How to Be a Stand-Up Comic

by Richard Belzer, Larry Charles, Rick Newman

Comedian Richard Belzer promises that he can turn anyone into a stand-up comedian. Here he makes good on that promise and provides a generous helping of laughs in the process. This irreverents and informative book prepares wannabe comedians with tips and inside information from a seasoned veteran. Photographs.

Genres: Humor, Nonfiction

208 pages, Paperback

First published June 8, 1988

About the author

Richard Jay Belzer was an actor, a stand-up comedian, and author. He is best known for his role as Detective John Munch on Homicide: Life on the Street and Law and Order: SVU.

Belzer authored four books, the last two of which were a crime fiction series co-written with Michael Black that featured Belzer as the mystery-solving protagonist. I’m Not a Cop, the first of the two, was published in 2008, followed by the sequel, I’m Not a Psychic, in 2009. Belzer penned UFOs, JFK and Elvis: Conspiracies You Don’t Have to Be Crazy to Believe in 2000, and co-authored How to Be a Standup Comic in 1988 with “Borat” director and writer, Larry Charles, and Catch a Rising Star owner Rick Newman.

Reviews

[Billy · Rating 5 out of 5]

there was a time when these things were the internet sites of their day. a small, mass produced humor pamphlet.

i'm not knocking brunch with the belz, but it is also funny how ancient the entire structure is, the ideas inherent within the piece. museums and stuffs.

also, how did i miss the whole natn'l lampoon deals?

[Tye · Rating 2 out of 5]

Okay, so this book was humorous and a quick read. It is more of a "Glimpse in the Life" of a comic...a miniature memoir.

Definitely not a "how to" book.

So, take a peak and get a few laughs.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

For anyone that is interested in getting started as a stand-up comic, this is a good little book to start with. Belzer started with all the great comics at "Catch a Rising Star" in NYC but his career did not caught on like so many that we know today, like Seinfeld, Riser, Steinberg, etc. He gives some great insight as to what a new person who is thinking about getting started in comedy should be aware of. Belzer lets the reader know the process is hard only if you let it get hard and of course, like any other job, it has its moments when it gets rough but, just like a muscle, you have to work at it like a regular 8 hour job and keep going to be great. The young comics of the time loved it because their jobs didn't start until 10 or 11pm at night when most people were just wanting to relax and then you get to sleep in most of the day. Great little read.

[Rachael Mcclain · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was able to read the entire book in an afternoon. There is not a whole lot to it, but I did get some chuckles out of it, so even though I have no plans to be a stand up comic any time soon I cannot call it a waste of an afternoon.

[Douglas · Rating 1 out of 5]

poor

[Jose · Rating 4 out of 5]

i like his stand up better, but the jokes are still funny in this book