What Is It About Wanting a New Cold Feet?

Coupling, Married Single Other. Why is this obsession with a new Cold Feet? In the 1990s were they interested in the new All Creatures Great and Small or Terry and June? So why did it seem to change in the 2000s and 2010s? It's not as if it's a particular good show, just popular. Comedy should be about originality, not rehashing old ideas.

Learn Stand Up Comedy Through Open Mic Sessions

There are many people who fear the microphone, which is why they avoid places where they may be placed on the spot like on open mic cafe or even at karaoke bars. If you want to learn stand up comedy, this is something that you ought to be able to conquer. You must learn how to get to that stage, grasp the mic and perform in front of an audience.

This venue poses lots of challenges for you as somebody who aspires to be in the industry. Before you come to the location, you should be ready with your best material and you should have practiced this thoroughly at your home. Although the area is a good practice field for people like you who're dreaming to become famous, there are a great many other individuals who have the same dream and they also frequent places where they can become the opportunity to perform.

It is like entering a dungeon C once you are in, there is no turning back. You should be prepared to be injured emotionally even when you merely intended to make people laugh. It is very different when you are merely performing ahead of those who know you intimately, like your friends and family. They see you as someone entertaining and someone whom they will support no matter what. The people that you will get together at open mic venues are those who consider you as their competitor. It is not that easy to get into this field, which is why nearly all of the people that you will see at these places have been doing this for a long while already, hoping that some big-wigs from the showbiz industry will tap them and propose them contracts.

The more you believe the people hate you during your performances at open mic venues, the more that you ought to feel satisfied with your livelihood. This is a signal that you are good and is why they don't like you. You could even be much better than most of them, so just go along with the flow and continue giving your better.

During these performances, make certain that you protect your material as well as you never know when the person who shouted the loudest boo at you will perform your material at other areas. Make certain that you videotape yourself during live performances at open mics. This way, you will have clear evidence that it is indeed your material whenever it were stolen. Watching the film recordings can likewise help you discover your strengths and weaknesses. You may take note of the aspects your location accomplished at and the least of your forte. This can assist you improve the craft so that you will know what to do better the the next occasion around. It may appear like lots of hard toil to learn stand up comedy, but once you've mastered everything, you will feel rewarded after you have realized your improvement. It will be a greater satisfaction to hear people's praises and more if ever you get the prospect to be a pro.

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Similarity Breeds Comedy

My last piece I talked about associating or pairing up opposites to produce funny ideas. Today we associate SIMILARITY or CONGRUITY; by puting the same or similar objects, person or animals together to engender laughter.

One fine example is a pair of identical twins or two person wearing the same clothes. They naturally appear "odd" or "funny" to others. People will stare, giggle or whisper some cheeky or unkind remarks uder their breath. It's a very normal response.

For cartoonists, this association of similarity can spawn lots of funny doodles. They can draw a person looking like an animal or two unrelated objects which are visually alike. The most popular is the garden hose partly hidden by the foliage and mistaken as a snake.

Caricature is a visual art form that employs the technique of congruity. It doesn't look exactly like the actual person being drawn, but just a distorted or an exaggerated impression of the person and it looks kind of funny, doesn't it?

Aside from visual art form, many verbal humor derives from this technique too. The most obvious form of verbal humor is the puns. A pun is a play on words, usually humorous based on several meanings of one word, or a similarity of meanings between words that are pronounced the same or the different in meanings between two words pronounced the same and spelled somewhat similarly. Following closely is another form verbal humor, called the double entendres. It can be a word or an expression having a double meaning, especially the second meaning is risque.

So, similarity breeds not only contempt, but comedy too!

A freelancer from MALAYSIA who dabbles in both visual and performing art. Cartooning, script-writing, acting in TV and movies, doing voice, sound and singing impressions under the stage-names: Wacky Willy and SFX-Man.

Read more articles and free tips at: http://funny-ideas.blogspot.com/

Reach me at: kertoon@yahoo.com

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The Ezine Below

I don't agree with the funny hats and stuff below-person would seem more sad than funny...

Find Your Funny: Eight Tips for Adding Humour to Presentations

Some trainers, teachers and other communicators wish they could add humour to
their presentations, but they think, “I’m like the Muppets Fozzy Bear: I’m not funny.”

The truth everyone is funny; including Fozzy; including you. More importantly, YOU
are funny, not in the same way that other people are, but in your own unique
fashion. After all, one of the keys to relationships (romantic, plutonic or
professional) is the ability to laugh together. You already do that in your daily life.
All you need to do now is to take those pre-existing skills and develop them in a
focused way. Here’s how legendary funny man Steve Allen explained it.

“The popular conception of a humourist or comedian is of someone who writes, does
or says funny things. But a funny person is also someone to whom funny things
happen. The comedian’s experiences are probably no more amusing than others;
he or she simply has a certain sensitivity to the environment and circumstances and
so perceives humour that a more serious person might miss.”

