Online learning and celebrity-led courses have been a topic on the rise over the last few years.
There are a range of courses out there, led by different celebrities who cover a range of topics – with one of the most notable ones being Steve Martin’s Masterclass!
Aspiring comedians and performing arts enthusiasts in particular may find themselves drawn in at the prospect of learning from the best in a dedicated masterclass.
The only problem? There is no way of knowing if this course is worth the money! That is – there was no way of knowing. This is where I come in.
In this article, I’ll take you through the ins and outs of Steve Martin’s Masterclass and let you know if it’s worth trying out for yourself. We’ll discuss:
- Who Steve Martin is
- What you can expect from the Masterclass
- Course pricing
- Course and content breakdown
- Pros and cons of the course
- A final verdict.
Let’s go ahead and jump right into it!
Who is Steve Martin? A Brief Overview
Coursera Plus, Udemy, or MasterClass?
Coursera, edX, Udemy, MasterClass — I've gone through all of them. Get my Tuesday picks — plus reader-only codes when they drop.
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Steve Martin is a highly accomplished comedian, actor, producer, musician, and writer. He has won a variety of awards, including five Grammy Awards, a Primetime Emmy, and an honorary Academy Award!
He was considered to be the most popular comedian of the 1970s and is well known for his comedy acts, major film roles, and his time hosting Saturday Night Live.
With such a wide range of incredible accomplishments, it’s no wonder why so many people are vying to secure a spot in his comedy masterclass.
What to Expect from The Masterclass?
So, what exactly does Steve Martin’s Masterclass entail?
This course will take you through everything you need to know about being a successful comedian, from gathering material and finding your comedic voice all the way to editing your jokes and dealing with hecklers.
Steve Martin uses both anecdotes and examples from his own career in comedy as well as dedicated case studies to illustrate the lessons that he teaches through the Masterclass.
The delivery of the lessons is clear and straightforward, making them easy to follow and apply in your own life.
Course Pricing: Is It Affordable?
Steve Martin’s Masterclass is available through the Masterclass platform, meaning you will need a subscription to be able to view it!
There are three different subscription plans that you can purchase on Masterclass:
- Individual – $120 per year
- Duo – $180 per year
- Family – $240 per year.
While this may seem like a hefty fee, this subscription will also give you access to 90+ other Masterclass courses on the platform!
There are celebrity Masterclasses on this platform in a range of different categories, including many other comedy Masterclasses that you can check out.
Course Details
The Steven Martin Masterclass is composed of 25 video lessons and has a runtime of 4 hours and 40 minutes. Its average review score on Masterclass is 4.7 out of 5 stars, making it a highly popular class with good ratings.
The Masterclass can be sped up, slowed down, and paused as you go along!
This makes it very easy to consume the class in a method that is the most comfortable and effective for you.
Course Structure and Content Breakdown
There are 25 distinct modules that you will progress through during Steve Martin’s Masterclass. The topics are as follows:
- Introduction
- Getting Started in Comedy
- Gathering Material
- Finding Your Comedic Voice
- Developing a Comedic Persona
- Jokes and Bits
- Delivery
- Crafting Your Act
- Student Session: Workshopping Nalini’s First Stand-Up Act
- Student Session: Workshopping Tim’s Act
- Opening and Closing Your Act
- Profanity and Morality
- Growing as a Performer
- Nerves, Hecklers, and Bombing
- A Life In The Arts
- Creating Characters
- Story Techniques
- Screenwriting Case Study: Roxanne
- Editing
- Editing (cont’d)
- Writing Case Study: Meteor Shower
- Steve’s Comedic Inspirations
- Steve’s Journey
- Final Thoughts
- Bonus Case Study: Speeches
Each topic has an allotted amount of time, during which Steve will cover all of the key information that you need to know about the subject.
These are often punctuated with examples from his own career that highlight the topics at hand.
Personal Takeaways: Key Learnings
One of the key insights that Steve Martin provides regarding comedy is the fact that it is a skill that can (and should) be continuously honed and refined!
Steve Martin emphasizes that constantly improving your comedy and cutting out fluff and irrelevant phrases is essential when it comes to keeping the audience’s attention.
Another extremely useful aspect of the Masterclass is the workbook that comes along with the class!
This book contains a wide range of content including lesson summaries, activities, and additional resources that you can check out.
Pros and Cons of the Steve Martin MasterClass
What are the absolute highlights of Steve Martin’s Masterclass?
For one, Steve Martin is straightforward and does not hold back any tips or information.
While many professionals tend to be very vague when it comes to the secrets of their success, Martin breaks it down in a way that is easily digestible and applicable in practice.
What about some not-so-great things about the course?
Only one factor really stood out as a negative to me, and that was the emphasis on live, on-stage comedy above anything else.
A large portion of the Masterclass is dedicated to factors such as what to wear, how to behave on stage, and dealing with hecklers.
While this is extremely helpful for those wanting to perform live comedy, more and more aspiring comedians these days are utilizing an online platform and therefore may not find much use in these particular lessons.
Evaluating the Promises: Did the Class Deliver?
So, did the class deliver when all is said and done?
While that is highly dependent on what you are looking to get out of the class, for me it was a resounding yes.
Steve Martin is extremely intelligent and well-spoken, backing all his points up with examples from his own career so you can get a good grasp on what he is talking about.
The content also covers a much wider scope of topics than I expected, which is another plus!
That being said, if you want to focus on more new-age, online-based comedy, then some of the more live comedy-centric lessons may not be very useful for you.
Value for Money: Is the Investment Justified?
As mentioned previously, viewing Steve Martin’s Masterclass requires a subscription to the Masterclass platform.
Is the full payment of a Masterclass subscription worth it if you are only wanting to view this one Steve Martin Masterclass?
In my opinion, I would consider it to be worth the money – but only if you are a diehard fan and are dead set on viewing this Masterclass.
However, by subscribing to Masterclass you automatically have access to a wide range of other celebrity Masterclasses (including some by other high-profile comedians)!
This access is what makes the subscription worth the money.
Conclusion: Final Verdict on Steve Martin’s MasterClass
At the end of the day, the Steve Martin Comedy Masterclass is an incredibly in-depth, well-taught Masterclass that covers a wide range of topics.
Martin gives great insight into the world of comedy, along with examples from his career and other case studies that display exactly how his lessons and tips play out in the real world.
Viewing this Masterclass requires you to have a subscription to the Masterclass platforms – and while this is not exactly cheap, it also gives you access to a huge number of other celebrity Masterclasses.
This is what makes the subscription worth your money, and watching a few different Masterclasses on the same topic is also a great way to get some additional perspective on the subject!
If you are an aspiring comedian and are on the fence about getting a Masterclass subscription and checking Steve Martin’s Masterclass out, I would say: go for it!
There is much to be learned from his years of experience, which he explains in a straightforward and clear manner.
Other MasterClass classes worth your time
Steve Martin’s comedy class is unique on the platform. If you’re comparing across categories, see our full MasterClass review, worth-it analysis, and category guides for writing and cooking.