*Micro-form improv. Shorter than short-form improv. A lot shorter than long-form improv.

The post Blink & You'll Miss it appeared first on John Cooper.

Book at this link

Have you ever thought of getting up on stage to make people laugh? It can be a nerve-wracking experience, but it doesn't have to be. In this 8-week comedy course, we'll teach you all the skills you need to get up and be funny, share your thoughts and tell better stories. It's also a great way to meet new friends also taking a step into the world of stand-up comedy.

Over the course, we'll be looking at

• Performance skills on stage.
• Microphone technique.
• Collecting ideas and writing material.
• How to use comedy to advance your work career
• Getting gigs.

Stand-up is a powerful tool for building confidence not just on stage but in everyday life. Here's why

• Public Speaking Skills: Stand-up comedy is performing in front of an audience. Developing your public speaking abilities. As you gain experience you become more comfortable speaking in front of others.
• Overcoming Fear: It can be intimidating standing alone on stage trying to make people laugh. By pushing through the discomfort - with loads of support - , you build resilience and develop a sense of accomplishment. This helps reduce anxiety in other areas of your life as well.
• Creative Expression: Crafting jokes and comedy helps you express your unique perspective and creativity. Sharing your thoughts and ideas with an audience can help you validate your own voice and develop a sense of authenticity.
• Positive Feedback. When you perform stand-up comedy you receive immediate positive feedback and validation. Laughter and applause are incredibly uplifting, boosting your self-esteem. Knowing that you can entertain and connect with others through humour helps build confidence in your abilities.
• Learning from Failure: In stand-up comedy, not every joke will land, and you may face moments of silence. This course provides you with loads of support. We look at tiny failures as opportunities for growth and learning. By getting feedback on what worked and what didn't, you develop resilience, adaptability, and a willingness to take risks.

Overall, stand-up comedy is a great way to build growth and self-discovery. Over the 8 weeks we'll be refining your material, so you can develop confidence, resilience, and the ability to effectively communicate and engage with others.

Got any questions? Contact me here

The post Stand-Up Comedy Course, September 2023 appeared first on John Cooper.

There's nothing in the UK that's really comparable the annual improv championship. It's not really a competition,  more a convention of comedy shows and improv workshops where performers from all over the us - and UK - come together for one week to collaborate and learn new skills.

Improv is on the rise in the UK, but no where near as well established as it is in the US, with it's dedicating schools of improvisation, not just for performance skill, but also as a tool for learning. This annual event attracts some of the worlds best teachers of improvisation. During the week I took workshops in diverse topics such as character types, status, building emotional connections. There was also a brilliant workshop on how to teach improv, weighing up the feedback approach versus side-coaching that It really got into the nuts and bolt of how teachers teach.

The Edinburgh Fringe Festival

A twenty four hour turnaround from landing the Manchester improv gang regrouped and headed to Edinburgh for our twelfth year at the fringe. I've taken up solo comedy shows in the past, and it a lot less stressful to be part of a team.

During my ten days there I was performing in four shows per day including the regular ComedySportz show, guest spots, comparing a couple of night of Salfunny, and a late night improvised true crime show.

Salfunny was a showcase for students studying the comedy degree at Salford University. One of their performers, Erika Ehler, went on to win the Chortle new comedian award.

There were more improvised shows there this year than ever before, and while and that's a good thing for recognition of improv, it's important to keep the quality standard high. With stand up comedy and improv, there is no barrier to entry, to learn the skill is a choice. There are some great places to learn improv best practice around the UK, and hopefully some day soon improv will be as well recognised as a teaching skill as it across the pond.

• CSz Worldwide
• Salford University Comedy Writing and Performance
• Chortle New Comedian of the Year
• Comedy Background

The post American Improv & The Edinburgh Fringe appeared first on John Cooper.

In early 2018 I was involved with Manchester's Business Growth Hub 'Spark 2 Scale' programme - had lots of help with business plans for my workshop using stand up comedy skills for public speaking 'Present Yourself' - based on the book from 2017. I was invited to run it as part of their special events, which in turn led to a few engagements at Manchester's Google Digital Garage.

There's been a lot more illustration this year than previous years. I finally got on Instagram. Inspired by the 'Bee in the City' project I created a bee for the Manchester Fringe and that led to me being asked to design the mascot for the Fringe. During the fringe I also ran out an experimental show - 'Confessions of a WordPress Fanatic', combining stand up, songs and website development just to 'talk about what I know' and see if it would work. Not great numbers in the audience, but very rewarding.

