| Laughter is really the best medicine, and it | | | | roses, while everybody else walks by. They |
| has been humor that has helped me cope | | | | pay attention to detail, to find something |
| through my darkest days, and there have been | | | | humorous. If there is not something funny, |
| many! The healing power of humor cannot be | | | | they will try to make it funny, using the |
| measured. Over the years, people have asked | | | | tools of the trade like exaggeration; irony, |
| me questions about humor, and I'll share a | | | | etc. Stop; Look; and Listen! That's what |
| few of those questions and answers with | | | | people in humor do...and, others just walk by |
| you.QUESTION: What is the most important | | | | and pay no attention.QUESTION; How is the |
| thing I should know about getting into humor | | | | best way to break into comedy/humor?ANSWER: |
| or wanting to be a funnier person?ANSWER: Be | | | | The K.I.S.S. Principle...keep it simple, |
| honest with yourself! I can't emphasize this | | | | stupid! Start with short material...short |
| enough. Take an inventory of yourself...your | | | | jokes; short anecdotes; short stories; short |
| abilities; your capabilities; and limitations | | | | everything! Don't start blabbing about your |
| and ask yourself, if you have what it takes | | | | vacation that's going to take about 7 hours |
| to get into comedy. At some point in time, | | | | to tell. (YAWN) If you do this, you will |
| you're going to get embarrassed; you will | | | | get your 15 seconds of fame very quickly! |
| fail; you will embarrass others; you're going | | | | Memorize the short pieces for smooth |
| to say the wrong thing at the wrong time; | | | | delivery, etc.QUESTION: What is the single |
| you're going to eat a little "crow"; your're | | | | most important thing about comedy?ANSWER: |
| going to get a little "egg on your face": | | | | DELIVERY...without a doubt! I don't care if |
| your timing and delivery will be off; and you | | | | you have the best joke or story to tell...if |
| might even get slapped in the face if you are | | | | you stumble on delivery...YOU'RE FINISHED! |
| not careful, etc.Humor is quite subjective! | | | | You MUST have a smooth delivery to be |
| What one person thinks is funny, is an insult | | | | successful in humor! Breaks in your delivery |
| to somebody else! Care has to be taken about | | | | and forgetting the punch line, will get you |
| what you say; what you do; where you say it; | | | | to the Hall of Shame in a hurry!QUESTION: |
| who you say it to, etc. Ask yourself: "Can | | | | What is a no-no in comedy?ANSWER: Telling |
| I embarrass myself and then make a comeback?" | | | | the same joke over and over and over and over |
| If you can't, find something else to do. If | | | | until you find yourself on a stage and |
| you embarrass somebody else, can you | | | | heading out of Dodge City! DO NOT DO THIS |
| apologize for it? If you get into humor, | | | | with your humor! Jokes get old and tired |
| it's just a matter of time, when you do this. | | | | very quickly! If you can't come up with new |
| All of us in humor do this...it comes with | | | | and fresh material, don't get into comedy. |
| the territory. A slip of the tongue here...a | | | | That's why comedians are always looking for |
| slip of the tongue there. I can assure you, | | | | new material...to keep everything |
| judgement day will come very quickly if you | | | | fresh!QUESTION: How important is |
| get into humor. Your 15 minutes of | | | | style?ANSWER: If you can't tell a joke |
| fame...could turn into your 15 seconds of | | | | without screwing it up, you can cancel your |
| SHAME if you're not careful. I don't want | | | | world tour, and forget about style! Style is |
| discourage anyone from getting into humor, | | | | only important if you CAN tell a funny story, |
| but you must know the honest facts and be | | | | and you plan to get your world tour back on |
| prepared to deal with them. That's why you | | | | track! (don't count on it) Everyone should |
| MUST be honest with yourself.QUESTION: Can | | | | develop their own style, and do what's |
| anybody get into humor/comedy and be | | | | comfortable for you. And, you should NEVER |
| successful?ANSWER: NO...NO...and three times | | | | copy anyone else! There is only one Lucy; |
| NO! There are people who have crossed my | | | | one Bob Hope; one Norton the sewer guy; one |
| path who should stay away from humor all | | | | Robin Williams; one Erma Bombeck, etc. Like |
| together. The first thing a person needs to | | | | Uncle Milty says, "Never steal material from |
| successful in humor is a personality. I've | | | | other comedians...but, you can borrow it |
| known people in the past who have a | | | | forever if you want!"QUESTION: What else is |
| personality of a rock; chopped liver on a | | | | important about getting into comedy?ANSWER; |
| cutting board; an orange traffic barrel, | | | | PATIENCE! After you've told your first joke |
| etc. The person in humor has to be a little | | | | successfully, put your world tour on hold for |
| out-going; an extrovert or someplace in the | | | | a few months! Trust me...you're not ready! |
| middle. The person has to be able to enjoy | | | | You're not going to be funny overnight! Like |
| people and communicate well. I've worked | | | | anything else, there will be a long learning |
| with many technical people like engineers for | | | | process. Engineers; medical people; |
| over 12 years, and many of these people are | | | | entertainers; athletes take a long time to be |
| brilliant. They can do the math and | | | | good at what they do. There is no such thing |
| engineering to put somebody on the moon! | | | | as an "overnight success" unless you are a |
| But, when it comes to having a | | | | "coat-tailer" in Washington, D.C.QUESTION: |
| personality...sometimes it's difficult to get | | | | Is there a way I can get a laugh right |
| even a sentence out of them. Some of these | | | | away?ANSWER: But, of course! Why don't you |
| people are so introverted, that it would be a | | | | show everybody you know you're |
| disaster if they tried their hand in comedy! | | | | paycheck...that ought to get you a few |
| The answer is NO...not everyone can get into | | | | laughs, don't you think? How about showing |
| humor and be successful.QUESTION: What other | | | | everyone you know a few of your baby pictures |
| qualities should a person have who wants to | | | | when you were potty-training...WOW!QUESTION: |
| get into comedy?ANSWER: That person should | | | | Jerry, who are a few of your all-time |
| have high self-esteem and confidence of | | | | comedians?ANSWER: MMMMM...there's so many! |
| himself or herself. This is terribly | | | | I would have to say, Henry Kissinger; Al |
| important, because, as I said earlier, the | | | | Gore; Hillary Clinton; and George W. Bush, |
| person is going to put "thy foot into thy | | | | not to be confused with plain old George |
| mouth" a few times. And, that person is | | | | Bush.QUESTION: Tell the truth to the world, |
| going to get up and dust thyself off if that | | | | Jerry...do you really thing you're a funny |
| person wants to stay in comedy. | | | | person?ANSWER: Does a porcupine cross his |
| | | | legs carefully?I certainly hope a few of |
| If you decide to get into comedy all you | | | | these tips have helped you. There is nothing |
| have to do is to exercise common | | | | like humor to brighten up your day and |
| sense.QUESTION: Are comedians/humorists | | | | brighten someone elses day. I encourage |
| different from ordinary people?ANSWER: YES! | | | | everyone to get into humor...start |
| Comedians are different because they see the | | | | slowly...be careful...use common sense as you |
| world differently. They are always looking | | | | go along...and, you'll be glad you did! |
| for something funny. They stop and smell the | | | | |