Jonathan Solomon's School for Stand Up

03/01/2024

"How to Write the Funny" - that's the other class I host at Santa Monica College - launches live and in-person, Thursday, evening March 14th.

If you'd like to know more about it, you’ll want to jump over to my new page, "All About the Funny."

That said, here’s the most important things you need to know about the class…

It's fun.

Fun!

And, most importantly – otherwise, even I would say “Fun? Not so much.” – it’s not held…

… on the gigantic "I need a map to find my way back to the parking lot," Main Campus at SMC. It’s held at the tiny, easy to get to, one parking lot, one building, Bundy Campus at SMC.

School

08/25/2023

HOW TO WRITE THE FUNNY begins its fall semester Thursday September 21st, at 6:30. PM The class runs for eight weeks on Thursday nights. The cost is $169. The class is offered through Santa Monica College. The classroom is located at the small, easy to park at, Bundy Campus at SMC.

While you might be thinking that the best reason to sign up for the class is because you want to write something funny, that’s not correct! The best reason to sign up for the class is because you want to write something that … expresses you.

So then why isn’t the class titled, “How to Write Something That Expresses You”?

Because it’s my contention that if a writer writes with honesty, what they write can’t help but be at least a little bit funny. Because life is, and humans are. And this is true even if what you want to write about is mostly serious or sad.

The class is for writers of all descriptions. Writers of prose – fiction, non-fiction, story tellers, memoirists. Also, screenwriters and sitcom writers. Actors looking to become actor-writers. Comedians looking to write a project that goes beyond their stand-up set. Or any combination thereof.

BTW, this is not a class only for the novice. To those who are comedy writers – semi-pro or full-time: The class will improve your writing chops, grow your confidence and prompt you to see expanded opportunities for writing humorously.

For more information, click on the provided link. It will take you to the Santa Monica College website. There you can watch a video about the class and sign up.

If you have questions, visit my dot com, AllAboutTheFunny and there you will find my email address.

https://santamonica.augusoft.net/index.cfm?method=ClassInfo.ClassInformation&int_class_id=59471&int_category_id=1&int_sub_category_id=5&int_catalog_id=0

Arts & entertainment

06/14/2023

HOW TO WRITE THE FUNNY begins its summer semester Wednesday June 21st, at 6:30 PM (In case there’s any confusion: This is not my stand-up workshop.)

TO WATCH A VIDEO ABOUT THE CLASS, READ ABOUT THE CLASS AND TO SIGN UP, CLICK BELOW.

The class runs for eight weeks on Wednesday nights. The cost is $169. The class is offered through Santa Monica College. (It’s not online, it is live and in person!) The classroom is located at the small, easy to park at, Bundy Campus at SMC.

WHAT IS THE CLASS ALL ABOUT?

On the way to answer that question, I’ll pose another question…

WHAT DO BILLIE EILISH AND HARVEY MILK HAVE IN COMMON?

OR, TO EXPAND THE QUESTION… What do Billie Eilish, Harvey Milk … and Ludacris, Kacey Musgraves, Michelle Obama, Alec Cabacungan, Megan Rapinoe, Leo Burnett, Malcolm X and Banksy in common?

ANSWER… All of those folks know or knew that communicating through humor makes what you want to communicate more likely to be heard and embraced. “How to Write the Funny” examines and illuminates every possible path to communicating through humor.

Another question…

WHAT DO THE FOLLOWING WRITING PROJECTS HAVE IN COMMON? A screenplay, a memoir, a one-person show, a sitcom spec, a story to be told at a Moth story night, a stage play.

ANSWER… The upcoming installment of “How to Write the Funny” examines and illuminates communicating humorously within all those formats.

So, if you’d like to add humor to your writing, complete a writing project that includes humor, hone your skills as a comedy writer … you might want to sign up for “How to Write the Funny.”

06/05/2023

STAND-UP COMEDY WORKSHOP WITH COMEDY CLUB GRADUATION SHOW begins its Summer semester on Thursday June 22nd and runs for 7 weeks.

TO WATCH A VIDEO ABOUT THE CLASS, READ ABOUT THE CLASS AND TO SIGN UP, CLICK BELOW.

