Nothing I say here is anything but 100% the way I feel. This was by far the best class I have ever taken in my life. I'm 38 and went to University and have been an actor for 20 years involving countless workshops and classes. Now, with that being said, I also feel like I've grown as an artist, performer, and person more in the last 10 weeks then in the last 20 years. Gerry Katzman is not only a wonderful and patient teacher but a talented comedian and respected confidante. I watched him transform a group of people with no stand up experience into a group of COMEDIANS. I don't use that term lightly. Our final performance was in front of a room full of 150+ people and we absolutely crushed it. In all my years of going to Comedy shows I've rarely seen every comedian kill it. Partially due to the help we all received. Partially due to the safe environment our practice space consists of. And partially due to Gerry expertise in bringing the truth, humility and joy into all of our sets. I could write and articulate how wonderful this class is but you would only be able to relate to what I say if you take this class for yourself. My name is Brian Badolato and you will hear of me in the future. When you do, understand that Gerry Katzman's class is what made me who I am today. Fate brought me into this class. The challenge kept me in this class. And the results are why I'm writing this review. If you have every wanted to learn how to be a stand up comedian take this class and in one night (the final performance) it will pay for itself ten times over. I'm not even going to talk about the wonderful relationship I was able to build with my classmates because that's just an added bonus. I could write all day sharing my experience. Instead I will just say that you wouldn't be taking a risk by joining this class. There's no what ifs. Only question is do you want to be a comedian? Do you want to be a better you? Do you want to find out how special and unique you really are? It's like a short cut to the magic that is Stand Up Comedy. Live, love, laugh, take this class. Thank you Gerry. I love what you do, I love who you are. Your the best teacher I've ever had in my life. Thank you Heather I know Gerry and my classmates couldn't have done it without you. As I've started crying writing this review I will leave you with this: Virtue is concerned with what we do, honor is concerned with how we do it. read more

For years I wanted to do standup. I tried a few open mics, and the dual threat of anxiety and lack of structural knowledge got me a few pity chuckles. I didn't have any recommendations for this class and barely have any roots in entertainment. I found it on Yelp and trusted in the glowing reviews, with a dose of skepticism. Having just had our class's showcase, I will attest that this class is one of the more powerful and positive experiences I have ever had. It was not just a phenomenal learning experience for standup and a boatload of fun, but an opportunity to truly learn about yourself. As much as this class is about creating comedy, it is also about the human experience. Your human experience and your classmate's. You have something to say, and not about airline food and people at the post office. You have something substantial to say about the way you see the world. You can find it in Gerry's class. A note about Gerry: He is one of the most caring, gentle and funny guys I've known. He eases you into this intimidating process in a very supportive environment and makes it something you can develop around. He calls you to check in. He gives wildly helpful notes. He trains you to think differently to arrive at your jokes. He is interested in you and what you are trying to say. One of the unsung benefits of this class is your classmates, and the opportunity to be part of their transformation too. You bond with your class in such a powerful way that the chance to help with a joke they are struggling with is as rewarding as figuring out one of your own. The class is long. It's hard. It gets deep. People cried. It is a massive chunk of time to block out in your week, then double it for time spent working on your material outside of class and rehearsing with classmates. Gerry gives you the tools to create comedy and the space to use them, but you still have to use them. But if you can (and with Gerry's help, you can!), by the end of the class, you're not just doing standup comedy. You're doing your standup comedy. I am so impressed with this class. Thank you, Gerry. Schbangles. read more

I wanted to write an update review, as it's been 2 years from taking Gerry's class. After doing stand-up for only 2 years, I have started booking paying gigs, am getting up at packed-sold out shows 3 times a week (at least), and have performed with comedians like Maria Bamford and Rory Scovel, to list a few, who I have idolized before doing stand-up. I NEVER thought I would be doing stand up as a career and I wouldn't be doing it if it wasn't for Gerry Katzman and his class. Most comedians will say that you don't need to take a stand-up class. This is true. You don't NEED to take a stand-up class. But taking Gerry's class will definitely HELP and save you from going thru years of struggling with these two core things: 1. Writing. Gerry not only gives you a formula on how to write jokes, but also helps you develop a specific, true voice that is personal to only you. You won't just be writing "funny jokes", you will be writing deep personal material that will get you credit and and a solid reputation within a competitive field. 2. Networking. Gerry's class has a network of over 100 alumni, most of which are booking some of the best up-and-coming stand-up shows around Los Angeles. The stand-up community can be very lonely and cut throat... but Gerry's alumni have been some of the kindest, most nurturing individuals I have come across. I've continually come back to Gerry's class when I've needed to work out some vulnerable, personal material... that needed to be crafted in an environment that's more nurturing and sensitive than going in front of an open mic. Each time, I've developed solid, deep material that KILL crowds. Bottom line: I definitely recommend checking out this class, if you are new to stand up, or if you're a comic looking for a supportive writing environment. Working with Gerry has been an outstanding experience, and I am forever grateful for all his class has given me. read more

