DANA JAY BEIN

By Brian E. King

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Dana Bein is a funny guy. As the stand-up comedy instructor at ImprovBoston, he's funnier than me and people respect him. And he'll be featured on MTV's Made this month as a stand-up coach while I sit and write self-deprecating intros.

Have you seen any of your students bomb on stage?

My students always succeed at their first show because they're usually filled with friends and family. They usually tank at their second show because that's when you become a standup comic—when you bomb.

What was your experience on Made like?

It was a six-week shoot and they never gave me a schedule in advance. They'd call and say, "Be in Chelmsford tomorrow at 2," and I thought, "Oh, Chelmsford, that's convenient," but Chelmsford isn't convenient for anyone ... not even for Chelmsford. Hopefully I'll be the first Made coach to look like a douche.

Have you ever been heckled?

My mom's actually heckled me, but because she's an alcoholic and not because she knows where she is or what she's doing.

Any tips?

On my mom?

On heckling.

You have to address it and shut them up without looking like a dick. If you get aggressive, then they win, but once you get aggressive and you don't have the stature of a 12-year-old girl like me, be careful once the show ends and you're offstage to deal with the consequences.

What makes someone stand-up material?

Do the opposite of what I do—make people laugh.

[Dana Jay Bein teaches Standup Level I, Sun 7.20.08 at 4pm and Standup Level II Sat 7.19.08 at 12:30pm. ImprovBoston. 40 Prospect St., Central Sq., Cambridge. 617.576.1253. Made airs on MTV. Check local listings for airtimes. improvboston.com, danajaybein.com]