By Dr. Bill Dyment, co-author of Fire Your Excuses
Do you think being funny is an innate trait? Some people do seem to be “born funny,” the rest of have to work a little harder. The good newsi s just as you can be a decent photographer by learning your camera and a bit about post-production, you can get better, much better at using humor in your writing, presentations and at friends and family gatherings.
Humor follows a pattern. It can also be mathematical in its structure and rhythm. Deconstruct why you like certain sketches, jokes, videos and spoofs and you being to understand what you can do to create humor of your own.
Want to use a special joke with your work team, family or friends?
Put your “material” through these 20 filters and humor is likely to appear.
- Bizarre Pairings— ex. __________- challenged, follically-challenged, culinarily-challenged, etc. How could you play off the phrase “horse-whisperer?” _________-whisperer?
E.g., This guy on the freeway today tried to be the semi-whisperer. It did not go so well. We sat in traffic for over in hour.
- Alliteration— words that start with the same letter or sounds,
E.g. Academic Armageddon.
- Repetition— “I love you, man” – for a while it was funnier every time you heard it. (Now it is dead, beware of overusing a phrase or using it after everyone else is over it.) This technique was employed by Mark Twain with great success. It is referred to as a “call back.” Another example: “Show me the money!” Look for “trending” phrases you can introduce your audiences.
- Altered Image, a visual gag—Example: An advertisement for the New York, New York Casinos depicted the Statute of Liberty with her skirt up just like the famous photo of Marilyn Monroe.
- Spoofs—Examples: The L.A. Times produced fake “Low Speed Chase” news segments which were shown as pre-movie advertisements in theatres. Saturday Night Live is well known for their hilarious television commercial spoofs. Remember “the Bassomatic?” “Mom Jeans?”
- Unexpected Endings—Here’s a classic conference joke you may have heard. It has been told so much it is essentially a public domain joke: “The towels here are so fluffy and luxurious…….I almost couldn’t close my suitcase.” (Best used with a few lines of set up.)
- Self-Deprecating Humor— “If I wasn’t in top physical condition, I’d be a little nervous about running 10 miles with you this morning.” “It took me 10 years to get my Ph.D., but it took me 15 to get over it.”
- Exaggeration—One bank ran a series of radio ads about being put into “voicemail purgatory” (bizarre pairing) when you try to call in to ask a question of most banks. You could take this theme further by using phrases such as: “Our Lady of Perpetual Hold,” etc.
- Twisted Familiars— “Will Work For __________” Stock Options, Sushi, and Chocolate.
“Will Speak for Food.”
“Drive carries no chocolate, caffeine (experiment with your own last word.)”
- Memes—Using an image of a well-known movie or celebrity, or even cat, and adding your own funny caption. Silly example: An image of a crazy Christopher Walkens character in an outdoor movie scene with the caption: “Walken in a Winter Wonderland.”
- Current Events Humor—the more current, the better… Here’s a weak attempt: George, you too? I didn’t take you for a “Glee Partier.”
Example 2—“Yes, I also read the President has created thousands of new jobs; my brother-in-law has 4 of them.”
- Savers— Never be the last one in the room to admit your joke failed. Acknowledge it quickly with a saver line or comment of some type. Johnny Carson was a master of this.
When no one response in your otherwise friendly audience you could say, “No, please hold your applause.” Or, “My mother liked that one.” “Funny, that joke killed them in Kansas City.”
- Opening Jokes—Always tie it in to the theme of the presentation. Never tell a joke for the mere sake of getting people to laugh.
- Imitations— Study a friend or leaders’ mannerisms for humor.
What words does he or she uniquely pronounce? Identify and count their mannerism? What is important to him or her? What are his or her pet phrases? How does he or she dress, walk, etc?
Example—my sisters secretly recorded my mother’s mountain saying then mixed a “rap-song” of them. Free phone apps like “Auto Rap,” make this simple. It was hilarious but only to us. (Don’t be afraid to create humor that works only for your audience.)
- Poems and Titles—to describe common human experiences.
Example—“The Multi-Pat Hug” at the end of a so-so date.
“It’s as if she is saying as she hugs you good-bye and pats your back — “Count ‘em, One-two-Three—you’re not for me.”
Or it’s opposite: The “Excuse Me? But Were We Once Married?” Hug.
- The Rule of 3—jokes can build like waves. And little chuckles can set up your audience for big laughs when you tell your killer joke. There is a cadence to the flow of words we use in jokes:
Example—“What do you get when you play a country western song backwards? “The mine reopens, your truck runs again, and your wife leaves her boyfriend at Sally’s Bar.”
- Metaphors—Use a colorful, “down home,” or humorous phrase to illustrate your point. Example: “Sorry Paul, that dog just won’t hunt.” For this project, we want to get a quote from someone who doesn’t already have a “dog in the fight,” a “pony in the pageant.” Or, “Remember, don’t wrestle with a pig. You’ll get yourself dirty and the pig will like it!”
- Nicknames—be careful, be nice, best to use yourself as the target or use a nickname of endearment. Example: “My wife is not very impressed with my willingness to ask for directions when lost. The other day, I was trying to pretend I knew where we were going and she said: “So Magellan….”
- Non-Gender Relationship Humor— Tease about relationships without using gender. Example: “I read recently that there are two keys a successful relationship but no one knows what they are!”
- For Professionals Only: Use contextualized humor. Attend a conference and take notes on the main themes of the session. Alternately, make careful observations of your workplace’s most cherished, oft-repeated values. Craft humor around these iconic themes. If you pull it off, everyone will appreciate the inside jokes and your customized effort.
E.g., I know some people came to the conference to network, others to obtain C.E. credit. One man I met in the lobby this morning said he came all the way from Taiwan. I am not sure why you came but I can say for sure, it wasn’t for this coffee. It’s terrible!” (Caution: Tease about something minor or can be easily fixed. Don’t tease about about the conference room, opening dinner, etc.
How to write comedic material for use in your next gathering, toast, or meeting:
Begin by generating a list of phrases, events and people common to everyone in the audience and to current events and media. Then put your material through the filter of the above 20 joke styles to see what comes out. For example, what could you do with the terms: “Alternative Energy,” “Stimulus Package,” “Water Shortage,” etc.
Caution: Remember stealing other people’s signature joke is a crime punishable by a well-deserved perception that you aren’t very funny on your ownJ
You can do this—hey, humor happens-everywhere!
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