| Content Provider | Author Dave Schwensen | |
| Contact Information | Dave Schwensen dave@davepresents.com P.O. Box 318 Vermilion, OH 44089 United States Phone: (440) 967-0293 | |
| Program Type | Individual Program | |
| Program Rating | This program has not yet been evaluated. | |
| Target Audience | Education: Grade(s): 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, Parent, Adult Learners, Public Library: Library Patrons, Content Providers: Content Providers | |
| Maximum Number of Participants | 30 | |
| Minimum Number of Participants | 6 | |
| Primary Disciplines | Best Practice, Career Education, Character Education, Collaboration, Community Interests, Gifted & Talented, Performing Arts, Reading, Social Studies/History, Writing | |
| Secondary Disciplines | Fine Arts, Language Arts/English, Leadership, Literacy | |
| Program Description | This program is about careers in the entertainment industry with the focus on comedy. It's a serious business with a lot of laughs! For aspiring performers the learning process includes writing comedy material and gaining experience at talent shows and community events. The potential markets include colleges and universities, corporate events, cruise ships, television and comedy clubs. We also discuss the off-stage careers of talent managers, agents, publicists and talent coordinators for television and personal appearances. Based on his books How To Be A Working Comic and Comedy FAQs And Answers, Dave shares his experiences working behind the scenes in Hollywood and New York as a talent coordinator and consultant for television and the legendary Improv Comedy Clubs. Among the performers he has worked with are Jay Leno, Ray Romano, Dave Chappelle, Larry The Cable Guy and too many others to mention in a short program description. But count on one thing - lots of name dropping and insider stories! Dave has taught comedy performance workshops and business of comedy seminars since 1994 and has appeared on PBS Television and Radio, and in numerous national and regional media features as a comedy business expert. He is also an instructor in presentation skills and communications at Cleveland State University, Youngstown State University and other halls of higher learning. Yes, he really can be called The Nutty Professor! | |
| Program Format | 1. This program begins with a humorous opening demonstrating that humor can be found in every day experiences. 2. Meet the author. Dave discusses how his business degree took him from Ohio to a "show" business career as a comedy talent coordinator in Hollywood and New York. This is done in a humorous and fun manner since Dave is also a professional comedy coach, speaker and humorist. 3. Discussion of careers in the entertainment industry as a comedian, talent agent, manager, publicist and talent booker. 4. How to develop a career as a stand-up comedian. 5. Workbook exercise to define each student's personal sense of humor. 6. Workbook exercise in comedy writing technique. 7. Grand finale. Students volunteer to perform a short comedy routine based on the workbook exercise. Number of participants depends on time restraints. 8. Students may ask questions at any time during the session. | |
| Objectives | 1. Discover career opportunities in the entertainment and comedy industries. 2. Learn about job responsibilities that go on behind the scenes as a talent agent, manager, publicist and talent coordinator. 3. Gain insight into the process of pursuing a career as a stand-up comedian. 4. Explore writing techniques with the focus on humor. 5. Gain experience in public speaking with an opportunity to volunteer for a brief in-class presentation. | |
| National Standards to which this program aligns | Visual Arts: Careers and Community * Recognize a variety of entertainment related professions and careers in our society. * Students identify methods for connecting creative skills, ideas, and processes to entertainment related careers as well as other professions. * Understand how creative experiences affect daily life and identify opportunities for involvement in the arts. NL-ENG.K - 12.11 Participating In Society* Students participate as knowledgeable, reflective, creative, and critical members of a variety of literacy communities. NL-ENG.K-12.4 Communications Skills* Students adjust their use of spoken, written, and visual language, (e.g., conventions, style, vocabulary) to communicate effectively with a variety of audiences and for different purposes. NL-ENG.K-12.5 Communication Strategies* Students employ a wide range of strategies as they write and use different writing process elements appropriately to communicate with different audiences for a variety of purposes. NS.K-12.4 Language Arts* Students adjust their use of spoken, written, and visual language (e.g., conventions, style, vocabulary) to communicate effectively with a variety of audiences and for different purposes. NS.K-12.5 Language Arts* Students employ a wide range of strategies as they write and use different writing process elements appropriately to communicate with different audiences for a variety of purpose. NS.K-12.12 Language Arts* Students use spoken, written, and visual language to accomplish their own purposes (e.g., for learning, enjoyment, persuasion, and the exchange of information). | |
| Program Length | 45-60 Minutes | |
| By Request | This program is available by request ONLY | |
| Connection Type(s) Available and Program Fees | Interactive Cost: $175.00 Interactive Cost with Premium Service: $150.00 What's this? | |
| Cancellation Policy | We will not charge for programs cancelled due to nature i.e. snow days. Since our video conferencing studio must be reserved in advance and a one hour round trip drive, the full fee will be charged to sites which cancel with less than 48 hours notice. | |
| Is recording allowed? | No | |
| The Provider broadcasts over | IP | |
| Minimum Technology Specifications for sites connecting to this provider | Schools can dial in or we can dial out. Standard speed is 384K. Speed range would be 384K up to 768K. |
