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    Greg Dean's Stand Up Comedy Classes

    4.9 (67 reviews)
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    Greg Dean's Comedy Workshop @ Santa Monica, CA
    Darrell P.

    "Most men live lives of quiet desperation." - Henry David Thoreau ('And being "quiet" isn't something I've ever been accused of!) I had thought about doing stand up a few times, just a fleeting thought in passing until... I got a call one night from fellow artist & good friend, Victor S., who invited me to see him perform stand up @ The Comedy Store in West Hollywood. Victor S. - http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/vXZBKv_OBI4VHry3paofgg?select=w7GnbcuE5M3njVdocnviwg 'And as the cliché goes, the rest was history. I attended the free, introductory workshop, met Greg Dean & Gayla Johnson, the husband & wife team that run the program. Photo - http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/vXZBKv_OBI4VHry3paofgg?select=-BYuNs1HU5JiUf3MN7BjBA I also met Fernando R., Benny R., & Dennis L., a few seasoned "Deaners," who I now consider friends. Fernando R. - http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/vXZBKv_OBI4VHry3paofgg?select=MyQTHUy-DEiVeewV-wjShg Benny R. - http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/vXZBKv_OBI4VHry3paofgg?select=-Tx7GTTRIv4WFzI5qwzFpg Dennis L. - http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/vXZBKv_OBI4VHry3paofgg?select=DhndtzDq0XY4RRAW2H-KIw Someone asked me why do stand up?... Simple... 'Because I can. ('And if you're considering it, do it! You only live once.) It's a choice... A choice to do what you want to do despite the fear/outward criticism, the unknown... Some people around you might say, "you're not funny" or "you're going to suck!" ('Just keep in mind, not everyone has the same sense of humor... 'And some, none at all.) 'And of course these critics are the same people living abundantly full lives, selling bulk cheese & Diet Coke, or churros at the Food Court Window... Yes, these are the "experts on comedy" which is so evident as they take your money, followed by the question - "Would you like a hot apple pie with that?" These people are just bitter because their career choice is a fractional notch above "Walmart Greeter." Don't get me wrong, I love a good Greeter! Life is too short... 'There is no mulligan, this isn't dress rehearsal, there are "do-over's" at the end... 'When you die, are you really going to think?... "I should've sold that lady the 2-ply that was on special?..." If you think that up-selling TP might be one of your last earthly thoughts, PLEASE STOP READING NOW... - 'And flip another burger. Do you like making people laugh? Are you always making jokes or saying inappropriate things @ the right time? Do you get accused of being "mean" or non-PC or some crap like that?... "Welcome home! There is nothing like hanging out with a bunch of comics... Generally, no one is going to get butt hurt over a joke, after all we all here looking for "the funny." However, if you already have low self esteem, being surrounded by comics is only going to move that bar in the opposite direction accompanied by pointing, laughing, and additional "tags." (Tag - A secondary punchline) - 'Just remember it's all in good fun and consider it comedic exercises. Greg Dean teaches you some of the basic to more complex ideas behind stand up. Stand up is a eclectic mix of salesperson, psychologist, "mind reader," artist/musician, mechanic, and magician - all wrapped into one. There are a lot of different elements to contend with from basic mic techniques, to "riffing," or dealing with a heckler... 'Not to mention "going blank..." Your material, gone! No where to be found... (Yeh, you're given tools to help deal with that too!) THANK GREG! Like sh*t - "going blank" happens... I of course, speak from experience. 'Not all your sets are going to be great but "bombing" is just as valuable too... 'Not the most enjoyable thing to have to go through but nonetheless vital to learning and growing. (Again, speaking from experience.) I've had good nights and not so good nights... (bg snd fx - "crickets chirping") 'But I would not trade it for anything. It helps teach you to fine tune/fix your material... 'And when I say "your material," I mean "YOUR" material. Greg & Gayla will not censor your subject matter on whether it's too "blue", obscene or inappropriate. What is funny to one person may not be funny to another, you decide that, no one else... It's your stuff, your material. What you will be taught is the foundation of joke structure, audience rapport, performance, and your "comic voice," to just name a few. You may not have aspirations to be the next Carlin, Leno, Seinfeld, Wright, or Chapelle but MAAAANNNNN!... 'What a ride!! At the end of the 5 week workshop, you get to try your material in a 5 minute set on stage at the world famous, "Comedy Store" in West Hollywood. How's that for a life experience?! I wish I lived closer to the laugh action out in the Santa Monica & Hollywood area to see the gang more often! "Most men live lives of quiet desperation." - Henry David Thoreau (Don't be one of those sheep'ish baaaaaaaaa'stards!) - Peace n' Aloha! Food: n/a Ambiance: 4 Service: 5 Value: 5