Some great project's landed on my table including illustrating for a TV advert, re-designing and re-branding Wentworth Music Festival, and working with actor Arthur Bostrom on his new 'Fronch Phrose Berk' writing as Officer Crabtree, the character he played in 'Allo 'Allo. So much creative freedom with all these projects, too.

In August much fun was had performing at the Edinburgh fringe with ComedySportz, and before that I headed over to Dublin for the first Improv Utopia event, a long weekend of improv workshops with people from all over Europe and the USA.

Personal highlights this year including Running a couple of half marathons and walking up Snowdonia with the Manchester Road Runners crew. Hosting the Pint of Science festival and meeting inventive folk, then hosting a manic Doctor Who convention and finally meeting Peter Davison. There was some sad news closer to home, which makes me even more grateful for the amazing people I have as family and friends.

Inktober was a bit of a revelation. I'd never heard of it until it was already happening. Draw an inked image everyday for a month. Having done so much digital artwork I'd forgotten just how much I love the real thing. That and brush pens. The very fact I didn't know they existed until this year baffled me and excited me in equal measure. Inktober opened more doors for me, just be doing it.

I've loved doing the 'WordPress Fanatic' show, as it was quite personal in place, and want to take it to Edinburgh in 2019. I also have a new comics illustration project that's taking shape and am aware don't have the time to do both. Right now the comic project is winning out as it something I have more control over. I love the Edinburgh fringe, and performing, but there are so many variable's and I've not taken a solo show up since 2011. I'd like something more solid and tangible to show for 2019. And I'm allowed to change my mind on that.

As I plan out 2019 current thoughts are to double down on what works. Building the good projects for nice people and building new relationships in turn. Take risks and live life. Oh and and have a holiday, I'm so due a holiday.

• Spark 2 Scale
• Present Yourself at Google Digital Garage
• Illustrating for TV with GroundBreak Productions
• Great Manchester Run Half Marathon
• Mascot Design for the Great Manchester Fringe Festival
• Pint of Science Festival
• Improv Utopia Ireland
• Comedysportz and Joke Thieves at the Edninburgh Festival
• VWORP! An independant Doctor Who convention
• Good Moaning France With Arthur Bostrom
• Inktober
• Manchester Half Marathon
• Liverpool improvathon 2018
• Comedysportz Panto 2018
• and all the other lovely comedy gigs I've done as Danny Pensive.

The post 2018 - Lots of little experiments. appeared first on John Cooper.

Arthur has a list of acting credits a mile long, but is probably best remembered as Crabtree from 'Allo 'Allo.  The character's poor grasp of the French language was the source of many gags, as well as his introductory catchphrase 'Good Moaning' which also the title of the book, recapturing the style and humour of Crabtree's verbal mangling.

There was a long lead time on this project, permissions for usage and suchlike, which was an advantage for me as book illustrator, as it meant I had a bit time to think about the style and sketch ideas. Looking back at the early concept illustration now, my style, technique and tools have changed a lot. Even in a short space of time.

Arthur knew I could work in a few styles and wanted something a little more animated than the original concept sketches.  I cast my ideas net wide, looking at the European ligne claire style popularised in the 50's and 60's by book illustrators like Herge, Bob de Moor and Joost Swarte.  I’m a big fan of that illustration style and in context of the character  and French origins of 'Allo 'Allo! it looked right. Also I was probably overthinking it.

The character of Crabtree really lends itself to this clean dynamic style, and in illustrated form I could easily see him rubbing shoulders with the Thompson and Thomson, or Agaton Sax.

Creating the cover was a good touchstone character reference for the other ten black and white illustrations which appear in the book. Details were referenced from photo stills, making sure the lapel buttons, badges and cloak all matched Crabtree's Gendarme costume as worn on screen.

The finished cover was realised first as a series of separate images. Handdrawn, scanned,  then moved around on layers in clip studio to find the right composition, then digitally inked and coloured using a wacom intuos  tablet. This technique is less time consuming that it looks, as it allows for experimentation in the composition. If the text title graphics overlap any elements, they can be shuffled around for clarity. Here's the cover composition:

You can order Arthur's book at the Waterside Press website, here.

The post Art for Arthur Bostrom appeared first on John Cooper.

That might sound like an odd thing to say - but the more I thought about it the more the comparison holds up.

Google Analytics reports feedback what's happening on a website, what people are looking at and responding to. How long they stay engaged, and if they connect...becoming a customer or a fan. You can even see it in real time.

For that particular website, we added some recent case studies and removed technical jargon. By doing that we changed the language - the website's voice - and added relatable stories (short case study videos) to draw people in and acquire new customers.

