Be a Great Stand-up: Teach Yourself

Logan Murray

Is this the right book for me?

Logan Murray has successfully taught the techniques of stand-up comedy to thousands, and in this book he distills his years of experience into the essential skills for a great and enjoyable performance. He  will help you find your own creative streak and your funny side, build the confidence to deliver, and explain the finer details of stagecraft, from dealing with hecklers to coping with props. There is a full guide to the practicalities, from finding gigs to securing an agent, with plenty of valuable hints, tips and advice. Drawing on Logan's years of teaching and his own successful stand-up career, with top tips from some of the most well-known people in the business, it is guaranteed to bring a smile to both your face and that of your future audience.


Be a Great Stand-up includes:

Part one - Theory
Chapter 1: Where do jokes come from?
Chapter 2: Building a joke
Chapter 3: Comedy ground rules
Chapter 4: What sort of comic are you?

Part two - Practical sessions
Chapter 5: Unlocking your creativity
Chapter 6: Emotional exaggeration
Chapter 7: Creating material
Chapter 8: Stagecraft
Chapter 9: Microphone technique
Chapter 10: Hecklers and crowd control
Chapter 11: What other comics think
Chapter 12: Business
Chapter 13: Your first gig
Chapter 14: The future


Learn effortlessly with a new easy-to-read page design and interactive features:

Not got much time?
One, five and ten-minute introductions to key principles to get you started.

Author insights
Lots of instant help with common problems and quick tips for success, based on the author's many years of experience.

Test yourself
Tests in the book and online to keep track of your progress.

Extend your knowledge
Extra online articles to give you a richer understanding of the subject.

Five things to remember
Quick refreshers to help you remember the key facts.

Try this
Innovative exercises illustrate what you've learnt and how to use it.