Feeling The Humor
What is the most common thing people do when they need to
come up with some humor? They LOOK for the humor. That kind of observational
humor made Jerry Seinfield rich and famous, and it’s what we generally think
comedians do to find funny jokes. But don’t forget to FEEL for the humor. I’m
not suggesting you start groping people. . .unless you can afford the lawsuits.
..but when you’re experiencing things in day-to-day life, ask yourself “what
does this feel like?” Expressing your feelings are a great way to find the
funny AND connect with your audience because chances are they’ve felt that way
too in similar situations.
And this means you can find humor in the mundane things.
- a serious picture that is funny years later
Take for example travel, which many of us will be doing this coming week. As
you get patted down at airport security, nothing funny might happen, but think
about what it feels like to get patted down – good, bad, embarrassing, special.
Or do you feel like a piece of meat or a stripper or whatever. And that’s where
you’ll find the big laughs or at least some humor. . . “I won’t say being
patted down by airport security degraded me and made me feel cheap, but I suddenly
had the urge to climb a pole in my underwear.”
Or how does it FEEL being crammed on an airplane with people
couching and hacking? It feels like you’re in a TB ward without access to penicillin.
Or what does it FEEL like to:
- Wait for your luggage to come around on the carrousel
at luggage claim? - Ride the airport shuttle.
- Rent a car
- Use a public bathroom
If you feel a certain way in going through this stuff, then
chances are, many people have had that feeling too, and that’s where you’ll
connect.
So start feeling your way to humor, and you’ll turn the humdrum
into hilarious!
Jan
The WHEN of Writing a Joke
I’m writing this from an airplane 30,000 feet up!
YEAH. .my life will get even better when all airplanes get internet access. . .I’m so haThe WHEN of joking I’m writing this from an airplane 30,000 feet up! YEAH. .my life will get even better when all airplanes get internet access. . .I’m so happy. Speaking of WHEN. . .When writing a joke, a fast way to find some funny is to ask yourself “when?” and then broaden it. When – a time, When – a day, When – a week, When – a month, When – a year, When – a decade. . . you get the picture. Because WHEN something takes place may lead to the funny.
If something is happening on a Friday
as opposed to a Monday or in the spring versus the summer, then you can do jokes appropriate to those times. Joking about an event in the winter brings on weather jokes, holiday jokes etc. . . I’m speaking to a women’s health conference tonight, and I asked WHEN did they start this conference. . . 5 years ago. Which leads me to wonder – how unhealthy was this group 6 years ago? With the recent break up of Kim Kardashian, you could get to the joke by asking things like WHEN was there a wedding that was shorter than 64 hours (Britney Spears @ 55 hours), WHEN will she start dating again (72 hours ago), WHEN will she be over the grief (64 minutes). . . see how the word WHEN helps you out.
And remember,
things that happen on a Friday can have different jokes than things that happen on a Monday because we think about those days differently. I did a show for a hospital once on a Thursday night. I asked when do they usually have this event, and they said it’s always on a Thursday because, and I quote, “Friday is kind of a blow off day.” We’re talking about a hospital folks! I had a lot of fun joking about how it’s comforting to know that even a hospital has a blow off day, but that’s just wrong. . .I think I’ll schedule my surgery for Wednesday. There’s also hospital appreciation month. . make sure you schedule surgery during that month.
Asking WHEN can be a valuable tool in comedy. . .
so remember to ask it. . WHENever you’re trying to write funny.
Jan
Funny Family Facts
I like that TV show Modern Family
because it shows just how non-normal most families are. And, depending on how non-non-normal your family is/was, it might have been bad for growing up, but it’s still great for comedy. In my last blog I talked about questions you can ask to find the funny when networking, and one of these questions is asking about family members. . .no, not “do you have a crazy relative” (the conversation may lead to that though), but rather are you related to anyone famous?
SOMEONE has to be related to Charles Manson. . .
wouldn’t it be cool to find out it’s the person you’re talking with. And the best part is, you’ll remember that person! A woman in my recent program was related to Ma Kettle – a comedian from the dark ages I believe. That would be an interesting tidbit to bring up if she were trying to have some fun and/or be remembered. Sure when you’re networking, you want to find out things you both have a connection with, but try to include some fun things that will get you laughing AND make the conversation memorable.
And be ready with your information.
What famous relatives are hiding in your family tree? A woman I just met said her best friend’s dad did hundreds of cartoon voices in the 60’s, and as they were going through Disneyland, in the Haunted House, they actually heard his voice – recorded back in the 60’s – before he passed away (obviously), so that’s really a neat story. Not to mention that she gets to hear his voice whenever she goes to Disney
I may not remember
what school my friend Diane attended, BUT I do remember that she might be the great granddaughter of Ulysses S. Grant. So dig back into that family tree, and find some roots that are unusual. . it’ll be great entertainment! Jan www.TheWorkLady.com www.ComedyEmcee.com www.HealthComedian.com
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