by jmcinnis | Aug 17, 2010 | A. Humor Writing, B. Research Techniques, Funny Jokes
And now for part two of being specific. . .after your research where you’ve now got specific data, you need to actually write a joke that is specific. Take a look at the words you’re using and see if you can get very, very specific. Don’t use a rounded number like 300...
by jmcinnis | Aug 11, 2010 | A. Humor Writing, B. Research Techniques, D. Appropriate Humor
During a client call last month in which I was interviewing them to gather information so I could customized jokes for their group – I had a hard time getting them to be specific. When I asked about their challenges they gave me stress and mergers. . .it was hard to...
by jmcinnis | Jul 19, 2010 | A. Humor Writing, B. Research Techniques, C. Humor Delivery, Funny Jokes
When people hear that I’m on stage for like 60 minutes telling jokes, they’re always amazed at me being up there THAT LONG. Actually the hardest part isn’t being there for 60 minutes (ok, a few shows have been rough!), the hardest part is GETTING STARTED. That’s...
by jmcinnis | Jul 6, 2010 | A. Humor Writing, B. Research Techniques, C. Humor Delivery, D. Appropriate Humor, Funny Jokes, G. Topical Jokes, Workplace Humor
I’ve never done comedy in another country (ok, Canada, but they’re so close it doesn’t count), yet I’ve been in front of audiences sprinkled with international people because they come to us. And while of course you can’t appeal to EVERYONE in the group, there are...
by jmcinnis | Jun 25, 2010 | A. Humor Writing, B. Research Techniques, D. Appropriate Humor, Funny Jokes, G. Topical Jokes
What happens when you’ve got a completely dry subject and you just can’t figure out a way to have fun with it? You have to think bigger. To find the funny when I’m speaking, I start with the group; if there’s not much there, I look at the room, then move out to the...
by jmcinnis | Jun 22, 2010 | A. Humor Writing, B. Research Techniques, C. Humor Delivery, D. Appropriate Humor, Funny Jokes, G. Topical Jokes
Self-deprecating humor is one of the quickest ways to get the audience on your side. As I’ve said, a lot of comedy is about people feeling superior to the comic, so if people think you have a flaw then they’ll either feel superior OR be able to relate to you even more...
