I loved the collaboration with working comics. It was a close knit group that got along really well. Tom has a knack for giving input and ideas and helping comics fine tune their material. Tom is very positive and upbeat and never makes anyone feel like they don’t belong. I’m glad this school exists and I’m proud to have gone through both the beginners class and the writers workshop. I am telling everyone I know about SOS and I hope it stays around for a long time.

I had a great time and learned a lot!  Thank you Tom for your expert guidance, encouragement and commitment to our success.  I also appreciate you making a special trip to support me at the open mic show.  You definitely went the extra mile!

So many things. First, I love how Tom works with your material as an artist and doesn’t try to make you write jokes that are not your style. He really encourages each comic to dig into their individuality and he has the amazing talent of pulling out the best in you. Additionally, Tom has created an incredibly collaborative environment in which artist feel comfortable not only sharing their jokes but their process. We entered as strangers and left as friends. Incredible experience.

Comedy isn’t as easy as you’d think, but Tom Riehl has a way of pulling out the best in each of his students. Even the shyest of folks gains the confidence and ability to go WAY outside their comfort zone after the course. What other school allows you to laugh out loud for three hours???

The workshop exceeded my wildest dreams. Tom’s guidance was flawless. The structure of each session gave us the opportunity to share, receive feedback, and offer feedback to the others. The environment was always encouraging and supportive. Watching the growth of my classmates while experiencing my own was incomparable. I left feeling a deep camaraderie with Tom and my classmates and a sense of loss when it was over.

I LOVED the collaboration effort – really helped tighten my set.