How to Kill in Comedy: Find Your Comedic Character, 20 best joke formulas, Slay the Audience

There are key elements in this book in regards to "persona" that REALLY elevated my comedy and helped me take it to the next level (full disclosure -- I don't use any of the joke formulas in the book as writing comedy comes very easy to me, so I can't speak to that aspect of the book). Some things I've noticed since implementing many of Steve's persona techniques found in this book: 1- I'm now getting booked on much better shows alongside well-known professional comedians; 2- I'm getting paid to do stand-up (albeit not much but it's a start!!); 3- The audience often laughs when I'm not even doing a punchline (something Steve mentions will happen) 4- I'm getting laughs at open mics; 5- I'm getting much clearer on my comedic "voice" and understanding how to write for that voice rather than just saying any random funny thing that comes into my head. Thank you, Steve!

Provocative new ideas. Steve North explains his unique theory about what the best comedians do. And its quite different from everybody else's theory. For example, the rush for authenticity will probably squash your comedy. The top comedians are artistic liars in their strong personas (a persona is a mask, concealing what is real). So when you work on becoming a comedian (a funny person) rather than a comic (a teller of jokes) and when you write material that follows your persona, audiences start laughing. Instead of spending years in trial and error, find your persona directly in Steve's classes. The middle of this book also contains some of the best instruction in how to write funny material, which is normally quite hard, but if you try Steve's methods, you can write new jokes overnight.

Part 1 of the book has an interesting take on stand-up that could help those starting out but that I don’t think always holds true. Part 2 shares “formulas” for comedy that are just examples of specific types of jokes. They are helpful if you’re brand new but too formulaic for long-term writing. Part 3 was what really made the book for me, sharing more advanced examples and strategies for performing and everything that goes along with it.

Excellent book on how to develop a comic persona, so you can be a comedian instead of a comic. Also a well organized book.

If you only read one book on comedy… this has to be the one. So many gems in this book.

Dudes and dudettes, I must be honest. I haven't read this book. Barely touched it. But I did have enough attention in my head to read the first 3 pages. My ADHD brain was able to retain the following: that a comedian is someone who gives a bunch of strangers the experience of an intimate and spontaneous conversation with a true lunatic.I read a few more pages and then basically took it to heart, and I swear, all my friends think I'm so much funnier now. I swear. RESULTS PROVEN! Bam! This book was so good!! Worth it already! 5/5, would recommend. I'm getting around to reading the rest, now. Although it's 12:45am right now and I probably won't get far, again, but that's okay! This book was made for guinea pig brains like mine. You'll still be killin it!

I've been a modestly working stand-up comedian for several years, and while I don't love these joke formulas, I still gleaned plenty of fresh insight from this book. It talks about the art of comedy and one's essence or character in a thought provoking way.

"A comic tells jokes. A comedian is a funny person (i.e. full-bodied, believable, flawed but oblivious character)."I first stumbled upon Steve's philosophy on standup in his Youtube videos and it cerebrally made a lot of sense to me, so I got the book. It was super helpful to see examples of different personas in relevant acts now and how the 4 parts of a persona exist in all of the standup megastars. Now when I watch standup, I more fully understand why some acts are just far more engaging than others. I feel like this is the crux of why some standups succeed while others fail--they could be equally great joke writers, but if one performer's persona is vague or forgettable, then their set is forgettable and they are just a joke jukebox. It's amazing that something as almost philosophical/amorphous as this concept can be codified, and Steve does that in the book.

Really practical, inspiring and incredibly helpful. I’d really recommend it for anyone interested in getting better at stand up comedy.

A well put together book with a flow that is easy to read and follow. Within the first few pages, I was already putting into my mind how to adapt and learn as a comedian.