New VGCC course appeals to aspiring Comedians
For the first time, Vance-Granville Community College will offer a course that gives area residents a chance to learn about the trade of stand-up comedy from a professional comic who has toured the country. “Introduction to Comedy” will meet on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6 until 8:30 p.m., Oct. 26 through Nov. 30, on the college’s main campus in Vance County. The class will not meet on Nov. 25 (Thanksgiving).
The 25-hour course will be taught by B.C. Carver , a self-described “comic, humor therapist, author, and self-improvement coach.” In the 1990s, he became one of the TOP 100 touring club comedians in America, entertaining audiences in 48 states. He has opened for Jeff Foxworthy and other well-known comics and musical acts.
Carver will teach participants about the writing, performance and business aspects of comedy. By the end of the course, students will be ready for their first “open mike” performance, which can quickly open doors to more opportunities. They will have written between three and five minutes’ worth of professional stand-up comedy. The material will have to be clean, according to Carver. “After all, you get more work with clean comedy,” the veteran funnyman said. “You don’t limit yourself to just comedy clubs.” Carver himself not only spent 20 years on the road as a professional comedian, but he has also been hired by corporations, associations, civic groups, colleges and the U.S. military to address their employees, clients or members. He tries to provide content and techniques that audiences can put to use immediately in their personal and professional lives. “I’ve had nurses and teachers attend my classes because they want to communicate better with their patients or students,” Carver said. “I’ve had businesspeople who just want to become better writers, because that’s a lot of what this course is. Comedy truly is poetry that doesn’t rhyme.” He invites anyone to join his class who likes to read, write and observe people, and he notes that there is no “age limit on comedy.” He hopes to teach students how to avoid mistakes that he made when he first started doing stand-up, and he hopes to help students adopt the mind-set of a comic. “After this course, you’ll never look at life the same way again, and you might just find a fun, new career for yourself,” he said.
Carver is no stranger to the area. Born near Durham, he now splits his time between Person County and Halifax, Virginia. He once lived in Henderson and worked for local radio station WIZS 1450 AM.
The cost of the course is $105, plus a $3 campus access/security fee. Students must pre-pay for the class. For more information and to register, call Gabrielle Norfleet at (252) 738-3275.