Below I offer eight tips that can help you perceive, absorb and harness the humour around you.

Tip 1. Surround yourself with humour.

Start your day by looking at a humourous daily calendar, listen to humour on your way to work, display silly signs at your work location and prop up your office. Items like
daily quote calendars; silly hats and wind up toys have a positive effect on your
emotions and those of the people you come in contact with. Some of the items I
have collected and currently display in my office include a plastic shovel attached to
a neck lanyard (for boring meetings), a skeleton and a crown (my emergency Hamlet
kit for pontificating), various hats (Mounty for finding someone, Viking for going on
adventures and Outback for taking walk-abouts) and a Far Side daily cartoon
calendar. I do it because they help me think funny. Surrounding yourself with these
kinds of items will place you in a humourous mood and create an aura of funny about
you that makes it easier for other people to accept you as humourous.

Tip 2. Look for the absurdity in daily life.

Fortunately for funny people, the business and academic worlds abound with
endless absurdity. There are the inane policies, bureaucracies and inarticulate
memos to enjoy. There’s also the unintentional statements of life: you have to hit
“delete” to start Windows; you land at a “terminal” when flying; and you park on
“driveways” and drive on “parkways.” It’s everywhere, if you look for it. If you cannot
find it yourself, read Dilbert. If you can laugh at the daily absurdities, you will be
less stressed when the bizarre happens and more in touch with the grand adventure
that life is.

Tip 3. Listen to comedians.

The late night comedians provide a daily lesson in being funny. Pay attention to
them, not as an audience member, but as a technician. Focus on the structure of the
jokes they tell. In this way, you can analyze the joke formulas without being
distracted by the delivery. Once you know the basic structures they use, focus on
their delivery techniques. Soon you will begin to notice the cadences they use, the
pauses they take and the little ticks and quirks they have that bring their humour to
life.

Tip 4. Read books about being funny.

Many comedians are more than willing to share their secrets. By simply searching
through a book store web site, you can discover that being comedic is a simple
combination of state of mind and solid technique.

Tip 5. Join “Joke-of-the-Day” lists.

Joke-of-the-day lists are a part of my strategy for finding funny stuff. Although I
switch lists from time to time, I’m currently on two. I am not suggesting that you
“lift” the jokes you read there. That would be, well, stealing. I am however
suggesting that you can use those jokes to learn how jokes are constructed and to
place yourself in a humourous frame of mind. Once you become adept at spotting the
joke telling formulas, you can use the jokes you read at these sites to write your
own jokes.

Tip 6. Build a collection of all-purpose funnies.

Start a funny file and whenever you read, hear or see something you consider funny,
print it out or write it down and file it. Soon, you will have built a collection of jokes
and cartoons you can refer to whenever you need to create a line. The material you
have collected will help you brainstorm creating your own.

Tip 7. Develop some standard lines you can use over and over.

Steve Allen once commented as follows.

“Comics with this ability (to ad-lib) are extremely rare. There may be fewer than fifty
professional comedians on the planet that are skilled at doing it. (Most) comedians
are indeed working without a script, but there is the crucial distinction that what
they are doing is recalling jokes that already exist, which they apply to the situation
of the moment. This is no small feat either, since one has to think rapidly and also
have a remarkable memory -- a memory car file through which the comic’s brain
can riffle at lightning speed. But again, as impressive as this feat is, it is more a
matter of craftsmanship and professionalism than art.”

You can reach a degree of this professionalism by learning the craft. When you
notice that learners have laughed at a comment you made, make a mental note of
what happened and try to replicate it with another audience. If your get the same
laugh in front of three audiences, keep it; play with it; expand it. If it stops working,
revert to the original line and lock it in. Then begin searching for another line.
Continue in this manner over a period of time and you will develop your own
comedic library of “ad-libs” to draw upon as the situation warrants.

Tip 8. Have fun.

This is perhaps the biggest secret of being funny. The audience will not laugh if you
are not having fun. Your demeanor sets the expectation. If you exude enjoyment of
the world around you, and of the events and learnings that occurs within your
classroom, your trainees will join you. They will also join you if you choose to regard
what you are doing as drudgery. The banana is in your hands. Having fun and you
will be instantly likeable, and thus more likely to gain laughs.

Joke Killers to watch out for

There are some additional factors that will prevent you from being funny. As you
put on your new humour hat, make sure you do the following.

Caution 1. Make your humour self-deprecating

The best humour is self-directed. I find it preferable to point out my faults before
others do. In that way, I admit my fallibility while indicating that I can take a joke. It
sets a benchmark for the training environment. In addition, humour that is self-
deprecating is less likely to offend others.

Caution 2. Be yourself.

