I took this class to become comfortable auditioning as an actor. Joe is an awesome teacher. I performed at the Hollywood Improv and rocked the show.. and went on to perform at the Comedy Store. I met my goals and highly recommend this class to anyone he wants to do comedy. read more

My boyfriend gifted me the LA Stand-Ups beginners class for my birthday, because he thought I was funny and should pursue comedy. I was super nervous but trusted my boyfriend's judgement. I was committed to the class because I didn't want to waste his money. #1: I was very impressed with Joe. He has credibility in the business and a straightforward approach. The course material was spot on, he walked me (my class) through it and allowed for questions as well as provided comedy snippets for reference. He also totally prepared us for the graduation show. We got to work with the microphone and the night of the show, we got to go up on stage beforehand to get a sense of what it would feel like. This was a big comfort for me because I'd never been on stage in front of so many people before. #2: I wrote my own jokes. DUH! Joe does not write jokes for you. The goal is to help you understand how to scope your brand of funny into a well scripted "set" that can be presented on stage for a specific amount of time. Once you learn that, keep writing, and then keep writing and then keep writing....Because if you plan to do comedy, you will need to have your own jokes. In class, students critiqued each other and provided suggestions to one another. But we all wrote our own jokes. #3: You will get out of it what you put into it. I never missed a class. I was never late. I did all the homework. Therefore, by the time of the graduation show I felt very prepared. Don't miss classes, show up late and not do the homework then expect to do well. And if you don't put in full effort it's not anyone's fault but your own. #4: I am very happy with my results. I knew I could make my friends laugh. But I never fathomed that I could make a room full of strangers laugh. Thanks to LA Stand-Ups I have had my "5 minutes of fame" on stage at the World Famous Hollywood Improv. From the graduation show, I got picked up by a scout and have since performed at the World Famous Comedy Store, where I performed all new material that I had written on my own. Those are things I would have never done had it not been for LA Stand-Ups. #5: My advice: Take the class, put in the work, then enjoy yourself! read more

Joe's a great teacher and overall cool guy! The class was a great experience and I met some really cool people! The beginner level really gives you the foundation you need to get the ball rolling in comedy. Various people took the class for various reasons. Whatever your reason, the class is worth it. You'll enjoy the grad show as well! read more

LA Stand-Ups - Specialty Schools Near Me - Santa Monica, California

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I learned alot from you Joe!! But look up Rudy Ray Moore! !...You might get another Character like Dnellwatson in the Room. !! Watch "Richard Pryor Inspired Me." on YouTube Richard Pryor Inspired Me.: http://youtu.be/INlTCr89uts read more

LA Stand-Ups - Specialty Schools Near Me - Santa Monica, California

This is an amazing class and Joe is an awesome teacher and mentor! Stand Up Comedy has been a life long dream of mine. I was scared to try until this class. Taking Joes class gave me the tools and confidence I needed! What I like most is Joe isn't going to just tell you what you want to hear. He challenges you to be the best and give it your all!! Truly the only stand up class you need!!! I plan to continue to work with Joe to continue on this journey and take it to the next level!! read more

Joe is a nice enough guy, but before going into this class you should know 2 things: 1. Joe is not a stand-up comedian himself, but a MANAGER of stand-up comedians. He has never once performed stand-up comedy himself. Does he know the business, and how to get gigs? Yes. But joke-writing and how to personally craft a routine? Not so much. So just as you might not want to take boxing lessons from someone who has never stepped in the ring, before you sign up for this class, consider if you want to take comedy lessons from someone who has never once performed. 2. Joe offers no refunds. I went to the first class of the 6-session, and after being unimpressed with Joe's advice on crafting a stand-up routine, I asked for my money back. Joe refused, saying that when I signed up I agreed to the "No refunds" policy on his site. This is true - it is stated on his site - so I didn't fuss... but I can't say I agree with this way of doing business. I know if I personally ran a class of any sort I would happily refund someone's money if they weren't happy with the course, especially if they asked for it back after the very first session. That is just me. So if those things don't bother you and you are looking for a place to practice and get feedback on a stand-up routine you create yourself, I'm sure Joe's class is a good place to do it. But don't sign up if you're looking for any sort of joke-writing instruction or help, and know that once you send him the money, your $325 is gone forever, whether you end up enjoying the class or not. read more