I used this metaphor again this week quite fittingly, at my first workshop at the Google Digital Garage in Manchester. They were really supportive in providing me with a space to lead my all elbows 'Present Yourself!' comedy workshop, which mixes stand up comedy with presentation skills, team games, improv, public speaking tips and interpersonal skills all rolled together.

It covers the same ground as analytics, but with less artificial intelligence. It's for humans instead of websites. It's all about understanding your audience. How to stay engaged and avoid attention span 'bounce rate', and the language we use tell stories and connect with others. Again, all in real time. I guess you might call it the discussion points we have as  'human analytics'.

Human Analytics (in front of an audience) :

• Audience. Make eye contact with them, this will give you all the data you'll need.
• Behaviour. Be aware of your body language, relax and be comfortable.
• Engagement. If what you're saying isn't working experiment off script with a different approach  -this is where the scary fun learning happens.
• Acquisition. Don't try too hard to be funny. Just be yourself. Let your audience, or customers, come to you.

The feedback since I started running these sessions in 2015 has been great. Together with the help of the  Business Growth Hub  it's evident that business leaders across the North West are really keen to integrate this kind of skills workshop into their own team training programmes.
[boxout_start]

[boxout_end]

The post What do Google analytics and stand-up comedy have in common? appeared first on John Cooper.

An opportunity to meet an improvise with folk from the USA, Ireland and  other countries all in one place. I've been to plenty of improv conventions in America over the last ten with my comedysportz troupe,  and honestly didn't know what to expect from this - but it was every bit as cool as I'd hoped.

We took over Newgrange Lodge just North of  Dublin with some expert teachers including Nick Armstrong, Katy Schutte, and Neil Curran as well as the lovely Craig and Carla Cackowski From L.A.

Watching improv people together in large groups is quite a thing to behold, and probably quite curious to the outside world.  We played 'diamond dance' outside in the blistering sunshine. It's a game about dance moves, but also leadership...but really - dance moves!  I could see the staff of Newgrange Lodge watching us, clearly a little bewildered and  amused by what they were watching.

Each workshop covered a different discipline.  From group work to using emotion, character and selling yourself.  The weekend reaffirmed  my love for improv and how it's a great tool for connecting and building relationships.  Improv Utopia has been running for many years in the US, but this is the first time they have organised a residential outside of the US - and it proved to be a great success.  Big thanks to all the guys who put it together, it felt like being in America without actually being in America.

Sell it! - workshop with Craig Cackowski

Links:

• Improv Utopia Ireland
• Nick Armstrong
• Neil Curran 
• Katy Schutte
• Carla Cackowski
• Craig Cackowski
• Jaime Moyer
• Chris Mead
• Josh Nicols 

About John Cooper

He’s performed in hundreds of theatres around the UK and internationally as part of the CSz Manchester improv troupe. He has delivered workshops on how to use humour  and improv in business, taking part in the BBC2 series ‘The Speaker’ and the BBC New Comedy Awards. John is author of Present Yourself! – An illustrated guide to speaking in public and building confidence.

The post Improv Utopia Ireland appeared first on John Cooper.

The term 'jack of all trades' is a phrase that has bugged me for years.  I know it's negative connotations and consider myself an optimist, but I've always thought I was one. A 'jack of all trades...and master on none'.   My thinking has been perhaps inherited from the  previous generations. The received wisdom that focusing on one career to become an expert over time was the best way forward, and taking an interest in a few different things diluted time, effort and commitment .

Since going freelance as a designer and pro as a comedian I didn't want a design client knowing I did comedy in case they thought I didn't take the work seriously, or a comedy promoter to know that I did graphic design.  I was terrified of not being seen as professional.

Old beliefs are very hard to shake.  I previously had five different websites. One for comedy, one for  design and illustrations, and more recently a podcast and training workshops.  Each of these things had it's own orbit and audience, with rare overlapping exceptions.

The fear of confusing people with 'multi disciplines' and not being able to answer the 'what do you do' question' in less than four sentences was (and still is) a bugbear.  However, I've known for years that diversity and adaptability are key to survive, and something just clicked. Listening to technology podcasts, reading Seth Godin books. Learning more about applied improv in my podcast. Finally something clicked and I've broken my old programming.

So here are 'all my eggs -  in one basket'. Better for me, better for  google SEO and as I'm finding, people who come looking for one thing and find another and spend a bit of time on my website looking around. Isn't the the point of a good website?

The post A Life Less Ordinary appeared first on John Cooper.

The post Danny Pensive at Niagra Falls appeared first on John Cooper.

The post Back on the road - Tour Support 2016 appeared first on John Cooper.