Humour will not work if it is forced. When people laugh with you during your
everyday life, it is not because you have taken on a persona, it is because they enjoy
who you are and the humour that naturally emanates from your humanity. Be who
you are. Allow that naturalness to create your humour for you. I can offer an example by picking on myself. It has been said that I look stiff and formal. I cannot help it: it just is. That continence could have prevented me from being funny.
Instead, I have learned to use it. Because of my look, I dress and act slightly
pompous. That pomposity allows me to say and do fairly absurd things. The
disconnect between how I look and the craziness of what I say or do creates surprise
and allows natural humour emerges.

Caution 3. Avoid offensive material.

Political, religious or ethnic jokes are all not worth the telling. Even if some
members of your audience respond with laughter, other members will become so
offended that they will shut down (or shut your training down) and make learning
difficult if not impossible. In addition, blue material should be avoided at all costs.
Risqué lines often obtain their laughs from the unease and discomfort of the
audience. In a nightclub setting, that may be appropriate. But in a learning
environment, where comfort is directly tied to positive results, creating discomfort
for a cheap laugh is worse than insulting, it’s stupid.

Caution 4. Never say you are going to tell a joke.

The best way to insure that your joke won’t work is to telegraph it in advance.
Remember, in previous months we discovered that much of the laughter results
from learner surprise that you have told a joke. The very act of announcing your
intentions in advance almost guarantees a failure of the joke.

So, you are funny. You just didn't know it. Take the actions steps listed above and
you too can find your funny.

Visit Lenn on line at www.http://www.offbeattraining.com

lennmillbower@offbeattraining.com

Lenn Millbower, BM, MA, the Learnertainment® Trainer is an expert in applying show biz techniques to learning. He is the author of the ASTD Info-Line, Music as a Training Tool, focused on the practical application of music to learning; Show Biz Training, the definitive book on the application of entertainment industry techniques to training; Cartoons for Trainers, a popular collection of 75 cartoons for learning; Game Show Themes for Trainers, a best-selling CD of original learning game music; and Training with a Beat: The Teaching Power of Music, the foremost book on the application of music to learning. Lenn is an in-demand speaker, with successful presentations at ASTD 1999-2005 and SHRM 2006; a creative and dynamic instructional designer and facilitator formally with the Disney University and Disney Institute; an accomplished arranger-composer skilled in the psychological application of music to learning; a popular comedian, magician and musician; and the president of Offbeat Training®, infusing entertainment-based techniques into learning to keep ‘em awake!

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Writing Humour - General Ideas

Humour writing is not the easiest thing in the world to do. If it was, as the cliché goes, everybody would be doing it. But here are three quick things you can do to start your humour writing career:

Cultivate a Humorous Mentality

Contrary to some things you might read, a funny outlook on life can be honed and sharpened. It all comes down to what you surround yourself with. The stuff you put into your life will largely dictate the stuff that you produce with your life. If you want to cultivate a good sense of humor, then start filling your life with humorous things. Stop watching gritty crime dramas all the time and start watching good, character-driven comedies. Watch some good standup comics. In fact, watch them twice. The first time, just sit back and enjoy the show. The second time, really pay attention to the structure of everything from the individual jokes to the performance as a whole. Take notes. Go ahead – throw away your pride and become a geek! You’re investing in your career!

Feed Your Brain

The best humor is informed humor. What I mean by this is that your readership will grow quicker if you are touching on issues that people deal with everyday. Read some newspapers – and not just the comics! Pay attention to the big things that concern people and sit down and write about them. Get emotional! Get angry and vent! Which leads into the last thing . . .

Write, Write, Write

As someone once said, “Writers write.” As puerile as that sounds, it’s a good maxim to keep in mind. If you’re going to call yourself a writer, then write! That’s all there is to it. Don’t write to be funny at first – just write. The funny will come later when you go back to revise. Don’t bust your posterior trying to make it perfect the first time. In fact, don’t try to make it perfect at all. In the world of humor writing, perfect is dangerously close to boring. Write it all out and then go back and clean up the stuff that would really embarrass your family if you published it as is. Stuff like terrible spelling, egregious grammar, and erroneous facts can all be cleaned up on the rewrite. But in order to rewrite, you first have to write!

If you just start with these three basic practices, I promise you will be well ahead of the crowd trying to break into humor writing.

Ken Nelson is a freelance writer and cartoonist. He markets his unique brand of humor at the Flogwear site where anybody can purchase t-shirts, mugs, aprons, calendars, and many other items printed with his cartoons and writings. [http://www.cafepress.com/flogwear]

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Funny Speech Writing - Make Them Laugh So They Listen

Need to write and deliver a speech? Do everyone a favor and write one with humor. Why? Because humor is entertaining and an audience will listen eagerly to a funny speech. And this increases the chance you'll get your point across. Of course, the main purpose of your speech may not be to provide entertaining humor. It may be to inform, motivate or persuade. That's okay. Write humor anyway. When people laugh, it breaks down barriers and makes them more receptive to what you want to convey. So regardless of the main purpose, writing humor helps deliver it effectively.

