posted 05-07-2001 02:52 PM            

I have a very sharp wit, but I was finding that my ideas were running out. I also found that I was using the same techniques to get people laughing. My mom, dad and sister didn't really laugh at my jokes too much anymore (I wasn't repeating the same ones, just using the same techniques to try and get laughs).

So I went out and bought my first comedy CD EVER:
Jerry Seinfeld - "I'm telling you for the last time"

Man, that guy cracks me up. You know what?
I'm funnier for listening to that. I got my family in stitches a few minutes after I'd finished listening (MAINLY BECAUSE OF MY GOOD MOOD! - see tip #4). And I'm making people laugh again. I'm not using Jerry's jokes, it's just that my wit has been reawakend after listening to it.

So, here's my 8 TIPS FOR FINE-TUNING YOUR SENSE OF HUMOUR:

1. Listen to and watch COMEDY when ever you can. Sitcoms are great. But stand-up comedy works the best if you want to work on entertaining your friends. Only watch it if YOU find it funny.

2. Hang out with funny people. Haven't you noticed how your funny friends have funny dads/aunts/uncles? That's because they spend every waking moment with them!

3. Make a habit of buying a comedy CD\video every now and again. (This'll also help with tip #4). Try different comedians and see which one's are most like you, or which you would most like to "impersonate"

4. Listen to comedy in the morning on the way to work\university. Wether it's your CD or something on the radio. Make sure it's something that really gets you laughing. It puts you in a good mood for the rest of the day and people will enjoy your company more because you'll be more cheerful. (You don't even need to be funny to benefit from a good laugh). You can only be funny if you're in a good mood.

5. I personally don't like telling "other peoples" jokes. (Two seals walk into a club...) I avoid them mainly because I always screw them up =). If you're a good joke teller then DO IT! These kinds of jokes NEVER fail, if someone else told it and made you laugh, chances are whoever you tell will laugh at it too! You're sense of humour WILL benefit.

6. Don't feel intimidated if you don't get a laugh. It's been said before, and I'll say it again here : "Even the best comedians have their bad days."

7. Don't try too hard. I often find my worst "funny" days are when I'm TRYING to make people laugh. DOn't LOOK for things to comment on! As your wit "sharpens" you'll sense things that are funny and will make people laugh without trying.

8. Comedy is all about looking at the world from a different perspective. When you give everyone a glimpse from your point-of-view you get laughs!

posted 05-07-2001 06:20 PM            

To add to the list:

9. Master the art of timing. Find the holes in peoples' rhythyms and jump through the loops. If you stutter, the timing is ruined. Your bark needs to be as sharp as your wit to master the art of timing.

10. Pay attention to the mood of your audience, whatever size. Mimic this mood and slowly lift them out of it. Don't rush in with jokes to bring miserable people out of a rut; they will just grow more irritable.

11. Jokes will always be funnier ten-fold if not staged. This means don't tell people a joke about a guy who went into a bar...instead, use it when the subject of a bar or alcohol comes up. This explains why some things are only funny "if you were there." Spontanuity is the fabric of humor.

Rx

------------------
REd-xL (19)

Character is destiny.

Character shows in four virtues: Fortitude, prudence, temperance, and justice. A person with good character will persist and endure, chose carefully and thoughtfully, control emotion with reason, operate with equity and fairness. By contrast, a person with poor character will quit easily, behave thoughtlessly, allow mood to conquer intelligence, and act selfishly.

posted 05-07-2001 10:39 PM            

--Have a big vocabulary! Using random synonyms for words, in conjunction with timing, can make people think you are funny without even telling a joke. It also makes you look smart. Some words are just plain funny, because no one uses them. I don't know why it works exactly, but it works for me.

posted 05-08-2001 10:18 PM            

Just video tape yourself singing. You'll hear what you sound like and everyone's voice is funny to themselves. You can pick out all your mistakes with a fine comb. You can look at your posture and improve that. ( good posture if VERY important). You can also just make something up on the spot. Try and use synonyms... or if your adventerous, antonyms. . I know it personlly puts me in a good mood. When I sing I'm happy. It'll improve your voice. ( girls like a sex� voice) and whatever you think will help.

All is good in fun and games.
WHATEVER YOU DO DON'T LET HER GET THE TAPE. SHE'LL THINK YOU'VE ESCAPED FROM THE BETTY-FORD CENTRE!!! :d:d:d

posted 05-09-2001 09:20 AM            

quote:

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Originally posted by syncmaster:
...WHATEVER YOU DO DON'T LET HER GET THE TAPE. SHE'LL THINK YOU'VE ESCAPED FROM THE BETTY-FORD CENTRE!!!

---

Are you speaking from experience?

posted 05-10-2001 05:02 PM            

First is expense humor. This is the kind of joke that's made at someone�s expense. This kind of humor can be very funny but you have to be careful with whom you use it. With the wrong person you could end up with a black eye. And, I defiantly hate expense humor when people use it on someone who can't defend himself or herself. If you're going to use this kind of humor make sure the person you're ripping on is in front of you...

Second is ironic or twist humor. Most of the jokes you get on the Internet in e-mail are twist humor. You tell a story that has an obvious ending and twist it or give it "A punch line"

And the third is obvious humor. This, in my mind, is the best improv humor. Watch "Who's Line is it Anyway." sometime and you will get the jist of obvious humor. You take a very obvious everyday event and talk about it. It's even funnier if the event is embarrassing for most people to talk about like masturbation, sex, or sitting on the sh|tter.

Example: "Ever have your mom walk in on you while you're wankin' it? She asks what your doing and all you can come back with is "oh nothing..." while you've just spun around having problems tucking your johnson back into your pants with sweat dripping off your face and a picture of Anna Kornakova naked on your computer monitor." What's even worse is when your girlfriend catches you and all you can come back with is, "Awe baby, no internet porn can live up to you... pictures can't cook!"

posted 05-30-2002 02:41 AM            

anyways, thought i might add a few examples.

your in mcdonalds and your friend is looking at a promotional coupon he just got.

saying "they only work before 11am" is not funny.
but saying something like "careful buddy, dont trust these bastards...(pause, look suspiciously at the coupon)... there! (read out from the coupon) only available before 11am (pause) on the third moon" is funnier

another example when someone is teasing you...
saying "shut up" is not funny (well it can be funny if you sound really enthusiastic)

posted 09-08-2002 09:06 PM            

(very monotone)"I finally got around to reading the encyclopedia. It turns out the zebra did it." ~Steven Wright

(hope this doesn't offend, but I found it hilarious)"There's hundreds of other countries in the world, and they all know we [USA] could beat the s*** out of them, but they still hate us. What we should do is send them all big screen TVs and a satellite dish. Then let them watch just five minutes of ESPN2. That way, they'll see that we build monster trucks in our spare time. We build rocket-powered jet cars that go from 0-330 in 5 seconds when we're bored. Now imagine what we'll build when you piss us off!" ~Chris Titus, speaking on the events of 9/11

Definitely find out if your location has a comedy club, and check out a few shows. Also, splurge for HBO, but only if your package includes HBO comedy. It only takes a few minutes of stand-up to put you in a great mood.

posted 09-09-2002 03:34 AM            

A couple dope ass comedians that no one mentioned. My two all time favs, as stand up: Richard Pryor and Eddie Murphy.

Check out their stand-up stuff. Oh shhhhhiiiiet! hahahah. I NEVER get tired of seeing their stand-up. Murphys Delirious was much better than Raw. An instant phucking classic. Don't sleep on those two guys. Check em out!