WHERE … is the class offered? The class is offered through Santa Monica College and the classroom is located at the Bundy Campus of Santa Monica College. (That’s the easy to park at, pocket-size Bundy Campus, NOT the Main Campus.)

WHO … takes the class? (1) You want to start your career as a stand-up. Or (2), you are already a comedian and want to sharpen your writing and performing chops. Or (3), you have no plans to ever perform, but you are a huge fan of comedy, and want to learn all about it.

WHAT… is the class all about? (1) We start with the idea that joke writing is not a mysterious, subjective process; it’s diagrammable and practicable. Building off that, aided by a collaborative writer circle, each student writes material, for their own stand-up set. What do you write about? Write about what you think “is funny” or write about what fascinates you, worries you, or breaks your heart; everything and anything can get laughs. (2) We start with the idea what a comedian does onstage/should do onstage, is often misunderstood. (For example: Bombing and not getting laughs are two entirely different things.) As a path towards clearing up the confusion, we watch – and sometimes rewatch – clips of top comics. Result: When you go onstage – whether you are a newbie or a pro – you will get more laughs!

WHY … if none of the above seems like good reasons, take the class? You get to hang out with other comics! As both Larry David, and F. Scott Fitzgerald have said – more about that in class – comedians are excellent!

https://santamonica.augusoft.net/index.cfm?method=ClassInfo.ClassInformation&int_class_id=59472&int_category_id=1&int_sub_category_id=7&int_catalog_id=0

08/30/2022

“How to Write the Funny” begins its fall semester Thursday September 22nd, at 6:30 PM (In case there’s any confusion: This is not my stand-up workshop.)

While you might be thinking that the best reason to sign up for the class is because you want to write something funny, that’s not correct! The best reason to sign up for the class is because you want to write something … that expresses you.

So then why isn’t the class titled, “How to Write Something That Expresses You”?

Because it’s my contention that if a writer writes with honesty, what they write can’t help but be at least a little bit funny. Because life is, and humans are. And this is true even if what you want to write about is mostly serious or sad.

The class is for writers of all descriptions. Writers of prose – fiction, non-fiction, story tellers, memoirists. Also, screenwriters and sitcom writers. Actors looking to become actor-writers. Comedians looking to write a project that goes beyond their stand-up set. Or any combination thereof.

BTW, this is not a class only for the novice. To those who are comedy writers – semi-pro or full-time: The class will improve your writing chops, grow your confidence and prompt you to see expanded opportunities for writing humorously.

For more information, click on the provided link. (Or cut and paste the provided URL into your browser.) It will take you to the Santa Monica College website. There you can watch a video about the class and sign up. The class is offered at the Bundy Campus of Santa Monica College. That’s the easy to park at, pocket-sized Bundy Campus, NOT the Main Campus. The cost is $155.

If you have questions, visit my dot com, AllAboutTheFunny and there you will find my email address.

I hope to see you on the 22nd!

06/15/2022

“How to Write the Funny” begins its summer semester Wednesday June 22nd, at 6:30 PM

The class is offered through Santa Monica College. And, with the pandemic easing (!) it’s back to being offered live and in-person.

Also, in case there’s any confusion: This is not my stand-up workshop.

The class is for writers of all descriptions. Writers of prose – fiction, non-fiction, story tellers, memoirists. Screenwriters and sitcom writers. Actors looking to become actor/writers. Comedians looking to write a project that goes beyond their stand-up set. Or any combination thereof.

To put it another way: Do you have a story you’d like to tell … or an idea you’d like to share? Do you believe that if you communicate your story/idea humorously, you’ll be more likely to move/ inspire your audience/reader? If so: Firstly, I agree and secondly … this is the class for you!

BTW, this is not a class only for the novice. To those who are already writing the funny: The class will improve your writing chops, grow your confidence and prompt you to see expanded opportunities for writing humorously.

For more information, click on the provided link. (Or cut and paste the URL into your browser.) It will take you to the Santa Monica College website. There you can watch a video about the class and sign up.

