Ever noticed certain people are always being asked to emcee the company staff party or
their friend’s wedding? They have funny comments to make about various topics during
a conversation. They make you see things in ways that you never imagined; ways that make
you see the funny side of life. They’re usually the life of the party. They make you
laugh, or at least chuckle inside.
Being funny
allows you to establish some relationships better and faster than other people. You will
become more outgoing in a crowd and may be able to set people at ease in various
situations.
If you aspire to be this type of person, then
you most likely have a mad streak in your personality that is making you stoop low enough
to actually learn how to be funny. You’re the perfect candidate for the task.
While humor is an art form that seems to develop from within, it’s definitely
something that can also be learned. However, it takes a lot of demented practice sessions
and some real-life trial and error to master it. At first, you may see a lot of blank
faces but keep trying. The more you practice this art, the more natural you will be. Funny
gestures, facial expressions, and comments will become second nature.
Being funny though is not the enough. Knowing when to be funny is paramount, and this
comes only with experience – and maybe from a few weird looks from others. Obviously
there are times that are appropriate and times that are not.
Humor takes on different faces in different settings and groups. There is a style of humor
for wedding receptions, for large and small groups, for staff rooms, parties, friends,
church, individuals, committee meetings, and even seemingly “staunch” boardroom
meetings.
While actually “learning the art” of humor is too big to fit a brief article,
here are ten keys to great humor:
1) Be bold. There’s nothing that kills humor more than being shy. If you
are using discretion, there’s room for humor almost anywhere, including your Bible
study group or corporate boardroom.
2) Humor is, in part, about telling people what they want hear but
would never actually say. For example, very few people would talk about light-hearted
public bathroom embarrassments. It is amazing how far you can go, even at a church
function, and remain “Family Rated.”
3) Learn from others. Know someone who’s really funny? Watch them
carefully. Also, check out the sitcoms on TV. There, you will find both well scripted and
improvised humor, including exaggerated facial expressions and body movements that
reinforce the words or theme being used.
Sitcoms are great at turning life into something surreal and funny.
They take minute details of life and blow them up until you can see how funny they are.
Ever watched Mr. Bean?
4) Use a mirror. If you’re going to emcee an event, or do anything
in public, don’t be afraid to use a mirror to practice with. Many humorous movie
stars use this technique. Even if you’re a school bus driver just making faces for
the little kids in the bus parked in front of you, you’ll be amazed at how a mirror
at home can help you get some laughs and some big cheesy grins from the kids.
5) Use discretion. Use appropriate humor for the appropriate crowd.
Although you can stretch the border at a church function, like talking about boys turning
their underwear inside out at camp to get another couple of days use out of them, you
can’t use off-color language etc.
6) Take a fresh look at life situations. For example, what would a man
do if his pants got wet in a “bad” spot after leaning on a sink counter in a
public washroom? How would he get over the embarrassment? Hmm… How about using the
hot air dryer meant for drying your hands? What would he do if someone walked in while he
was drying them?
7) Stare at an object for ten minutes and see how many things you can
use it for, or what misfit situations you can get into with it. What can you do with a
pair of rubber gloves other than keep your hands dry while you wash dishes with them? Or
how about the retractable cup holder that you that you tried to use on your computer? You
know, the one that you press the button and it comes out. It’s marked “CD”
for “Cup Dispenser”.
8) Things that don’t fit together. A male pastor was asked to say
grace at an all-women’s award banquet. After being introduced to say grace, he got up
to the microphone and said, “I am totally honored to be here and to accept this
award.” The ladies burst into laughter. He continued, “When I got the call
yesterday, I thought it was just to say grace or something.” During the laughter, he
pretended to listen to someone in his ear piece tell him that he was just called to say
grace. Relaying this conversation out loud to the audience he became an instant
“hit” in a very short period of time.
That is an example of something that doesn’t fit. A male would
never receive an award at a woman’s award banquet, and yes he was just called to say
grace and the audience obviously knew that.
9) Learn to imitate other personalities and language accents.
Learn how to act like a nerd or speak like an East Indian or Scottish person. Even using
an accent for a one-sentence answer to someone’s question can get a laugh.
10) Place yourself in situations that make you come out of your shell. Take chances
and experiment.
It takes fewer muscles to smile than it does to frown and if you deliver honest and
sincere humor to people, you’ll be placing smiles not only on faces but also in
hearts.