I have been an "aspiring" standup comic subconsciously for years. I previously told myself, "Ah I can do this on my own/I don't need any help/I'll just hit open mics and become a pro!" In reality, I wrote dozens of poorly constructed, unfinished half "jokes" in my phone, and never once brought myself to an open mic. I was clearly missing something. My co-worker admitted he'd been taking this amazing standup comedy class with Gerry Katzman. When I asked him how he liked it, he responded... "I'm just really happy." After seeing two of Gerry's showcases (graduation shows at the end of each course which I also HIGHLY recommend you check out), I was blown away with every comic's talent, persona, and ease on stage. I wanted that. Gerry constructs his class with detail and purpose. He listens, he will shine a light on a hidden creative part of your brain you never even knew you had. You will need to be vulnerable and get a little personal but it will only help you. The positivity and encouragement he promotes in every class will help you bond with your classmates and I promise you will become the cutest comedic cast of Breakfast Club characters when it's all over. It's a team effort. If one of you gets discouraged, someone else in class will pick you back up. There is homework to this class, just like any other class in school. You need to think, research and write outside of the scheduled hours of class, and take advantage of Gerry's willingness to talk you through your concerns at literally any time of day. He will make the time for you as long as you are putting in the work. Yes, this class is WORK. But the reward is very high. If you want to take standup comedy seriously, please take this class. I will be forever in envy of every single student that gets to take this class in the future. Be scared, be bold, have fun. read more

No words can do Gerry Katzman and his incredible class the justice it deserves. Of all the comedy classes I've taken, I have never encountered a teacher who is more generous with his time and talent as Gerry. It doesn't matter if you've taken zero or a thousand comedy classes in the past, Gerry teaches you an invaluable set of skills that help you harness all of your funny so you can package and perform it for others to enjoy. The attention he pays to each one of his students and their individual success is unlike anything I've ever seen. There isn't a moment spent with Gerry where he doesn't know exactly what each of his students is working on, and where they are in their process; which brings me to the most unique, rewarding aspect of Gerry and his standup comedy class - he won't let you fail. You can be in the worst depths of panic and self-doubt, and Gerry will somehow find a way to not only throw you a life raft, but help renew your overall confidence in both yourself and your talent. In other words, Gerry will ensure that you take the stage and slay. Gerry has successively created a comedy class that fosters positivity, unity and self-reflection - and in doing so, has created a community of comedians that are encouraging, kind, and really fucking funny. So many people have the dream of performing standup comedy, and Gerry allows his students to not only realize that dream, but to do so to the very best of their ability. If I could take this class again, I would - a thousand times over. read more

There is nobody in the world like Gerry. He's amazing. The class was 10 weeks long, and in that time i developed a killer ten minute act. It's not just a class for beginners, although everyone in my class was one. Gerry invests so much of his time in everyone in the class. He want's you to succeed but he also wants you to work hard and understand the craft. For me the most important thing I got out of this class was self awareness. You're not getting up there and doing 10 minutes on how long the line at the supermarket is, you're talking about yourself. Your fears, your insecurities, the stuff about you that's unique. All of this is done in the safest environment and along the way you make some of the best friends you'll ever have. THANK YOU GERRY! ************************************************ UPDATE ************************************************ I'm just adding on to my review 9 months later because I really feel like I owe a lot to Gerry and what his class has given me. The point of the class is to learn the craft of stand up but it also left me with a lot more. In so many ways my life has improved and I give much of the credit to this course. I've made great friends, and I've learned a lot about who I am and what I am capable of doing. If I never do another stand up show again, taking this class will still have been one of the best thing's I've ever done. I can't promise everyone will get the same results that I did but this course has only changed my life for the better. read more

I've wanted to do stand-up for literally years, but could never figure out how to get started, let alone how make it a part of my life. I have a ton of anxiety about performing in public, plus I need structure to help me start something new, plus I'm a world class procrastinator. And for years, those three things let me say, "I'll definitely make stand-up work next year" over and over again. Gerry's class 100% helped me with all three of those issues (and that's an understatement). It's a great environment that's simultaneously very structured, while also being very malleable. You're forced to put in work every week, but you're also strongly encouraged to try and discover your own voice. I assume that most things I find on the internet are a scam. Or, at best, a mixed bag. But Gerry's class isn't like that at all. He's built an incredibly productive, absurdly supportive space, where everyone wants you to succeed. It quickly became the highlight of my week. I guess my final thought is: three months ago I desperately wanted to do stand-up, and was mad at myself for putting it off for so long. Then I took Gerry's class, and now I've done a seven minute set to a packed house. I'll literally never forget it. You don't know me, mysterious internet stranger, so you have no reason to trust me, but trust me, the class is special. read more

