Debasish Rath
Stand Up Comedy A Serious Business
An inspiring and humorous true story of an engineer who conquered stage fear through stand-up comedy, proving that confidence is built one laugh at a time—not born overnight.
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An inspiring and humorous true story of an engineer who conquered stage fear through stand-up comedy, proving that confidence is built one laugh at a time—not born overnight.
A true story of transforming crippling stage fear into confidence through persistence, practice, and the world of stand-up comedy.
Offers an inside look at open mics, joke writing, bombing on stage, audience psychology, and the relentless effort behind every successful performance.
Blends humour with real-life experiences, making readers laugh while learning valuable lessons about confidence, resilience, and personal growth.
Perfect for aspiring comedians, public speakers, professionals, and anyone who wants to communicate with confidence and authenticity.
More than a comedy book, it is a practical roadmap that proves every confident performer starts as a nervous beginner willing to take the first step.
It’s not just jokes. It’s the silence before the laugh, the stories behind the punchlines, and the man who lived it all.
Debasish Rath is an engineer by profession and a stand-up comedian by passion. After struggling with stage fright during a corporate presentation, he transformed his biggest fear into his greatest strength. Over the years, he has performed more than 2,000 comedy shows, co-founded comedy communities, hosted large corporate events, and inspired audiences across India. Through Stand-Up Comedy: A Serious Business, he shares his journey with honesty, humour, and practical insights, encouraging readers to embrace failure, find their voice, and enjoy the process of becoming confident speakers.
This book promised to teach me the brutal truth about stand-up comedy, and it delivered. Art is thus a serious business; how you present is a different matter.
Before knowing Debashish and experiencing his behind-the-scenes grind, I thought I was just one clever joke away from getting my own Netflix special. And soon, through his stories, I realised that I am about thirty bombing café gigs and forty-five graveyard jokes away from even getting six people to stop staring at their phones while an espresso machine drowns out my set. Amazing book, a must-read for an honest insider!
For shows, corporate events, speaking sessions, interviews or a note about the book — write in and you’ll get a reply.
debasish.rath@yahoo.co.in