Welcome to Introduction to Stand-Up Comedy! We’re so glad you’re here.
This course is designed to guide aspiring comedians through the art of writing and performing stand-up comedy. We will explore the various components that make up a successful set, including joke structure, timing, and stage presence. Each week, we will tackle a specific concept, allowing participants to develop their material progressively and refine their unique comedic voice.
Specific topics range from Finding Your Comedic Voice, Spot-On Observation & Absurdity, the Rule of 3, and more!
Course material and lesson plans are curated and developed by the teaching artist, Hollie Harper of StandUP Girls!
Learning Objectives
Intro to Stand-Up Comedy Course Learning Objectives:
At the end of this course, participants will have:
- Developed Comedy Writing and Performance Skills — Practice writing and performing stand-up with a focus on social impact.
- Understood the Role of Comedy in Social Change — Explore how humor and comedy have been historically used to critique societal issues and drive social movements. Identify current social issues (e.g., inequality, justice, climate change) and learn how to frame them in comedic narratives that engage and inform audiences.
- Learned to Write Six Different Types of Jokes for Standup — We’ll demystify different styles of joke writing such as absurdity, understatement, the rule of three, the double down, misplaced sincerity, and observational joke writing.
- Balanced Humor and Sensitivity — Learn how to use humor responsibly, balancing humor with sensitivity, to avoid reinforcing stereotypes or causing harm while delivering a meaningful message.
- Explored Diverse Voices in Stand Up Comedy & Found Your Comedic Voice — Study diverse comedians from various backgrounds who use humor to address social issues, expanding perspectives on comedy’s role in activism. Work on identifying your unique comedic voice and perspective, especially as it relates to social issues you’re passionate about.
Requirements
Cycle 1 – Fall 2025
- Complete at least 2 pair sessions per month and log these in your Portal
- Attend all live Journey Meetings (see the Engagement Dates section below)
- Complete all lessons provided in the course Fall 2025: Intro to Stand-up Comedy
- Submit your 5-10min stand-up set (see the Submissions section below)
- Participate in 1 stand-up comedy showcase
Cycle 2 – Spring 2026
- Complete at least 2 pair sessions per month and log these in your Portal
- Attend all live Journey Meetings (see the Engagement Dates section below)
- Complete all lessons provided in the course Spring 2026: Stand-up Comedy: Building a Stronger, Longer Set
- Submit your 5-10min stand-up set (see the Submissions section below)
- Participate in 1 stand-up comedy showcase
Engagement Dates
Participants will attend two Journey Live Meetings each month as part of the course for that cycle. Additionally, you can schedule 1:1 office hours with the Journey Instructor for individual assistance as needed.
Each cycle will conclude with Stand-Up Comedy Shows, where participants can perform their sets for a live audience. There will be one in-person show and one virtual show per cycle.
Fall Cycle Journey Meetings – VIRTUAL:
November 8th & 22nd, 1-2:30 pm ET
December 6th & 20th, 1-2:30 pm ET
January 10th & 24th, 1-2:30 pm ET
Fall Cycle Stand-Up Comedy Show – HYBRID:
January 31st, 4:30 – 6 pm ET
Spring Cycle Journey Meetings – VIRTUAL:
March 14th & 28th, 1-2:30 pm ET
April 11th & 25th, 1-2:30 pm ET
May 9th & 30th, 1-2:30 pm ET
Spring Cycle Stand-Up Comedy Show – HYBRID:
June 6th, 4:30 – 6 pm ET
Asynchronous Coursework
Complete each lesson in the the following course. As you progress through each lesson, make sure to press “complete” before moving on to the next.
- Intro to Stand-Up Comedy
This course teaches the fundamentals of joke writing, comedic structure, and crafting punchlines. Aspiring comedians will be guided through the art of writing and performing stand-up comedy.
Course(s) that will become available in Cycle 2, Spring 2026 :
- Stand-Up Comedy: Building a Stronger, Longer Set
This course is designed to build on the foundational skills of stand-up by focusing on refining material and delivery.
Submissions
For the first cycle, you’ll submit a 5-minute stand-up comedy set that incorporates the techniques, structure, and insights you’ve learned. In the second cycle, you’ll build upon this initial set, expanding it to 10 minutes by refining your material, pacing, and delivery. The final submission for the second cycle will be your full 10-minute set, showcasing your growth and mastery of the skills developed throughout both courses.
All submissions are submitted through your Portal. Submission instructions can be found within each course.