I may be in week 3 of 6 of my class with Joe Falzarano, but already, he's managed to flip everything I thought was accurate about comedy writing upside down and call me out on my errors. This is an incredible experience. I encourage anyone with the slightest bit of curiosity or creativity to check this out. Some people listed performing on stage as their worst fear..... even worse than death! Don't be a statistic. read more

Joe is the bomb. He assembled a pretty rag-tag group of wannabes that made up our group and turned us all into some confident little comedians. I just did my one-and-out but several of us have continued on to perform and I wish them the best. He is very knowledgeable of the system, the comedy machine, and how to begin to turn the cogs to make it run. He also provides an atmosphere that facilitates comedy and knows how to cull it from people. That is gold. All in all, take the damn class. Have fun with it. Tell Joe me and my dog stains say HI. Auf. read more

I recently completed Joe's class, and I would recommend it to anyone. Many comics advised me not to take a class, as I am just starting out, but to just start attending open mikes--but I started going to open mikes around the 3rd or 4th class, and I'm so glad I had the instruction and practice from Joe's class. So whether you are brand new or an old houndstooth at stand up, this class is a good idea. The first class I was sweating and completely sick with nervousness, and by our show at the end I can say confidently that I KILLED it. I personally would not have been able to do that just diving into open mikes. He asked everyone really insightful questions to encourage everyone to heighten and explore. He gave us several handouts per class, and if you study these sheets, study the examples and techniques used by all the great comedians--there is no way you can't improve tremendously, Joe broke everything down really well. I will always keep these sheets next to me when I write, always. I'm curious about the folks that said he isn't nurturing, uh...not really his job, comedy isn't a nurturing environment. But he is absolutely SUPPORTIVE, totally understanding when I had to show up late because of work conflicts. He won't let you get away with bailing on your material. He pushes you to do better, and created a vibe where everyone in class supported each other. read more

I recently attended the 5 week course of LA Standups with Joe and I have to say this is a great thing to take whether you're on the fence of doing standup or you're trying to do something new to push yourself in the sense of public speaking. Within the 5 weeks you start to break down comedy and learn week by week how to write jokes for yourself in preparation of the graduation which is at THE HOLLYWOOD IMPROV. Every week, Joe challenges you to write and deliver better as you work your set out week by week with a forum of feedback from him and the class. It's important to know that when he puts you on the spot, it's not to make you feel bad but pushing you into the deep end to make sure he gets the best of you. Joe does a great job in getting back to you with questions about your jokes via email and does offer a service of individual help during or after class is over via skype or phone call which may be of help. Just go in and do the work and you will take away a very enlightened experience. Thank you, Joe! read more

Joe is a great teacher, a funny guy and a good person. His lessons showed me how to write material for performing quality comedy sets, and now I am getting paid every month to perform at some of the top standup clubs in the world! The other night I was backstage with Whitney Cummings and she kept staring at me. I just kept thinking, 'she is even hotter in person' lol and "I'm so glad I got into this." Truly, I wouldn't be where I am today without a great mentor like Joe. These lessons have been worth every penny! read more

I just graduated from Level 1 Stand-Up Comedy class and what an AMAZING experience!! Joe seriously rocks!!! (I Yelp businesses all the time, but hardly add a single review, unless I was utterly unhappy w/ my experience). If you don't know who Joe Falzarano is, he's comedy guru with 26+ years of experience and he's worked with and influenced tons of comedians!! He did that while running the New York improv Carolines on Broadway, producing Caroline's Comedy Hour on A&E, AND filming BBC's documentary The Art of Stand-Up!! WOW!!! Talk about multi-tasking! He taught me how to make people laugh during his classes and provided informational hand-outs on: How to Think and Act Like a Standup Comedian, etc. In his Level 1 class which is basically an introduction to stand-up comedy, he covers topics including writing jokes, finding your own point of view, connecting and relating to the audience, and overcoming stage fright (which was the MAIN reason for me taking the course!) Throughout the 6: weekly 3-hour sessions, Joe lead me further insight to the art of standup comedy and gave me a HUGE boost to my editing skills. Biggest personal achievement was him giving me the courage of getting onstage w/ grreat material AND to even make a fool of myself. His class subjects included: writing jokes, developing your own style, nailing the delivery and timing, and honing performance skills. For our graduation, we got an opportunity to perform in front of an audience at the Hollywood Improv!! How cool is that?!?! I owe EVERYTHING to Joe and if you're shy, not brave enough, ever thought about becoming a comedian, need help developing and editing better material or just simply want to try being on stage w/ confidence, I truly recommend taking his class. Thanks Joe! And God bless! ^^ read more

