Are you ready to turn your comedy dreams into reality?
Greg Dean, aka The Professor of Stand-Up Comedy, the man who’s trained comedy legends like Whoopi Goldberg, Anthony Jeselnik, Sherri Shepherd, Christina Pazsitzky, and hundreds of working comedians, has cracked the code to stand-up comedy, and now he’s sharing it with you. Whether you're just starting out or already performing, Step by Step to Stand-Up Comedy is your roadmap to becoming a successful comedian.
Dean's revolutionary approach to joke structure, featuring his "5 Mechanisms," reveals exactly how jokes work and why audiences laugh. His original "Joke Prospector" system breaks down joke writing into a simple, learnable process. In just minutes, you’ll be crafting one-liners that actually land.
But the journey doesn’t stop at joke writing. This book covers everything from mastering hecklers and overcoming stage fright to delivering your performance with natural confidence. Dean’s game-changing Rehearsal Process ensures that you’ll remember your material without memorizing it word-for-word, allowing you to stay in the moment and connect with your audience.
No other book on stand-up comedy is this comprehensive or this effective. Whether you're a beginner trying to figure out how to get started, or a seasoned performer looking to level up your skills, Step by Step to Stand-Up Comedy gives you the tools, techniques, and insider knowledge to succeed.
Ready to fast-track your comedy career? Grab your copy today, and start learning the principles that have launched the careers of some of the biggest names in comedy. The answers to your stand-up comedy success are right here—don't wait to take the first step toward becoming the comedian you’ve always dreamed of being.
Table of Contents
Chapter 1 - Secrets of Joke Structure
Setup and Punchline
How Jokes Work
Expectation & Surprise
3 Mechanisms of Joke Structure
-Target Assumption
-Reinterpretation
-Connector
Chapter 2 - Joke Writing
Joke Mine - From Setup to Punch
Writing Punchlines
Chapter 3 - What to Write Jokes About
Joke Map - From Topic to Setups
Writing Setups
Chapter 4 - From Funny to Funnier
Improve & Edit & Tag
Chapter 5 - Assembling a Routine
Write a Routine
Organize into Categories
Rewrite & Rearrange
Chapter 7 - Rehearsing
The Problem: Rehearsing the Performer and Critic Together
The Solution: Separating the Critic and the Performer
Chapter 8 - Greg Dean’s Rehearsal Process
Phase 1: Preparation
Phase 2: Enact the Experience
Phase 3: Practice Performing
Chapter 9 - Microphone Technique
Do’s and Don’ts
Chapter 10 - Peak Performance
Comic Timing
Performing Techniques
Chapter 11 - Fearless Performing
-Stage Fright
-Bombing
-Hecklers
Chapter 12 - Getting Experience
Open Mics
Make Your Own Show
Showcase Rooms
Chapter 13 - Making a Good Show Great
Edit, Rewrite, & Perform Again
Glossary of Stand-Up Comedy Terms
What’s Next?
Now Available: Step by Step to Stand-Up Comedy - Workbook Series. If you want to get funnier faster these workbooks offer exercises that turn your knowledge into actionable skills.
Workbook 1: How to Write Jokes - book for joke writing practice and help for stand up comedy routines.
Workbook 2: How to Improve Jokes and Routines - book for correcting joke writing practice and techniques.
Workbook 3: How to Remember Jokes Naturally - book for practice and rehearsal of stand up comedy routines.
Workbook 4: How to Be a Funny Comedian - book for stand up comedy performing techniques.
Workbook 5 How to Get the Experience to Be Funny - book to become a better stand up comedian.
Get All 5, I'll be glad you did.
“Best book ever written for beginner stand-up comedians.” —Amazon Review
“If you think you’re funny, and you want others to think so too, this is the book
for you!” —GoodReads Review
“If you’re trying to figure out how to write jokes Step by Step to Stand-up Comedy
is a great place to start.“ —Thor Project
“Step by Step to Stand-Up Comedy is the most comprehensive and useful book
ever written on the art of the stand-up comedian.“ —bol.com
“I’m enjoying deconstructing jokes and understanding why things are funny. “ —Marble Jar blog
