Instructor Bio

ADAM MCLAUGHLIN has taught stand-up comedy for more than a decade, coaching hundreds of comics in San Francisco through the San Francisco Comedy College. His teaching is built on a detailed comedy theory he developed himself—breaking joke structure down into clear, repeatable formulas that help comedians sharpen their writing quickly and deliberately.

He also worked behind the scenes in Northern Ireland on BBC’s Find Me The Funny, where he helped develop material with emerging comics including Shane Todd, Micky Bartlett, and Andrew Ryan. His role focused on strengthening joke structure and tightening sets during production.

Adam has been a working comedian for over 20 years. He performed as half of the VSauce-affiliated duo WackyGamer, and later as part of A Couple of N3rds, whose projects were featured in the Daily Mail, Glamour Online, and on KTVU’s Right This Minute. He also co-stars in and co-produces the A Couple of N3rds podcast, where he has worked with performers from Broadway, the Disney Channel, and VH1.

The Fine Print

This class is offered by Buffalo Improv House LLC.

Class Size Requirement: This class requires a certain number of registrants in order to run. Buffalo Improv House reserves the right to cancel and refund this class if that number is not met. We will be in touch with you if it looks like this will happen.

COVID Policy: We follow local, state, and federal guidance and requirements in regards to COVID safety policies. In addition, this class takes place at a building that may choose to enact its own COVID safety policies, and we are in frequent communication with other performing arts organizations regarding their COVID policies. Our classes are currently mask-optional, with proof of vaccination not required. However, this may change as CDC, State and local regulations and guidance changes, or as new best practices develop in our industry. We take COVID seriously and ask that you do not take our classes if you are unwilling to follow COVID safety measures if the COVID situation returns us to a place where face coverings or proof of vaccination become required or recommended again.

Cancellation / Makeup Policy: This is a multi-week class. If an individual session needs to be canceled due to weather, instructor unavailability, or for COVID reasons, a session will be added on the Sunday following the final scheduled class session. If this happens, we will prioritize having the same instructor teach that makeup class, but this might not be possible, so this make-up class may be taught by another one of our world-class faculty members. If another make-up day makes more sense, the instructor and students can decide on an alternate make-up day. If the Buffalo Improv House team determine that the class can no longer run due to COVID reasons or other reasons that would disrupt in-person instruction, the class will either move online, will be put on hold, will be moved to a new location, or will be canceled, depending on various factors including student feedback.

Refund Policy: We follow the same strict no refund policy of most Improv Comedy schools and theaters, except in the case where our class is unable to run as advertised. This is because our classes require a certain number of students to run, and we are a small operation and need to base our decisions based upon whether or not individual classes are able to run. If this class cannot run as advertised and must be canceled before its start date, we will provide full refunds. If this class must be canceled or if significant changes must be made to the schedule after the class begins (beyond the use of our reserved make-up day) we will provide prorated refunds based on the number of remaining classes. We try to be as understanding as possible, and if a student needs to withdraw we usually are able work with them to put their tuition towards another eight-week class.

Lateness and Attendance Policy: Please be on time for our class, and please prioritize this class. Our classes are designed in a way where it is most beneficial if everyone is there, on time, ready to work. We ask that students be punctual, and that students try to miss no more than two individual classes per eight-week course. If you need to miss three or more class sessions, we will likely ask that you re-register for another session of the same eight-week course, especially if your third or later absence is a consecutive one.

To be clear: It’s understandable to occasionally be running late because work ran late, or to need to miss a class because of a long-planned vacation, a medical situation, a gig, or something like that, and we are very understanding and flexible. But our classes are structured in a specific way and it is not good for anyone if a person is late each week, or if they miss more than a couple classes, especially in a row.

Seeing Improv Shows: Beginning in 2024, students in our "leveled" improv classes will be required to see at least two improv shows in order to go onto the next level. This ensures that our students know what they are studying to perform! We offer students free admission to at least two shows/events per eight-week class to make this easy, and there are other improv comedy shows and companies around town. Your instructor will let you know which shows are running each week.

Student Discounts: Are you a student? We are happy to offer discounts to current college / university students or recent graduates. Send us an email at email@buffaloimprovhouse.com

Conduct Policy: All students must agree to abide by our Extremely Reasonable Conduct Policy. By registering for this class you are confirming you agree to abide by this policy.