"When I began in comedy I remember feeling like this Stand up game was a huge cloud clearing mountain. Clearly, you have to have talent, drive, and a little bit of luck. No class can help you with this, but Jeff Lawrence provided me with the equipment I needed to climb this mountain. Things like stage opportunity, industry connections, and positive, yet constructive feedback have helped me perform in festivals, open for comedy legends, and even get cast in TV pilots. Thanks Laughing Buddha!"
Testimonials
Testimonials >>
"Stage time. Stage time. Stage time. The mantra of every comedian. Jeff Lawrence and Laughing Buddha Comedy provide comics an opportunity to perform in as supportive an atmosphere as you will find anywhere. All while bringing in working comedians to provide feedback. Repeating for impact: actual working comedians. There is no such thing as a completely smooth start in comedy, but this is the closest you’re going to find."
"I recently attended a Laughing Buddha Comedy Industry show and had the pleasure of watching Jeff Lawrence and his fellow comedians. It was a great experience, and an opportunity to meet potential clients. The training the comics receive there really prepares them for work in the professional market."
"My evening at the Laughing Buddha Comedy Industry Show was one of the best I’ve experienced. Being a talent manager I attend showcases and this was one of my favorites. I got to see a handful of very talented performers and what I loved best, is they knew how to entertain. They were able to tackle sensitive subjects; racism, equal rights, family issues, and turn it into something hysterical that brought the audience together as one. They are very unique and personal at LBC."
"After doing Laughing Buddha Industry Showcases for the last couple of years, my career has taken off! I won an all expenses trip to perform in London by winning the Stand Up 360 competition, booked two national commercials through Frontier Booking International, and I'm also represented by Avanti Talent Management. I'm even hosting and given regular prime time weekend guest spots. If you're serious about acting in addition to your stand up these showcases are a must!"
"I recently took the One Month Standup Comedy Intensive workshop and I was able to sharpen my stage and joke writing skills. Performing in the industry showcases has helped me garner some attention, even as a newcomer, and receive valuable feedback. Passion is contagious and the crew at Laughing Buddha Comedy display a passion that is impossible not to catch."
"I have been to many open mics in the city, and I can safely say this is one of the best. At the beginning of each show, the host asks the audience not to text, take notes, or talk on the phone, which means when you are on stage, everybody is listening to you. The mic is as professional as a mic can be!"
"I've been doing open mics for several months now, and the Laughing Buddha Mic by far the best! It's the only open mic that even comes close to replicating a house show. The crowd is attentive and supportive and Jeff is one of the most honest and hard-working guys I've met in this insane business. He's been extremely supportive of me and many others who are just starting out."
"I took the marketing and promotion class with Jeff Lawrence and I learned even more than I expected. I left the class with pages of notes that I couldn't wait to put to work. Jeff creates a very comfortable and fun learning environment which was great for me since I'm a new comic. I'm so glad I took the class and I'll definitely be back!"
"Laughing Buddha Comedy is a class act. I’ve done a few of their industry showcases, and they have delivered exactly what they promised. You will be seen by and meet an actual living, breathing, industry person, which is rare in NYC stand up. All the shows I've done ended with me getting positive feedback and booked. You do have to be funny, but if you have the goods, Laughing Buddha can make it happen."
"Laughing Buddha Comedy gets you in front of decision makers. LBC put me in front of the bookers for Coastal Entertainment. I received positive feedback and was subsequently booked for paid MC gigs at Wisecrackers in Scranton, PA, and The Brokerage on Long Island. Laughing Buddha Comedy is one of the good guys. Work smart and have fun!"
"After meeting Jeff Lawrence I signed up for one of Laughing Buddha's Industry shows. Jeff provided an opportunity for me to meet and speak to both the booker and owner of the club right after my set. Both gave me valuable input on my set and I was "passed" to do a development spot in a pro show where I got paid and didn't have to bring anyone. If you want to get exposure and move up the stand up ladder do one of Laughing Buddha Comedy's shows!"
"After performing in one of Laughing Buddha Comedy's Industry Showcases I was given the opportunity to meet with Sandy Gunar, an agent with Avanti Talent Management. The feedback I got from Sandy, as well as other industry pros I've met by doing these shows, has served me immensely. I've now booked three paid commercials in the last year"!
"Since working with Laughing Buddha Comedy, I’ve improved my writing, performing, and hosting skills, while learning how to produce my own show and market myself professionally. Classes are followed by stage time with live audiences, and there are six week programs, free workshops, specialty classes, and something to offer every comic on every level...I’m hooked!"
