Laurice & I went into Times Square NYC, the crossroads of the world, to interact with international tourists, teaching YES AND… and showing anyone can Improvise!
7pm TONIGHT! Check out our improv comedy shows, live from Times Square NYC EMAIL for group sales and private events. We daily host corporate teams and student groups as well as tour theaters, clubs, community centers and private events DC to Boston and beyond!
Check our classes in Times Square NYC CLICK HERE We also with with corporate teams, school groups and more. EMAIL for group sales and private events.
Since 2003, our show Improv 4 Kids (AND IMPROV 4 TEENS) has delivered joy & Laughter at k12 schools, camps, community centers and family events. We host school groups daily and provide school Assemblies, workshops, residencies and professional development programming. NYC DOE VENDORS EMAIL for group sales and private events.
Laurice & Walter (& Max) went into Times Square NYC, the crossroads of the world, to interact with international tourists, teaching YES AND… and showing anyone can Improvise!
7pm TONIGHT! Check out our improv comedy shows, live from Times Square NYC EMAIL for group sales and private events. We daily host corporate teams and student groups as well as tour theaters, clubs, community centers and private events DC to Boston and beyond!
Check our classes in Times Square NYC CLICK HERE We also with with corporate teams, school groups and more. EMAIL for group sales and private events.
Since 2003, our show Improv 4 Kids (AND IMPROV 4 TEENS) has delivered joy & Laughter at k12 schools, camps, community centers and family events. We host school groups daily and provide school Assemblies, workshops, residencies and professional development programming. NYC DOE VENDORS EMAIL for group sales and private events.
New, pay $50/week, $150/month, or $1000/year for unlimited access to live and zoom jams, free downloads of my books and free tickets to all public shows! EMAIL for details and links.
CLICK HERE to join my mailing list. Click link below to get TWO free tickets or your first class drop in for free. We have sessions in Times Square NYC, Zoom and beyond.
Open mics are shows performed by and for performers. The audience is often other comics.
Go to an open mic within the next 48 to 72 hours and get on stage for five minutes and just talk.
Find a good open mic, and go back. Avoid the bad ones.
Barker and Bringer Shows:
These are ways to create stage time with an audience.
Bringer shows are where comics bring their friends, creating a small audience.
Barker shows involve handing out flyers on the street to attract an audience.
Barking is a way to develop audience, and get stage time.
Barking also allows you to interact with people before the show, and create a relationship with your audiance.
Producing Your Own Show:
This gives you control over everything.
It’s a way to create consistent stage time.
Finding talent is easy, building an audience is the hard part.
Paid Gigs:
Eventually, you may get paid to perform at clubs, colleges, or corporate events.
Even when getting paid, you need to keep working on new material, and getting stage time at open mics.
The Comedy University
Don’t complain about paying five bucks for stage time or spending an hour on the street. Think of it as your comedy university. You’re learning what works and what doesn’t. Remember, as my friend Milinth Fowler says, “There’s no wrong, no bad, no good. Is it working, or is it not working?”
The Process
Every time you get on stage:
Prepare: Brainstorm or outline your material.
Have Fun: Focus on enjoying yourself without being a jerk.
Analyze: Objectively evaluate what worked and what could have been better.
Repeat this process throughout your career. You’re never fully “ready,” but you’ll figure it out.
Creating Opportunities
As Oran Sandel said, “If you can’t find work, create it.” If you’re not getting stage time, create opportunities. Find other people who need stage time and organize shows. This could be at school, a bar, or anywhere.
Call to Action
Get on stage within the next week. If you need guidance, wait for my next episode. But if you’re ready, just get on stage and talk. If it works, do it again. If not, try something different.
The next four or five episodes will cover how to create your first five-minute stand-up routine.
GET THIS BOOK on Amazon, $9.99 paperback, $2.99 on Kindle, FREE via Kindle Unlimited
Empower yourself using comedy to develop your creative, community and leadership skills!
“I think the book works really well – very nice job. What I like most is how practical it is. You cut right to the chase of how to build and deliver a stand-up routine. And you speak directly to the fears that I am sure many people have when they find themselves in front of an audience.” Dr. Don Sexton, retired professor with 5 decades teaching at Columbia University and 1 year with Walt Frasier as a comedy student.
Getting on stage is a cathartic experience. I live on the edge of a cliff, and at any point I could fall flat on my face. I rip the band aid of fear off every time I jump in front of a microphone. Right before stepping into the spotlight, I replace the thoughts of THIS COULD GO TERRIBLY BAD with THIS IS GOING TO BE FUN. Take a few HUGE breaths and GO FOR IT!
RULE #1: HAVE FUN but NEVER at another’s expense.
This may sound counter intuitive for a comic. Many famous comics made their names roasting the crowd and others. Comedy always highlights the imperfections of life. We interpret what we observe and experience in story form and/or one-liner jokes. But there is a fine line between being funny and becoming a bully. I prefer stories that highlight my imperfections, like the time I sank a kayak in alligator infested Florida canals.
With this workbook you create an original comedy routine in four easy steps.
Brainstorm Ideas
Brainstorm Details
Find the Funny
Outline Your Routines
At each step in this process, you will engage in three major actions.
PREPARE YOURSELF
GET ONSTAGE
ANALYZE THE WORK
This book is designed to pair with Walt Frasier’s comedy classes but also for any comic attending open mics or for teachers around the world to incorporate comedy as part of their language arts curriculum.
Walt Frasier is the Artistic Director of the New York Improv Theater, overseeing acclaimed shows like “Eight Is Never Enough” and “Improv 4 Teens.” With over three decades of experience, Walt is a seasoned veteran of improv, sketch, and stand-up comedy, captivating audiences across the nation. His extensive career includes appearances on Letterman, HBO, and MTV, alongside performances at iconic venues such as Caroline’s on Broadway, The World Famous Improv, and countless others in NYC and beyond. From comedy clubs to corporate events and school tours, Walt Frasier brings laughter and spontaneity wherever he goes.
Walt Frasier 