This class exceeded all expectations. Joe is a fantastic teacher that will help you build an incredible foundation to build upon. I came into this class with nothing but fear and anxiety about getting on stage and left with a level of confidence I didn't know was possible. If you are interested in stand up or just getting a better response from the stories you tell, look no further. This class will help you skip a ton of rookie mistakes that normally get learned the hard way. read more

Wanna write/perform comedy? Take Joe's class! I've had friends take comedy classes and they all tell me the same thing. The instructor tells you how to write jokes the way they think a joke should be written. Joe doesn't do this. Joe coaches you into learning how to write FOR YOU. ....or at least I know I did. I've wanted to further my writing for years but did not know where to start. I found Joe's class on the interwebs and signed up five to seven minutes later. The great thing about this class is that it is ran like a writer's room. After Joe has finished his lesson, you get to work with your classmates on your writing. Receiving notes from Joe and your classmates will help push your writing to the next level. Not to mention that the last class is a sold out performance at the The Hollywood Improv. Even for the folks that don't want to pursue a career in comedy, I highly recommend taking this class and performing once. There is nothing in the world like it. read more

It's one thing to be a teacher; Joe is definitely a mentor! Joe absolutely cares about each & everyone of his students. He helped me find stuff I didn't even know I had inside...pulling out my best, unique self. And what a fun guy! Eden Y read more

I love comedy shows! I go see them at least a couple times per month! I always wondered if I could do it. I looked into it and after reading several of Joe's reviews I thought I'd give it try. Right off the bat I saw this was no fooling around type of class. Joe had so much information he wanted to share, it was deep and fun! You do need to make time to work on your material, I was a horrible student, didn't do my homework and missed a class, but those who took the tips he gave shined brighter each week. I think I just liked being around funny people. In class I found everyone is naturally funny. With Joe's guidance and information, I finally put some time into it and dedicated effort to the process. The results showed last night, in the final show, I felt excited, ready and kicked but! This was at the improve in front of all the people AND We ALL had a blast! Overall I learned to face my fears of public speaking, experienced the other side of comedy and saw incredible growth in all of us in such a short time. It was an incredibly delicious way to start the week, I looked forward being in a class with everyone, we laughed a lot in class. This was just something I wanted to do, but experiencing Joe's class I can see how easy it is to be swayed to do it for real. He gives you all the guidance you need and the results show. I love it! I highly recommend this class, the instructor Joe and the atmosphere! It is a must do before you die! AKA Ellie read more

I took Joe's beginners level stand up class and now I have caught the comedic bug!! The six week course allows you to get great feedback on your jokes and your writing. Joe is really good at telling you how to Tweak and edit your material to make it funny. I will say you should definitely have some ideas in your head and have some idea of writing beforehand. Performing weekly in front of him and your classmates really gets you prepared to hit the stage for your graduation. It's exhilarating and challenging, I had a lot of fun. If you've always wanted to give stand up a try I highly recommend this class as a great jump off point read more

Last week, I had my Stand-Up debut at the Hollywood Improv. I crossed that item off my bucket list and had a great time. (I think I did ok, too). But, what surprised me was how much I learned in just these few weeks - I get it - now I need to keep working. Joe was a great instructor -he was supportive and offered real critiques. When I needed assistance outside of class, he responded promptly. I feel like my work really progressed. I also found that the class was just fun - it was a great break and I feel like I've made some new comedy friends with my classmates. I highly recommend - would I do it again? Yes, I'm heading to Level 2. read more

I just completed LA Stand-Ups 6 week course. It was a great experience! The 6 week course provides practical comedy fundamentals while we develop our own set. The course ends with the students performing at the improv in a real show. It was great for me! My classmates were cool and Joe is an invested instructor. He provides you with all his information and we can always contact him with any questions. Plus I am inspired to continue working on stand up--that has immense value to me. Take the class if want to perform but need a kick in the tail! read more

This class gave me such amazing tools to start my stand up career. Joe is an awesome teacher that gives you honest and useful feedback. I feel confident in writing jokes, and prior to this class I had no idea what it took to write jokes. I feel like Joe really sets you up to succeed and gifting us the opportunity to perform at the Hollywood Improv at the end of the course was incredible! This class is the only one you need to get started in Stand Up! read more

Joe's class is a MUST for aspiring comics and those who wish to challenge themselves to grow by exposing his or her flaws and weaknesses and then putting them into a new and lighter perspective. read more