"When I do shows, Jeff Lawrence and Laughing Buddha Comedy are the first names I think of. At their industry showcase I always have a great experience; the crowds are awesome and always supportive. They really care about me as a comic and do a great job of promoting my name in the world of comedy."
"In order to progress in comedy and get non-bringer spots you have to be seen by the right people at great shows. I've done several shows for Laughing Buddha Comedy and after my second audition for club owner Al Martin I was 'passed' by him and I'm now getting regular professional spots at Broadway Comedy Club, The World Cafe, as well as the New York Comedy Club."
"After performing in a Laughing Buddha Comedy Industry showcase, I met with Sandy Gunar, an agent from Avanti Talent Management. He immediately added me to his talent roster. Within a few months, I was being sent out on auditions regularly. Within a year, I booked my first commercial! If you're looking to do an industry show, don't get sucked into large bringers with little reward. Instead, go with Laughing Buddha Comedy!"
“It is very difficult to find bringer shows that actually deliver what they promise. Laughing Buddha Comedy Industry Showcases are the exception to the rule. Jeff Lawrence is always able to put me in a great lineup in a packed room, on a prime time weekend date. The show always has a great mix of pro talent and my guests always have a great time and want to come back again. The best part is I always meet the industry rep (typically a booker, agent, or club owner) and get valuable feedback after my set.”
"Working with Jeff Lawrence and Laughing Buddha's talented coaches, writers, and comics has been fantastic. The classes focus on giving you honest, constructive feedback from professionals who know their funny. The shows are a great mix of headliners and new comics, with industry pros who actually stay after the show and give feedback. I feel quite lucky that I found such a supportive community in the wild world of NYC comedy."
"The Laughing Buddha Comedy School has had a huge impact on me. I moved here from Colorado specifically to enroll in their classes. Not only are they fun and educational, but Jeff Lawrence is a caring person who takes the time to make sure that every one of his students is getting what they need. Taking LBC's classes has allowed me to perform weekly in front of real audiences, something you simply will NOT find anywhere else. Becoming a part of the Laughing Buddha Comedy School is honestly one of the best decisions I've ever made, both personally and professionally. "
“The Laughing Buddha instructors helped me look at stand up comedy in a different way. They encouraged me to look deeper into my material and discover why I was saying what I was saying.”
"Laughing Buddha Comedy School offers workshops and seminars taught by seasoned industry professionals. They're not just instructors; they're working stand-up comics and comedy writers who will encourage you to explore your personal life, the world around you, and your thoughts about both so that you can develop a comic voice and identity that is unique to you."
"After taking Laughing Buddha's "Promoting and Marketing Yourself as a Stand Up Comic" workshop, I learned that I didn't know as much about marketing as I thought. The workshop covered everything: making effective business cards, how to optimize the number of hits on your YouTube videos and effectively utilizing Facebook, Twitter, and other social networking sites. This is a workshop you can't miss if you're serious about your comedy career."
"Moving to New York City to work in stand up comedy can be a brutal and scary experience. If it weren't for Laughing Buddha Comedy I would have been lost! Fortunately, I found the highest quality instructors who really care about the craft and go above and beyond. The workshops, followed by hours of quality stage time, helped me restructure my act with a noticeable improvement in my performance.”
“Laughing Buddha has been more than a school to me. Its a family and a support system. Its easy to grow and take risks as an artist when you feel like you are in a non judgmental environment. I have since booked countless shows, showcases for colleges, and a TV spot. LBC is the best!"
“The workshops and one-on-one sessions forced me to look at comedy in a more insightful way. The teachers are very approachable and went out of their way to address my concerns outside of class. The workshops got me thinking about how to be a more engaging and interesting person on stage, as opposed to simply making my jokes funny.”
“The Laughing Buddha Comedy School is a great place to develop as a comic. With plenty of stage time, a supportive class environment and top flight instructors, Laughing Buddha gives you the opportunity to push yourself to find your authentic stage persona and speak your truth onstage. If you're looking for a school that embraces what's funny about you as an individual, rather than trying to craft you into a cookie cutter comedian, then Laughing Buddha is for you.”
“Laughing Buddha's Six Week Program was an invaluable experience. The instructors helped each student delve into their own psychology to find what was truly funny about them, then developed that into something an audience could relate to. In just six weeks, everyone had progressed by leaps and bounds. Being in a creative, supportive environment and having the opportunity to follow the workshops with quality stage time in front of a real audience is an opportunity not to be missed.”
