4Laughs-a-Day is the feature that gives you 4 helpings a day of brand new comedy. Your portion includes rib-tickling audio and video clips made by our users and swept up from the nether regions of the web, plus comedy news, interviews, exclusive previews and a healthy dose of competitions.
November 13th and 14th see two stunning Stand-Up To Stop Suicide fundraising nights for CALM in Liverpool (Mood Concert Sq) and Manchester (Bar XS) respectively. The charity aims to raise awareness of the unbelievable level of young males who commit suicide. The shows contain the crème de le crème of the North West comedy circuit including fantastic headliners, Keith Carter and Mundo Jazz . For only £7 a ticket you'll feel better for having a great night out and knowing you've helped a very worthy cause.
A comedy troupe of students in Exeter sent 4Laughs a selection of fantastic sketches they've been filming for their University TV station. We think they're great, check them out for yourself!
Stephen Mangan and Sharon Horgan appear in tonight's Comedy Showcase. If you didn't know, Channel 4 is celebrating its 25th Birthday with six brand new comedy specials. Tonight's choice, Free Agents, is the fifth in the series, a dark romantic 'will they/wont they' teaser. To catch Free Agents, tune in to Channel 4 at 10:30pm.
On comedy stakeout today is Comedy Police Officer Scottthedot filing his report on 'Teach Yourself Stand-up Comedy' by Logan Murray (Hodder and Stoughton):
"This book is part of the popular 'Teach Yourself' series - a less intrusive version of 'For Dummies,' that doesn't require an admission of idiocy.
"The book is packed with creative exercises to get the ideas flowing and great advice on everything from stage craft to handling nerves. The author's love for his job shines through and he covers everything from the first gig to advice about The Edinburgh Festival. There are a lot of group exercises which will be difficult for the lone comic to attempt and seem to be shoe-horned in to pad out certain chapters but overall, it has inspired me to pencil a date in my diary for my own return to stand-up after a ten-year hiatus.
"There is one glaring problem with this book. I never had to purchase this book but I am wondering who actually will. The austere 'Teach Yourself' format is fine for learning French but would not be the first choice for a hopeful comedy amateur. Hopeful amateurs think they already know everything and they are confident they will be an instant success on their first gig. It is what spurs them on stage in the first place.
"The book is most valuable to those who have tried stand-up and realised it isn't as easy as it looks. With that in mind it would have been better served not being in the 'Teach Yourself' format. A change of title to 'Be a better stand-up comedian' and a less austere layout would widen its appeal and see it being unashamedly purchased by those at all levels in the comedy business."
