Ben Target: Beginners’ Stand-Up Course - Graduation Resources

1. Gigs:

Patience and hustle is required when applying for gigs, so stick at it. Kind places to start…

● Angel Comedy RAW (email: 5minutesofcomedy@gmail.com on 1st March, 1st June,

1st September and 1st December to book in).
● Comedy Virgins @ Cavendish Arms (book in through their Facebook page).
● Downstairs at the Kings Head (book by calling the promoter Peter Grahame at
01920823265, only between 9am-11am, Mondays-Fridays).

2. Competitions:

Once you have a decent 7 minute set that you’ve road-tested in front of multiple and different
kinds of audience then competitions can be a good way to meet other comedians and get
noticed BUT they are by no means the arbiters of long term success. Most people do
stand-up on the open mic circuit for two years before applying to any of the competitions.
Here are some competently run ones:

● So You Think You’re Funny - a good place to start as it’s open to all newcomers,
who’ve been going for two years or less.
● BBC New Comedy Award is one to go for when you’re ready for a bit more exposure
as the finals are filmed.
● Funny Women has multiple new performance and writing awards to go for. Note: as
the title suggests, you must be a woman to apply.

3. Courses:

Nothing can teach you as much as doing comedy yourself but here are some places I
recommend studying if you want to learn and add additional skills to your performance
stylings (e.g. audience interaction, creative collaboration, games that drive comedy, story
structure etc.)

● Improvisation: Levels 1 & 2 at the Free Association.

● Clowning: SpyMonkey or Mick Barnfather of the legendary group Complicité.
● Writing: CityLit does many decent writing courses. Angel Comedy runs Writing
Gyms every Sunday, which you’re welcome to attend - these are informal sessions
where professional comedians set writing tasks and discuss their approaches.

4. Creative Consultancy:

This is for further down the line…

I direct, write and consult on TV, Radio and live stand-up shows - from established
performers (Jamali Maddix, Joe Lycett, John Hastings, Andrew O’Neill) playing huge spaces
to newer acts making innovative debut shows (Joz Norris, Sammy Hannah, Bryony Byrne,
Rob Copland). And, dare I say it: I’m excellent at it! So, if you’re creatively stuck or have

Ben Target © 2022

some mega ambitious idea you’re trying to get off the ground then I’m always happy to
discuss material, work on edits and hone sets. Just get in touch and I’ll send over my rates
card.

5. Union:

I recommend joining the Live Comedy Society as a member and take part in voting in the
board elections. This is when representatives from across the sector are selected to take
part in shaping the workplace so that it’s safer and more robust. It’s also worth reading their
Resource Page, which provides information on places you can get support should you have
been victimised in the workplace and also if you’re having a rough time with your mental
health as a performer.

6. Safety at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and Beyond:

Firstly, the Fringe can be a magical place and a place of nightmares. Some truly wonderful
adventures are out there to be had and at the same time it has increasingly come to light
that some people (men especially) have been behaving appallingly. The community is
needfully cleaning house and that’s an effort that will be ongoing and we all need to be part
of it. Please treat each other with care and respect and look out for each other.

Secondly, if you are a member of a vulnerable group and need assistance getting home after
a show at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe then you can register in advance with The Home
Safe Collective - an initiative set-up by the amazing comedian Angela Barnes along with City
Cabs who use vetted drivers (message: homesafecollective@gmail.com). You can also
support them by donating to their PayPal account.

7. Making the Arts Accessible:

Everyone should get the opportunity to do stand-up. It makes the art form so much better -
funnier, more interesting, more empathetic - when it’s accessible to all. Here are a few
organisations who are making this happen and you can support them with donations and by
spreading the word:

● Fringe of Colour: an excellent group who support global majority artists making
work at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and beyond.
● Arts Emergency: a brilliant organisation founded by the phenomenal comedian
Josie Long, who provide mentorship to young artists from disadvantaged
backgrounds - working class artists especially.
● Saima Ferdows: the incredible TV producer and inclusivity advocate has made the
Creatives of Colour database where you can log your professional details and skills
for hire (if you are a person of the Global Majority).

8. The Golden Rules:

● Have Fun.
● Keep Going.
● Don’t Be A Dick.

Ben Target © 2022