Always wanted to try standup so I did an open mike and bombed. Heard Gerry on a podcast( Adam Carolla ) and the 2 people on the show both took his class and did real well. ( Gina and Brian ) They talked about the difference between telling stories and telling jokes. I had no jokes only stories. This class taught me how to write jokes for me and others based on real life situations. My life. They taught a structure and a culture that will live with me forever. The comradirie that was created by Heather and Gerry alone was worth the price. The comedy is beautiful. You get to watch and see yourself and your classmates develop from story teller to joke writer. Its quite magical. I now know how to write a joke and I know when my joke sucks lol. I can think of a thousand ways this class was beneficial and way more than writing jokes. You need to take it to find out. You will be blown away and its way cheaper than therapy. Take the class. You'll see what I mean. It is not easy. Things worthwhile rarely are. You will struggle on days and think " I cant do this! " Then you make a call and Heather talks you off the ledge. You CAN do this. When I finished the class its what I said to myself after the feedback of all the people that saw our showcase and laughed. You can do this. read more

I recently had the pleasure of attending a standup comedy class led by two incredibly helpful instructors, Heather and Gerry. Throughout the course, their dedication to ensuring our success was evident, as they went above and beyond to equip us with the necessary skills and knowledge. One aspect that stood out to me was their emphasis on the proper way to set up a joke, regardless of the comedic style. This approach allowed us to grasp the fundamentals and apply them in a versatile manner, giving us a solid foundation to build upon. While the class presented its challenges, the well-structured format made the learning process enjoyable. Heather would always make herself available for calls which made it clear that she genuinely cared about my progress. Her support eliminated the need for trial and error, providing invaluable guidance on how to get started in standup comedy. Overall, I highly recommend this standup comedy class to anyone interested in pursuing this art form. With Heather and Gerry's unwavering commitment to their students' success, you can embark on your comedic journey with confidence, skipping the uncertainties that often come with self-discovery. read more

Some people yearn to do stand-up, some people are terrified by it, and most likely fall somewhere in the middle (as I did). No matter your disposition, this class will not only help you demystify what can seem like a very mystifying medium, but it will do so in a way that is informative, supportive, and empowering. There is no cutting down, only building up. Every person's material is given equal attention and equal investment-it's all about achieving a tide that just keeps rising. In a field that almost exclusively brews fierce competitiveness and one-upmanship, to learn about comedy-and therefore, truth-in such a warm and encouraging manner is a true rarity. Gerry's devotion to students and unparalleled knack to get at what's truly funny and/or deeply honest with every piece of material presented makes this class worth every ounce of time and money. Coming from a guy who doesn't take classes (like, ever), I can't imagine having finally made the foray into stand-up without this experience. I give it my highest recommendation if you want to get up on that stage, grab the mic, and knock 'em dead-all while being your truest, funniest self. read more

Taking this 3 month stand-up comedy course with Gerry Katzman, along with Heather Pasternak and Rachel Forman, has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. I've always been shy and insecure, and doing this in English (my second language) was especially challenging. But Gerry, Heather, and Rachel created such a supportive and welcoming environment that I felt safe to grow, take risks, and finally believe in myself. When I stepped on stage for the first time, I realized: I can do this. This course gave me confidence, courage, a new way to express myself, and even new friends who, though miles away, I'll always keep close to my heart. This course isn't only for those who want to pursue a stand-up comedy career (though it will absolutely help if that's your goal). It's also an incredible journey in personal growth, showing you how to turn even life's most difficult challenges into laughter. Forever grateful to Gerry, Heather, Rachel and my classmates read more

Where do I begin? I had been wanting to do standup for years, but was terrified of the process, the catty energy in the business and, well, choking on stage. I found Gerry through a mutual friend and was blown away by his wit, positive energy and unique teaching approach with standup comedy. Over the course of a few months, he shared expert performance tips, on-stage techniques, comedy writing, joke crafting, super-uber-duber secrets that I can't write about here while fostering a truly positive, uplifting, community vibe in class that was incredibly supportive, confidence-boosting and put me totally at ease throughout the process of learning standup comedy. For anyone - actors, public speakers, improv comedians - who want to learn the art of standup comedy AND be 100% ready for the standup circuit - this is honestly the only choice in town. Gerry is a comedy God... a Buddha of belly laughs with magic up his sleeves. Bless you, my friend!!! read more

