Funny Business: Maple Grove Gets Schooled in Comedy

Laughter has come to Main Street in the form of comedy camps and workshops at the Maple Grove Arts Center.

Led by nationally known standup comedian and Maple Grove resident Scott Hansen, community members are able to learn the secrets behind the life of a standup comic and tips on breaking into the industry.

As a precursor to full-length workshops offered this summer, Hansen offered a series of Comedy Tech Mini Camps this spring at the . The two-hour long class gave participants a sneak peek into the world of both stand up and improvisational comedy.

“The mini camp gives people a taste of what is happening at the longer workshops,” Hansen said.

It is the second year Hansen, along with the comedy team of Kim Thomassen and Gust Alexander (formally known as The Stagebenders), not only talked about the world of comedy, but how it could be used in the creative writing process and overcoming public speaking apprehensions. The Stagebenders, improvisational comedians, focus on the improv while Hansen talks about stand up comedy.

“It’s a good mix,” Hansen said.

The "faculty" share a lengthy list of credentials in the comedy industry. Hansen has earned several honors as Minnesota Comedian of the Year and says he has tutored or written jokes for comedians like Jay Leno and Jerry Seinfield. During his 30 years in the comedy industry, he has performed, produced, directed and written comedy. The Stagebenders bring a background of television and film appearances as well as 15 years of improvisational stage performances nationally and internationally.

The workshops and mini camps have been drawing in people from around the Twin Cities, who are using the classes to help improve their comedic skills, learn how to start a comedy career or overcome apprehensions about speaking in public.  Although the mini camps are relatively new, Hansen has been doing workshops for more than a decade.

“Some people are just looking to enhance their public speaking skills,” Hansen said, stating it wasn’t unusual for the workshops to taken for business or motivational settings.

For those who dream of doing stand up comedy, Hansen shares his personal experiences and processes for establishing a routine. Along the way, he reassures budding stand up comics to proceed at their own pace and set goals.

“There are going to be times where it doesn’t work,” he said of being on stage. “You can’t take it personally—there are always other shows.”

It is the second year Patrick Stuart of Maple Grove participated in the Comedy Tech Mini Camp with Hansen, initially starting with “clean slate” and no stand up comedy experience. Although he has an educational background in theater, taking the stage for stand up comedy was new to Stuart when he decided to try it last year.

“It has been fun going through the process, learning the art of writing comedy and developing a routine,” Stuart said.

At the May mini camp, Hansen told the group there is “a lot of ways to use standup comedy” in everyday life. The confidence, he said, affects “every area of your life.”

To start the creative process, Hansen and The Stagebenders suggested to attendees to start carrying and writing in a journal and reading current event items.

“You never know when inspiration is going to hit,” Hansen said.

“You’re a star at the level you want to be,” Hansen said, reflecting on the same advice he received in the past as a new comedian. “You don’t have to be the biggest star to be successful.”