I'm really not one to write a bad review because I feel like they often come from a vengeful place; my only motivation is to share a counterpoint to the other reviews on here as, to be frank, I would never let someone I know take this guys advice-- let alone pay for it. Joe has never done stand up. He says his is available to look over your notes but he never returned phone calls or emails regarding the pages of jokes I sent him. I found some of his 'advice' really antiquated-- like he wanted everyone to do a seven minute set of one liners, and for the girls not to be too dirty-- I don't think he's even seen a live 'up-and-commers' comedy show in the last ten years. Several people in my class dropped out. I later found out some quotes on his website are fabricated. I'm leaving out the parts where he was insulting, or pressed on jokes not to find the funny, but to single people out for their sexuality or to ridicule them. Other comedians I know have taken classes with different teachers and loved it, if you're interested in actually developing a set and getting feedback and advice, I would strongly encourage you to take a class besides this one. I would give this class zero stars if that were permitted. The only benefit to taking the class is that you had a deadline to write every week... But that's true of any stand up class. Stay away from this guy. read more

Unimpressed. I would only recommend this workshop if it's worth your money to say you stood onstage at the world-famous LA Improv (although there are other classes that offer the same thing). The instructor is far from a nurturing personality, and my experience led me to believe he was more interested in making jokes at our expense while we stood in front of the class. I don't need to pay someone several hundred dollars to insult me about my heritage or otherwise. Here's the big secret: Watch comedians on YouTube or Netflix, then write stuff every morning. If you can do that on your own, save your money, unless being onstage at the Improv is that important to you. Break a leg. read more

I'll start off by saying this is the first negative review I've written. I prefer to give positive feedback, but couldn't in this case. I lasted two weeks, wish I could've got a refund. I was skeptical after learning that the teacher had never done standup comedy, but figured I'd listen to what he had to say. Here's what I found: 1) He worked as a manager in a club ages ago when comedy was a different scene. 2) He is a fan of dick jokes, racist stuff and easy laughs, but nothing intellectual. He seemed to give bad advice to students who really needed guidance. 3) half the class ended up dropping out. This is not a coincidence, it was due to the teacher. In fact, I'm pretty sure the 5-star reviews were actually written by the teacher (they are all in the same voice). I hope that isn't true, cause it's sad. I think the teacher seemed like a nice guy, but he was in way over his head. Time to find another line of work, Joe. read more

Is it worth the money? Every dime. Joe's a good guy with interesting sweat patterns. My fellow comics reviewing here are forgetting the "economy of the expression." Take the class! read more

This class is magic. You start by introducing yourself on the first day and then you get a reminder of what it feels like to do public speaking. You come back the following week with some "material" that you probably threw together over the course of a few hours hoping that you're going to be funny enough. Shortly after, you find yourself receiving feedback from your fellow peers and Joe, then your wheels really start to turn, including all of the great lessons that are provided, you really start seeing the potential of what you have. By the third week you'll make your decision whether or not you're going to carry-on with the class because that's when the real work starts. (that's just what I've seen from experience.) All of a sudden, some material that you thought were great premises, become some really solid jokes that you managed to formulate into a solid 5 min set. This is my perspective as a student whose taking this class three times and I'd be willing to take it once more. read more

If you're interested in being a stand up or want to learn to write and perform your own jokes as a speaker, this is the place to be. The 6 week class is great and ends in a real live performance. Joe, the teacher, really knows his stuff- both the performance and the business end. I highly recommend the class. read more

Joe means well and comes from a great place. I was butting my head going to mics figuring it all out on my own. This class provided a method to the madness laying l the basic ground rules of joke telling and stage craft. If that's what your looking for this class is for you. If your looking for some shortcut to being famous, this is not your class, that class doesn't exist. Comedy is hard work. read more

This Stand-Up Class is great! I've learned so much in only 6 weeks about comedy. I would suggest it to everyone, to even just get better to talk in public. I was not a Stand-Up comic, just a regular woman that enjoy making people laugh and it really changed my path in live. I liked the 1st class so much, that I'm taking a second class for writing comedy! read more

Totally worth it! I took both the beginners and the advanced class and loved the experience both times. I learned a lot about how to mine my own life for jokes and how to write to my "stage persona." Because jokes are only funny if they're authentic, and the audience knows the difference. I happen to really love Joe's sense of humor, and so I think I got great feedback. Getting on stage has opened up a lot of doors for me and given me street cred as a comedy writer. Highly recommend! read more

