, and I continue to read it and listen to it regularly. So many nuggets of helpful information in here. The secret about changing an emotion in a set to get a bit to work is worth the money all by itself!!!

DDub
https://www.facebook.com/ddub.comedy

an excellent intro to the industry and the craft

I have to admit there were times that I didn't want to listen to his voice anymore, but this is an excellent primer especially about the industry. The bits on the art and writing are just enough without being too prescriptive.

pure gold here!!!

get a pen and paper ready if you are serious in becoming an stand up... especially from chapter 22 and on. I am going to by the hard copy so I can follow along the next time I listen to it on Audible and write notes in the book...

Stephen Rosenfield, pure genius.

I plan to listen over and over again. Brilliant work!
Thank you for the help. I learned much more then I planned. This truly is the complete guide to becoming a successful comedian.