    Nothing like getting a lot of support for your virgin suicide

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    7 years ago

    Highly Recommend going from Basic to Advanced right away after Basic Class it makes for better joke writing. He is super easy to work with!

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    Just wanted to write an update because I see that a lot of people reviewing here confuse BroadStage…read morewith SMC Theater. It is the same PHYSICAL venue, but not the same organization. So, some people who are reviewing the programming or staff are actually reviewing SMC, not BroadStage or vice versa. I have never attended an SMC performance so I can't speak to their programming or staffing, but BroadStage has very interesting programming & very kind staff. Since BroadStage programming is so eclectic, though, some of it just isn't of interest to me. Different strokes....

    Lovely venue but sometimes the artists or productions chosen to take the stage are disappointing…read more I've had the experience now twice of going to a show based on genre and marketing and having to sit through performances that feel like they were brought in to cater to a very specific, very small but obviously inner circle community. Choose wisely what you come for. If your intuition tells you this artist was maybe brought in simply on connections and what community they're a part of then listen to your gut. I say all of this because there are so many deserving and talented productions out there that deserve and would love the privilege of being paid to perform here but to see the opportunities squandered on the same old stories and inner circle artists is enough for me to think long and hard before buying tickets to this theatre again.

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    Killer Yacht Club

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    Dang it looks like my review never posted but oh well. Went there on a Saturday night and the…read moreplace had just opened so there was only a few heads in the place. Got a nice couch facing the band where my wife and I had a great time. But those few heads very quickly turned into a full house. A funny side note, the drummer was a young dude and his band mates were easily in their 50s and 60s. The music for the night was a New Orleans style. Nice thing is there were no hoodrats in the place. All decent good people there to enjoy good drinks and good music. Rick, the bartender, makes a great margarita.

    Killer Yacht Club is located inside the venerable Killer Shrimp restaurant, on their 2nd floor, in…read morewhat is, no doubt, their longstanding event space. They've done a nice job of turning this into a hangout you can enjoy anytime. It still has the vaulted ceiling and wood beams of a nautical-themed building, but the decor has been darkened into a Speakeasy feel, with muted colors and subtle lighting. Went to their New Year's Eve party, which featured a live band and a burlesque show. Seems like they transformed the space a bit for NYE, with cabaret tables and such, which is different than other descriptions, but worked well for the type of evening. Food was not being served during the NYE event, so we ate downstairs at Killer Shrimp first (separate review). Staff up in the Yacht Club Speakeasy was friendly and welcoming, and the bar was nicely stocked, though they only had large, plastic cups (20oz college kegger size), and all drinks were served in them, which was a bit of a contrast to the supposedly upscale NYE vibe. No matter, this is a very minor point. The dance floor is ample, and the live band was very good. The band was primarily playing older rock and American songbook standards rather than contemporary tracks, again because the crowd was mostly on the older side; different, I assume, from the regular crowd. I'm excited to come back and see what the vibe is like on a regular night.

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    Greg Dean's Stand Up Comedy Classes - theater - Updated July 2026

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