The post Lego Doctor Who Tardis Unboxing and building appeared first on John Cooper.

The post I've been to Bali, here's what happened... appeared first on John Cooper.

The post Life Coach at the Buxton Fringe appeared first on John Cooper.

Tape, DVD, digital recording. Y'know what I mean.

The post Best Job in the World #12 appeared first on John Cooper.

My New show comes to Buxton Fringe in two weeks time!!! I'm not doing Edinburgh this year, so this might be the last two full fesitval shows I do this year. Oh, and apparently I'm on the cover of the Buxton Advertiser too.

"Danny Pensive has been around the world and wants to tell you all about it. A new show full of diaries, jokes & philosophical musings from Sunderland’s duffel coated stand up hero."

BOOKING NOW
You can book tickets at this link
http://2013.underthefringe.com/shows/80-haways

The post Around the world in 80 Haways at Buxton Fringe - July 2013 appeared first on John Cooper.

The post Interview with me and John Cooper appeared first on John Cooper.

I have just done an interview with Demon FM radio station in Leicester, which you can listen too soon.

Here is the information written by one of those publicity blokeys:

"After a critically successful Edinburgh run in 2011 with Danny Pensive's Map of Britain, Danny has spent 2012 travelling the around the world learning really important stuff like why Australia has a different coco pops monkey and in America, Cowboys are really just farmers with big hats who ride horses instead of tractors. He's eaten Kebabs in Cairo, a Kangaroo burger in Brisbane and pizza in Chicago Town, been to a SPAM museum and created a security alert at the White House capitol building by leaving his bag unattended.

Through Egypt, Australia and across the length of the USA - even when everyone speaks the same language, there are still cultural barriers to be broken with sheer force of personality. In 2013 Danny brings his true globe- trotting travelogue to the festival. You can take the lad out of Sunderland...but he won't take his coat off to go surfing."

Date: 22 February
Venue: The Exchange Bar
INFO TEL: 0116 2513434
Entry: £5  - Ticket No: 0116 242 3595
Link to Tickets

Door open: 8.15.pm
Start time: 8.30.pm
End time: 9.30.pm

The post Dave's Leicester Comedy Festival Show - Feb 22nd appeared first on John Cooper.

Danny Pensive's Map of Britain -

Danny Pensive is a loveable and comic character, and a delightful guide on this idiosyncratic journey across Great Britain.  Brimming with childlike curiosity and off-beat insights an hour in his company is one well-spent.

Stopping off in Buxton to trial material for his Edinburgh appearances, this is a work in progress. Changes will no doubt be made, and finer details finessed – but there is already much to praise about Danny Pensive's Map of Britain.  The charming and quirky delivery of some unusual and amusing anecdotes is thoroughly winning.

Pensive is an endearing character, easy to warm to and a joy to watch. Even this audience  couldn't help but get caught up in this genial adventure.

It’s already an enjoyable hour, full of eccentricity and wit, and an infectious delight in the everyday oddities that exist up and down this island.

- Alice de Cent, FringeGuru

The post FringeGuru Review appeared first on John Cooper.

While I am on tour with the one man star wars show I am still doing videos. The sound goes up and down and there is a bit of windy noise, sorry about that.

The post On the Road at Gretna Green appeared first on John Cooper.

While I am on tour with the one man star wars show I am still doing videos. The sound goes up and down and there is a bit of windy noise, sorry about that.

The post On The Road at Glamis Castle, Scotland appeared first on John Cooper.

While I am on tour with the one man star wars show I am still doing videos. The sound goes up and down and there is a bit of windy noise, sorry about that.

The post On The Road at Ragley Hall appeared first on John Cooper.

The July dates for the show are...
12th - 8.30pm
13th - 10.30pm
15th - 10.30pm
18th - 8.30pm
20th- 10.30pm
(ignore the poster info it is wrong)

Here is a page with more information

The post Buxton Fringe Dates and Times Confirmed appeared first on John Cooper.

It's time for another playtime.

I will be at the Lass O'Gowrie in Manchester to try out lots of new things and idea what are all part of the show going to Edinburgh later in the year. This will be the last playtime before the Edinburgh Previews in June and July. There will be a guest who is Vic McGlynn doing some stuff too.

It is a free night, but there are not many seats, so get on the seating list by emailing thelassevents@gmail.com

The post April 22nd - Danny Pensive's Playtime at the Lass O'Gowrie appeared first on John Cooper.

The post Danny visits Cadbury World appeared first on John Cooper.

The post Danny Pensive visits Norwich appeared first on John Cooper.

The post Danny Pensive visits Kings Lynn appeared first on John Cooper.