Perhaps you don't consider yourself a funny person. And maybe your audience knows you're not a funny person too. Fantastic! The contrast will make the humor in your speech even funnier to your audience.

Write a humorous speech tailored to your audience-even if they're tailors

This should be sew obvious I needle not even bring it up. Never talk or write down to an audience. At the same time, write humor and language that is relevant. Are they carpenters? Nail them with great lines. Doctors? Give them your best shot. Attorneys? Be careful, they're libel to litigate you.

Write humor that is appropriate to the specific group and doesn't offend their sensibilities. But keep in mind that education and vocation does affect a person's vocabulary. So write your humor accordingly. As you research your topic, you should also research industry terminology and phrases.

Write a humorous speech that supports your message

The mechanics of speech writing are the same with or without humor. You should write a speech with a beginning, middle, and end. And the beginning is important because it's often where you either gain or lose the attention of your audience. So write an introduction with a humorous story, funny anecdote, or amusing story. And it doesn't have to be original humor. The library is full of humor books for speeches with jokes, quips, and stories for all kinds of themes and occasions.

After the introduction, you'll write the body of the speech. It usually includes 3-5 main points. Even though the point you make is serious, elaborate on it further with a joke, funny illustration, or anecdotal story. You should also strive to write smooth transitions from one point in your speech to the next. This too, offers an opportunity for humor. And don't forget visual props. There are cartoons, funny pictures, and even comedy videos that will increase the laughter while making your point.

Make the final present of your speech a funny wrap-up

Write a speech ending that includes a brief summary of your main points-not a summary made in your briefs. Unless you're addressing a group at Fruit of the Loom. The wrap-up is where you wow your audience with your final, humorous zinger. Something memorable. A profound piece of wisdom with humorous insight that drives your message home. You'll discover that a funny speech has a funny way of making an impact through the levity of laughter.

Chip Tudor is a freelance copywriter in Dayton, Ohio with a sense of humour. He writes a wide variety of advertising, marketing, and public relations material for various media- including speeches. He's written for Wendy's, LexisNexis, and Iams along with faith-based organizations like John Maxwell's Injoy, Gospel Light Publishing, and the Catholic Marianists. To learn more visit: http://www.chiptudor.com.

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Literary Devices in Comedy Writing

When you think about the phrase, "literary devices," Comedy may not be your next thought. Literary devices are only used in serious, stuffy writing, right?

Wrong!

There are a number of literary devices writers can use to strenghten their comedic writings. Here are a few of them:

Ambiguity

Ambiguity refers to a statement that is unclear or a statement that has more than one meaning.

In Romeo & Juliet, while Mercutio lies dying, he says:

Ask for me tomorrow and you shall find me a grave man,

This statement (particularly the word "grave") has two meanings. It means "somber," and it also refers to the fact that tomorrow Mercutio will be dead.

Another form of ambiguity that is often used in comedy is the pun. Walter Redfern defined the pun by stating: "To pun is to treat homonyms as synonyms." It is a deliberate confusion of similar words. Here are some examples:

Q: What instrument do fish like to play? A: A bass guitar.

Q: How do you make a tissue dance? A: Put a little boogie in it.

Remember, "A pun is the lowest form of humor, unless you thought of it yourself." - Doug Larson

Alliteration

Alliteration refers to a repeating sound at the start of a word. The most common use of alliteration in comedy is seen in tongue twisters. The most well-known tongue twisters are "Peter Piper Picked a Peck of Pickled Peppers," "Betty Botter" and "How Much Wood Would a Woodchuck Chuck?"

Shakespeare also parodies alliteration in Peter Quince's Prologue in A Midsummer Night's Dream:

Whereat, with blade, with bloody blameful blade,
He bravely breach'd his boiling bloody breast.

Alliteration affects the "sound" of your writing, and when used in exaggeration, it creates a comedic tone to your writing.

Euphemism

A substitution of a mild word of phrase for another which would be undesirable because it is too direct, unpleasant, or offensive.

For example, there are several euphemisms you can use for comedic purposes in your writing if a character has died:

kicked the bucket
bit the big one

bitten the dust

bought the farm

gone south

By using euphemisms when referring to serious matters, you can lend a comedic tone to your writing.

There are many more literary devices that can be used to strengthen your comedy writing. In many cases, the simple use of exaggeration of a style or device will create a comedic effect on your writing. Often comedy writers uses devices without even knowing it. Next time someone tells you literary devices are boring, you can tell them you know different!

Tonia Jordan is an author on http://www.Writing.Com/ which is a site for Writers.

Her portfolio can be found at http://www.Writing.Com/authors/spidergirl so stop by and read for a while.

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