Sir Billy Connolly

Comedy

Settle in with the king of stand-up as he unpacks a lifetime of making people laugh. This is Billy like you've never seen him before. Billy reveals his process whilst showcasing some of his very best routines. Billy takes you behind the mic to learn the magic of comedy from the man who pretty much invented it.

19 video lessons

Course notes

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For Billy fans and comedians
Includes course notes with exercises

The course

For over 50 years, Billy has been the undisputed king of stand-up. For the very first time ever, Billy unpacks his career. Illustrated with some of his favourite routines, Billy talks you through the techniques he's learned in his unrivalled career, like how to build expectation and then subvert it at the right moment, where to source material and then enrich it for comic effect, timing between jokes to ride on the wave of laughter that you'll create, how to build a bond with your audience and yes how to dispense with hecklers.

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Preparing and going on stage with comedian, Billy Connolly

Your Maestro

You already know wee Billy. He’s the Big Yin – the king of stand-up who’s topped numerous polls, being hailed the funniest, most influential and greatest comedian of all time. For 50 years he’s honed the art of stand-up and knows how to find the funny in everyday life. And he knows that standing up on stage is the best laxative known to man.

Lessons

Billy's Introduction

2 mins

Billy welcomes you to a standup comedy class like no other.

Becoming a comedian

7 mins

Listen to those friends who tell you you’re funny. Get out there and perform.

Facing the fear

9 mins

Once you’ve done it, it’s exhilarating – so learn how to get over stage fright

Making yourself vulnerable

5 mins

If you want to know how to be funny, you must learn to be vulnerable.

Make a statement

5 mins

You don’t need banana boots, but you do need a stage presence. Find yours.

Preparing and going on stage

10 mins

How to connect with the audience to start strong and ride the laughter wave.

The comedy brain

9 mins

Learn to listen to your brain’s quirks and unlikely connections – it’s where comedy gold is found.

Observation

14 mins

Look at life with the Scottish comedian famous for his observational comedy.

Developing material

13 mins

How to go from improvisation to comedic timing and physical comedy.

10.

Humility

6 mins

The best comedians are usually humble and don’t know they’re the best.

11.

Crossing the line

10 mins

Shock people. Why not? Rules are there to be noticed and then joyfully ignored.

12.

Hecklers

12 mins

Dealing with hecklers is hard. See how it’s done by the best standup comedians.

13.

Audiences

8 mins

Get to know different audiences and how they are never to blame.

14.

Life on the road

13 mins

Take a glimpse at what life is like going from town to town to make people laugh.

15.

Out of control

5 mins

Drugs and alcohol are often trouble for comics. Billy opens up about his struggle.

16.

Under the influence

7 mins

Understand the difference between copying and being influenced by other comedians.

17.

Getting a break

10 mins

Take risks. Get noticed. And build a team of trust around you.

18.

Comedy for the soul

8 mins

Go deeper with Billy as he talks about the healing power of comedy.

19.

Conclusion

2 mins

Billy sends you off with a bucketful of wisdom on how to be a standup comedian.

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Course notes

70 pages

A downloadable PDF with further tips and exercises to help you hone your funny bone.

Get that funny friend finally on stage

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