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)

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.

Great Book

This book seems comprehensive. I enjoyed it very much. It is very detailed on several elements of the art, business and science of stand-up comedy. I am very new to comedy but, it makes sense.

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...