My first thought when signing up for this stand up class was, can you really 'learn' how to do stand up. Then I went to see a showcase of one of Gerry's classes and there wasn't a weak comic in the bunch. I was hooked. Gerry gives you the tools and confidence to be the best comic possible and has helped me grow as a performer and writer, from just one session. He creates an incredibly supportive atmosphere where you'll learn how to push yourself to find the funny that lives in all of us, the end result is you discovering your voice in the world of stand up. This has been one of my favorite class experiences and not only did I learn a lot about myself in this process, I met some really great friends as well! I HIGHLY recommend this class to anyone who has ever been interested in stand up but maybe not sure how to get started or even those who have been doing it a while and need to focus their set and make it funnier. read more

I'm so incredibly grateful for the privilege of getting take this class. It was one of the most challenging and ultimately incredibly rewarding experiences I've ever had. More than anything, I'm grateful for the extremely supportive, kind, generous, hilarious and safe environment that the amazingly brilliant Gerry and Heather helped to foster among myself and my wonderful classmates. Thank you, Gerry and Heather, for believing in us and for helping us to believe in ourselves. Thank you for the education, the inspiration and encouragement. You've rekindle my love of comedic writing and have increased the already huge amount of respect I have for the art of stand up comedy. And thank you for helping to open up my life to new and exciting possibilities. I will always and forever be grateful to the both of you! For anyone on the fence about taking this class, get off the fence and sign up. It will change your life. read more

I was lucky enough to be recommended Gerry through a friend who had taken his class and thought I had what it took. What a fantastic experience! Gerry knows this craft through and through, and will quickly teach you the essential anatomy of a joke and work hard at honing your latent talent. But the treasure of this class lies in how invested he is in making sure every student feels supported. Stand up comedy is hardly easy, and there were plenty of moments over these three months where I found myself paralyzed by self-doubt or frustration. It's an inevitable thing. Gerry always provided encouragement and made sure every classmate did the same for each other, giving everyone room to grow. The comedy routines that resulted were all incredibly funny and really reflected each person's lived experience and voice. I'm 100% ready to put myself out there on stage, and you will be too after this class. read more

As someone who was always interested in comedy, I really wanted to take the leap, but how? This was the perfect way to jump in and learn. Gerry and Heather worked tirelessly to form a group of folks that would mesh and give the support to try new things that may be out of your comfort zone, in a relaxed atmosphere. I learned a lot about myself and the way I think, as well as how to make it funny. The folks I met and worked with in the class I consider friends. The class show went great for everyone, but more than that, I got to work with some talented people and had an experience that I couldn't recommend more highly. Thanks to all the guests, classmates and to Gerry and Heather for all their help, and generosity. I look forward to continuing down the path. If you're reading this, and have a feeling you might like to try it but are unsure, take the leap-you'll be better for it! read more

Taking Gerry's class was one of the scariest decisions I've ever made. I was terrified. I had no idea if I would have the chops to get up there at the end of the class and perform. In fact, I swore to all of my classmates that I wouldn't invite anyone I knew to the showcase. Cut to three months later, Gerry has made our workload manageable, and showed us how to find the funny in who we are as people and what makes us each unique. It was work that I was joyful to put the time into every week. Gerry guided us in such a foolproof way, I can't imagine attempting stand up on my own without experiencing the learning curve of this amazing class first. I would recommend this class to anyone who, like me, has said to themselves for years, "I wish I could get up there and try stand up." Nothing will prepare you better than this class and Gerry's awesome guidance. read more

Gerry Katzman is a golden chalice of love. I have been to 4 (and in 1) of his showcases, and every one of them has been as good a night of comedy as you'll see in LA- and these are FIRST TIME COMICS. While he does put a lot of energy into curating compatible class groups, there is nothing to explain his success rate other than this: Gerry is THE BEST at what he does. Technique, rigor, whimsy and a little voodoo comprise the alchemy that is Gerry's class. His ability to create an environment of trust and play while simultaneously demanding excellence is remarkable. I've never felt so safe and so challenged in the same space. Gerry is so completely invested in and attentive to his students that he elevates everyone's level of commitment to each other. Also, he is a golden chalice of love. This class is a comedy catapult. Get in it and get high. read more

This class is truly something else. It's not a gimmick. Gerry is simply out of this world. I was initially excited to write this yelp review but now I realize I could never write anything that could even remotely do this class justice. It's not just a class: it's a constructive, creative, and supportive community. Gerry is not just a teacher: he's a mentor, a friend, and someone that is clearly well-versed in comedy and "the industry." I don't think I've ever met a teacher so invested in his/her students. It's seriously and intensely transformative. And it is absolutely hard work. This is not something you can half-ass. This is not a class you can just show up to without putting in the work at home. To some extent, it consumes you (in a very positive way) But it is so beyond worth it. If you are interested in standup, this is a must. read more