If you have questions, visit my website/page AllAboutTheFunny - which is a .com - and there you will find my email address.

I hope to see you on the 22nd !

https://tinyurl.com/H2Smmr22SMC

05/23/2022

STAND-UP COMEDY WORKSHOP WITH COMEDY CLUB GRADUATION SHOW begins its Summer semester on Thursday June 23rd and runs for 7 weeks.

TO WATCH A VIDEO ABOUT THE CLASS, READ ABOUT THE CLASS AND TO SIGN UP, CLICK BELOW.

The class is offered through Santa Monica College. And, with the pandemic easing, it’s back to being offered live and in-person.

Where: At the Bundy Campus of Santa Monica College. (That’s the easy to park at, pocket-size Bundy Campus, NOT the Main Campus.)

IF: You want to start a career as a stand-up …

OR: You are already a comedian and want to sharpen your writing and performing chops …

OR: Doing /learning-all-about stand-up-comedy is on your bucket list …

THIS IS THE CLASS FOR YOU!

I hope to see you on the 23rd.

And PS: For those of you who want to learn all about writing the funny, but without the performing component, on Wednesday night, June 22nd the summer installment of “How to Write the Funny” begins. Look for a link for that class in next week.

03/08/2022

“How to Write the Funny” begins its spring semester Thursday evening, March 17th, at 6:30 PM

The class is offered through Santa Monica College. And for the first time in two years, it's being offered at - the easy to park at, pocket-size Bundy Campus of - Santa Monica College, not online.

Also, in case there’s any confusion: This is not my stand-up workshop.

H2WFtF is for writers of all possible definitions – writers of prose (fiction, non-fiction, memoirists,) screenwriters, sitcom writers, actors looking to become writer/actors, comedians looking to write projects that go beyond their stand-up set, and of course, hyphenates.

The message of this class:

1) Everyone and anyone can learn to write the funny.

2) Anyone who is already writing humor, can come up with the funny with greater confidence, and find more opportunities to communicate with funny, if they take H2WtF.

3) Whatever is on your mind or in your heart, can be communicated through humor. And your audience, your reader, will thank you for doing so. Why? Because communicating even a serious idea – your theme, your epiphany, your wisdom – humorously, comedically, with some funny, communicates, highlights, moves, inspires, more so than without it.

For more information, you can watch the video at the SMC site. Visiting that same link, you'll be able to sign up as well.

If you have questions, visit my website/page AllAboutTheFunny and there you will find my email address.

I hope to see you on the 17th.

08/30/2021

STAND-UP COMEDY WORKSHOP WITH IMPROVISATION COMEDY CLUB GRADUATION SHOW begins its fall semester on Wednesday September 15th and runs for 7 weeks.

TO WATCH A VIDEO ABOUT THE CLASS, READ ABOUT JONATHAN AND THE CLASS AND TO SIGN UP, CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW. (The class is offered through Santa Monica College, but is presented online.)

And good news, the class is offered online BUT, barring unforeseen developments – and admittedly, we’ve had a lot of those lately – the graduation show will be held LIVE and at our non-pandemic venue, THE WORLD-FAMOUS IMPROV ON MELROSE on Saturday, November 12th

IF: You want to start a career as a stand-up … OR: You are already a comedian and want to sharpen your writing and performing chops … OR: Doing /learning-all-about stand-up-comedy is on your bucket list … THIS IS THE CLASS FOR YOU!

And for those of you who’ve always wanted to take my stand-up class, but travel to the Santa Monica campus was the deal breaker, THIS IS THE CLASS FOR YOU, TOO!

For more information, watch the video and then, if you’ve still got questions or concerns, you can contact me at here.

I hope to see you on the 15th.

https://santamonica.augusoft.net/index.cfm?method=ClassInfo.ClassInformation&int_class_id=58929&int_category_id=1&int_sub_category_id=7&int_catalog_id=0

08/30/2021

“How to Write the Funny” begins its fall semester Thursday evening, September 23rd, at 6:30 PM

The class is offered through Santa Monica College, but is presented online.

And in case there’s any confusion: This is not my stand-up workshop!

