Comedy news: Doug Stanhope blasts comedy courses as scams (and the people who run them parasites)

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American comedian Doug Stanhope has caused a stir among the comedy community after hitting out at comedy courses.

Labelling the courses as ‘raging scams’ the comedian launched a scathing, 4,000-word attack, stating that they are designed to ‘prey off innocent delusions of the incapable’ and a belief that they provide a short-cut to success in the industry.

Stanhope wrote: “They are all 100 per cent bullshit. It wouldn't matter if it were Pryor, Carlin and Mark Twain at the podium at the Holiday Inn banquet room, it would be them ripping you off.

‘Usually it works out that the folk who teach this shit never did any comedy on any actual paid level and act like fly strips for those whose dreams outweigh any innate scepticism. These people are loathsome enough but don’t create much damage. Then there are people equally as worthless but with better “marketing” skills that can make a career out of it.’

There are currently a number of comedy courses in Britain and the U.S. some of which can charge customers up to £2,000 for a five-day teaching programme.  

Comedian Jason Cook has defended the courses however. Writing on comedy website Chortle, Cook said that though the courses ‘won’t turn you into Michael McIntyre’ they do help put budding comedians on the right track.

“There are probably people in Britain who shouldn’t be running courses, but nothing annoys me more than when seemingly intelligent people make sweeping generalisations, and as I’ve discovered, all generalisations are rubbish.” Cook said. 

To read Doug Stanhope’s blog criticising comedy courses, click here.