Im notjusta nerd, proclaims a bespectacled 13-year-old named Thea, speaking into a microphone on stage.

Im also a geek.

Girls still get the message that comedy is something dudes do and girls laugh at, Harris says.

I want to give girls the chance to amplifytheirvoicesliterally, with a mic.

She moved in with another guy, and I draw the line at that).

But once I started talking and letting it flow, it was amazing, she says.

Of course I would, honey!

She immediately put the item back.

Allen says she notices that there are different standards for women and men.

If you curse, people look at you and think, Thats not ladylike, she says.

But if a guy does it, it has a different effect.

She says shes learning not to worry what other people think, and comedy is helping her do that.

More diversity in comedy makes comedy better for everyone, she says.

And better comedybreaking stereotypes, expanding perspectives, hulksmashing powermakes usallbetter people.

I really believe that.

That you must be loud, naturally charismatic, and always the center of attention.

The workshop teaches kids that instead, your persona iswho you already are.

Just imagine a turned-up version of that.

Lets say you said, I wish I were less timid.

Guess what: Your comedy job is not to be less timid!

Your comedy job is to be timid!

To talk about being timid.

To tell us and show us on stage what it feels and looks like to be timid.

Timid is funny, when you write jokes about it!

Im annoyed by _____.

Im terrified of _____.

Im embarrassed by ______.

Harris found that what sparks the strongest feelings is what often leads to the best material.

Together, they home in on what gives the student a unique command of the topic.

Anyone can write about annoying dogs, but only Tess can write aboutthat.

Heres an exercise from the Gold Comedy website:

X thing happened.

If that happened to me/in my life OR if I did that…

Example:

[Wily politician or powerful person of choice] lies and no one punishes him.

Dont attempt to be funny.

Let them be funny when it happens, which it will about 1 percent of the time.

The practice is what matters.

I have always said you’re free to write a joke about anytopic, Harris says.

September 11, rape, the Segway.

What matters is: who is the jokeon?

This isnt your journal.

Some local comedy clubs will let those under 18 perform on certain open mic nightscall and find out.

Even the most practiced comics … practice, the course explains.

They need to tweak it and play around and make it funnier.

Thats all part of the process, and now its part of your process, too.