This class is for writers of all possible definitions – writers of prose (fiction, non-fiction, memoirists,) screenwriters, sitcom writers, actors looking to become writer/actors, comedians looking to write projects that go beyond their stand-up set, or any combination thereof.

The message of this class:

1) Everyone and anyone can learn to write the funny.

2) Anyone who is already writing funny, can come up with the funny with greater confidence, and find more opportunities to communicate with funny, if they take H2WtF.

3) Whatever is on your mind or in your heart, can be communicated through humor. And your audience, your reader, will thank you for doing so! Why? Because communicating a serious theme, a serious idea, a profound awareness, via some funny, or with some funny, communicates, highlights, moves, inspires, more so than without it!

And, by the way, for all of you who have over the years told me, “I’d love to take the workshop, but the drive to SMC is arg!” now, with the class online, there’s no such worries. There are students in class from Pasadena to Calabasas. There are also students from Boston to Hawaii!

For more information, watch the video and then, if you’ve still got questions or concerns, you can contact me here.

I hope to see you on the 23rd!

https://santamonica.augusoft.net/index.cfm?method=ClassInfo.ClassInformation&int_class_id=58931&int_category_id=1&int_sub_category_id=5&int_catalog_id=0

06/15/2021

“How to Write the Funny” begins its summer semester Wednesday evening, June 23rd, at 6:30 PM (PST)

The class is for writers of all descriptions. Writers of prose – fiction, non-fiction, story tellers, memoirists. Screenwriters and sitcom writers. Actors looking to become actor/writers. Comedians looking to write a project that goes beyond their stand-up set. Or any combination thereof.

To put it another way: Do you have a story to tell or an idea to share? Do you believe that if you communicate your story or idea humorously, you’ll be more likely to move/inspire your audience/reader? If so: (1) I agree and (2) this is the class for you.

BTW, this is not a class only for the novice. To those who are already writing the funny: The class will improve your writing chops, grow your confidence and prompt you to see expanded opportunities for what can be written humorously.

Despite the relaxing of pandemic related restrictions, the class is being presented online. But all the features of my classes that my students find invaluable are still included:
— Informative (and entertaining) videos
— Inspiring prompts
— Writing exercises featuring step-by-step instructions
— Me, you, and your fellow students writing collaboratively and supportively in the (virtual) writers circle.

And for those of you who have over the years told me, “I’d love to take the workshop, but I don’t want to drive to SMC,” now there’s no such worries. Classes over the past year have included students from Calabasas and Pasadena, not to mention NYC, Philly, Orlando and Denver.

For more information, click on the provided link. It will take you to the Santa Monica College website. There you can watch a video about the class and sign up.

In a hands-on workshop featuring lectures, in-class writing exercises, and supportive feedback, discover how to write a ...

03/10/2021

“How to Write the Funny” the “home edition” begins its spring semester Thursday evening, March 18th, at 6:30 PM

In case there’s any confusion: This is not my stand-up workshop!

This class is for writers of all possible definitions – writers of prose (fiction, non-fiction, memoirists,) screenwriters, sitcom writers, actors looking to become writer/actors, comedians looking to write projects that go beyond their stand-up set, or any combination thereof.

The message of this class:

1) Everyone and anyone can learn to write the funny.

2) Anyone who is already writing funny, can come up with the funny with greater confidence, and find more opportunities to communicate with funny, if they take H2WtF.

3) Whatever is on your mind or in your heart, can be communicated through humor. And your audience, your reader, will thank you for doing so! Why? Because communicating a serious theme, a serious idea, a profound awareness, via some funny, or with some funny, communicates, highlights, moves, inspires, more so than without it!

And, by the way, for all of you who have over the years told me, “I’d love to take the workshop, but the drive to SMC at 6 PM is arg!” now, with the class online, there’s no such worries. There are students in class from Pasadena and Calabasas. There are even students from Philadelphia and New York City taking the class.

For more information, watch the video and then, if you’ve still got questions or concerns, you can contact me here.

I hope to see you on the 18th!

In a hands-on workshop featuring lectures, in-class writing exercises, and supportive feedback, discover how to write a ...