From improv to stand-up, and from satire to slapstick, here's an essential guide on how to get yourself a cult following or mainstream success. Covering a range of skills from writing your material to physical expressiveness, this comprehensive reference is designed for comedians in all media- stand-up clubs, theatre and TV sitcom, and political comment. This is a practical guide to the art of comedy. From voice training to timing, and from rehearsals to interacting with the audience, step-by-step advice is provided, accompanied by detailed illustrations.The authors (both working as standups on the comedy circuit today) discuss both classic and alternative comedy, and draw examples from a vast range of comedians to illustrate each technique and inspire the novice comedian as they learn their craft.