Comic Connection

This week I had the lovely Ashley Hayden as studio guest. We talked about the Art of the Interview. I kicked off the segment with good energy, but stumbled over her introduction and ended up saying: "We're talking about interviews today; and this one started so badly already...!"

We both burst out in laughter, the ice was broken and it went swimmingly from there. It made me understand once more, how very important it is NOT to take oneself too seriously in online video and presentations. While we have standards to uphold, I also think it is important to let a little human shine through.

I've never felt guilty for using self-deprecating humour. It can work to build empathy and make an instant connection with your audience, especially when you deliver it in as much a surprise to yourself as to them. While comic timing isn't everyone's thing, there are one or two things you could do to bring a little light to even the most serious topic.

AND SO I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT COMEDY

Straight out the gate, here are a few things NOT TO DO: You want to be careful that you don't use sarcasm or "put-downs" as comedy. At CleanComedians.com they also suggest that GROSS* (gender-based, racist, obscene, sexual or swearing) is all a no-go zone!

Don't use too much humour, it's not the Comedy Store or a stand-up routine. Cheap shots, like taking on the opposition could be in poor taste and it is even worse to use someone else's jokes without giving them credit.

On the DO THIS WELL list, I'd keep it short: Make sure that it is in good taste.

If you're just starting out to test a bit of comedy on the side, then I've thought to make a list of popular devices that might serve you. Remember that we're not trying to break the bank with hilarity here, we just want to crack a nod or a smile to add some spice to the online talk or presentation.

ADD SOME COMIC SPICE

Funny Words :

When I got to work with actor, Casper de Vries on a movie once, we had a crazy conversation about some numbers being funnier than others. There was a line in the script about someone having waited for SEVENTEEN minutes. And then we started to explore WHY that's funnier than waiting for FIFTEEN. Think about some funnier words or phrases you could turn:

• brouhaha, pandemonium, or hullabaloo instead of chaos
• scamper, bustle, or skedaddle instead of hurry
• hoodwink, dupe, or bamboozle instead of mislead

The New Cliché :

You really want to avoid those broad things people say in online video and presentations: "in today's world", "think outside the box", "paradigm shifts", "in these trying/uncertain times" and so on. But you could put a new spin on one and knock it out the ballpark.

• Try replace "Pick your brain" with "Siphon your hard-earned knowledge for free!"
• Replace "Value-add" with "Salt on the caramel"
• Or instead of "Empower" people, how about "Transmogrify" them - remember Calvin & Hobbs?

Really, anything with a bit of a twist, so we don't take ourselves so very seriously and also lighten the mood of the room just a little. Here's a tip I found in a Forbes article : We need to monetise/strategise/analyse/incentivise?= When in doubt, stick "-ise" on the end of a word and say we've got to do this and 9 out of 10 times, it will sound action-oriented!

Rule of Three :

More than the structure of the messaging in all stories - but jokes in particular - the Rule of Three is very important. Comedians often use The Set-up and The Punchline to achieve a sequence of THREE. If you thought SEVENTEEN's funny, try this: Things just work better in "threes". The idea is that you're sharing a list of "things" that have something in common, and while the first two make it clear what that commonality is, the third (The Punchline), breaks this sequence and surprises us, every time:

• John Cleese's Bio: “Writer, actor, and tall person”
• Laura Kightlinger on Drinking: “I can’t think of anything worse after a night of drinking than waking up next to someone and not being able to remember their name, or how you met, or why they’re dead.”

And George Carlin's twist on the format:

• “One tequila, two tequila, three tequila - floor!”?

The Callback :

I'm going to break the Rule of Three and add a fourth little technique that you could use to drive a good bit of comedy home. Comedians call it the "Callback". It is a kind of déjà vu. If you used a good joke during a set, you can sometimes give it a kind of kick-up-the-backside by returning to it at the end, to remind your audience of that funny moment.

I often watch Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee, with Jerry Seinfeld. It is definately worth trying out an episode or two on Netflix. Jerry returns to a moment from the show, which he then punctuates. It is always refreshing. Be careful not to REPEAT the joke, just take it one step further. It is often an effective way to end a show or live video.

PARTING SHOTS

Right here I'm going to reiterate that comedy isn't everyone's thing. The thoughts I shared here, are small adjustments you might make to your material, to breathe a little new life or perspective into LIVE video and online presentations. Don't feel pressure to BE FUNNY.

In one of my favorite movies, Funny Bones, they tell the story of two brothers who have comedy running through their veins. The one has Funny Bones (he just behaves and does things that naturally come across funny), while the other Tells Funny; he delivers well written comedy, with enough panache to come off as a great comedian in the end. Both these kinds of comedians are really funny.

But you don't need to aim to be a Jerry Seinfeld. Remember, we're not going for "Stand Up"; we only want to bring some joy to the message we're crafting. And if we can crack a smile and a nod, we've gotten closer to making a connection with our audience.

Try one of the simple techniques above and see how it sits with you to being a little comedy into your next presentation. A bit of humour gets attention and makes people feel good when they laugh. Done well, the comedy will make you and your message memorable and in the end - repeatable. And that makes it share-worthy.

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