Joe Falzarano and his LA Stand Ups classes are the way to go if you want to become a stand up comedian. He keeps the classes small, provides lots of real life information, and gives honest feedback so you are ready for your stand up routine at the Hollywood Improv. read more

I thought that because I did a lot of corporate training , I could be funny on stage. (This was a bucket list kind of thing.) Little did I know until Joe got a hold of me that my stuff wouldn't translate on the comedy stage. Through my first few weeks of class I could barely squeak out 3 minutes of material. Somehow I made it at the Improv with ten minutes of stuff that actually got laughs. Because Joe is a real life producer of hit comedy and this class gives you the opportunity to perform in a real world setting....... it gets an A. read more

Joe is a great teacher, he advice is always on point. If you are new to comedy this class will help you learn at an incredibly accelerated rate. The lessons that Joe teachs are concise and impact full, and his feedback pushes your material to the next level. The icing on the cake is that the class culminates with a 5 min set at the improv, which is an amazing opportunity for a new comic. If you want to learn the basics of how to be funny fast take this class! read more

Joe is AWESOME! Really knows his stuff and gives you a great opportunity with the graduation show at The Hollywood Improv. He gives a lesson at the beginning of each class (with super helpful examples from famous comics) and then everyone gets a chance to work on their material each class. His feedback really changed my material for the better. Made it much tighter and relatable. Couldn't have had a halfway decent show without Joe! read more

Most people who come are funny or quirky people and want to translate that into a comedy routine and stage presence. Joe gives great tips and feedback, and shared info so we can review and understand different styles of comedy and what makes something funny. He shared important information that help us to develop our own styles. Great starting point for anyone who wants to learn stand up comedy. read more

I had never done standup before yet after six weeks of hard work I walked away with a very tight set. This class includes a performance as graduation and after my set people I didn't even know were buying me drinks and telling me that I was funny. I couldn't have done this on my own. Joe also offers advanced classes and I am signing up because I got so much out of the first class. I know that he will push me to succeed. read more

Great class for beginners. The class will give you confidence and prepare you for the real thing and Joe is a pretty nice guy, too.

Joe's class is great. He asks you to focus on YOUR comedic persona and YOUR voice. There were many funny people in our class with very different routines and perspectives. Joe encouraged everyone to sharpen their own unique voice. The handouts are informative and force you to think about what you want to communicate to an audience and how you want to say it. Everyone in class was supportive and the atmosphere is non-competitive. The audience at the Improv had a great time and the room was packed. If you've thought about trying stand-up but were too scared to try, Joe's class is a great way to jump into the pool. read more

Joe is a great marketer and can stretch 5 minutes of teaching material into 3 hour classes while playing stand up routines you can get off Youtube on his IPOD for the class to listen to. Warning! I see people get LESS funny after taking the class. Joe is great at self promotion but is not and never has been a performing comedian. The comedy performance at graduation is also great marketing. Your friends and family pay to see you while he makes you believe that you can be the next Louie CK ...especially if you sign on for more workshops and for more of his "expertise." Again, he is great at selling but not comedy. If you want to learn comedy, take classes from someone who has actually performed comedy...ie, a comedian who teaches, not someone who claims to be a comedian whisperer. read more

I just completed Joe's Dec/Jan class and cannot say enough good things about the course. I have been writing comedy for years but as things go in life, I floated and never really made anything of any of it. I signed up for Joe's class to learn how to put together a set and also to put myself on a tract that would hold me accountable. Joe's class will help you put it all together. A lot of what he teaches you will seem like common sense when you hear it but as somebody who has studied the greats for years, it really took Joe's words to make it click as to what is going on up there with comedians with their acts. Joe breaks it down into manageable parts and as the class progresses it all comes together for you. Joe also asks you the tough questions. Joe is not afraid to push you and in this arena, we all need to be pushed. He will coach and guide you into your best creative zone. At the end of the class I had an set put together. I went up there, got some laughs, and got the itch immediately after the show to get up there again. I literally edited all night, dying to get back up there again. Since the class I have been using the class's teaching points to keep refining my routine. I literally went from pages and pages of random jokes and thoughts to a solid act in a little less than two months. If you are looking to get into stand up comedy, this class will help you. It goes beyond that though. If you want to learn how to speak in front of others, think on your feet, pick up organizational skills, or simply edit, this class will help you a great deal. read more