May 31st, 2021
11
How to become funnier?
I was recently told I'm not funny by a close friend while we were having drinks. I wasn't offended since I've never tried to be funny, but it did get me thinking: maybe I should try to be funnier. It certainly couldn't hurt to be known as a funny guy. But humor is something you can't force, so I have no idea how to approach such a task. I started watching stand-up and have tried out some of the jokes from there in my daily conversations but my delivery is trash. I just don't get how people do it. Help?
May 31st, 2021
11
Comments:
techstress
Trying to fit comedy bits in the normal conversation is going to be tough to do. You'd probably have to practice and recite it a lot to get the delivery down.
You could probably find some short tags from specials and fit them in. I know I've done things like this in my day-to-day without even trying to do it. Later I think back on why that was funny to everybody and then remember oh yeah that's from some special that I've watched many times.
Really know what makes things funny. Usually an absurd exaggeration. Or you can find some misdirection by leading people to one what they think is though is right but then you hit them with a different punchline.
If it's really delivery that's a problem, you can look up the toastmasters group. They have chapters in many different areas and focus on improving people speaking skills.
Another good starting point for getting into comedy would be to attend an improv class.
6
RichhPiano
This is exactly what I always tell people. The key to comedy is a healthy mix of irony, absurdity, and shock.
2
LuciusDickusMaximus
This is great advice, thank you. Always appreciate big lists like this. Btw, I think I recognize your username, have I seen you on the carpentry subreddit? I think you were building a staircase?
1
Ma7apples
What was the context of your friend saying this? I can't think of a single time I've said this outside of someone saying something inappropriate or assholish, or just razzing each other.
I think you're either overthinking it, or got the wrong message from your friend. Either way, we're not all meant to be "funny," and what is or isn't funny is completely subjective anyway. Your friend is your friend regardless, so s/he must see something in you other than your sense of humor.
5
zck
Stand-up jokes are in a different format from normal conversation. Do your musical friends sit you down, hush everyone, and play a 90 minute set? No! You enjoy their musicality when they're singing absentmindely as the two of you rake leaves. When your artist friend visits you, do you enjoy their art by them having you wait until 10am, then having a gallery showing in your living room? No! You are amused by the flower they drew with soap on your shower door.
So, too, you don't want to do a stand-up performance. But humor isn't just stand-up performances. It can be puns based on what's being said. It can be funny callbacks to something previously said. It can be clever wordplay based on what's being said.
Notice how all the things here are _relevant_ to the conversation in ways that Demetri Martin's trophy joke isn't? You want to be funny about things people are talking about.
So you want to come up with jokes you could inject into a conversation, while you're having that conversation. Don't prepare for it by having a script. Watch people that are funny in ways you want to be funny -- people that are conversationally funny. See how their techniques work.
4
Riotgrrrl80
3
tells
3
LuciusDickusMaximus
Hb this: pine trees do not need to exist. All they do is poke.
Obviously not that exactly, but is the sentiment be funny?
1
tells
Well it’s a start. Try to stretch the absurd bits of that premise. If their sole purpose is to poke, some people will wave their hands and act like a conspiracy theorist while saying this to stretch that absurdity to themselves. You can also anthropomorphize the tree and make it seem like it’s specifically shooting darts at you. You can also stretch the premise and say how they are the militant version of trees and are a threat to society.
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LuciusDickusMaximus
Lmao that’s good. Or like I hear that North Korea is running out of soldiers and replacing them with pine trees. Rumors are there are some spies already among our own trees. Their leader is Kim jung pine and he’s in Yosemite!
1
Lordshoba
To be blunt. You either think funny or you don't. And yeah there's comedy classes but then you're just forcing yourself to be someone you're not and people can usually tell if you're trying too hard. So don't worry about it. Just enjoy it from the outside.
8
mmmalloryknox
5
camelai40
1
peepeepoopoobutler
1
[deleted]
Robertos1987
1
NezuminoraQ
1
TheBlueTardis
I also had this thought that I should try to be funnier. I decided to look up a pun a day and go around telling it to different coworkers throughout the day. I did that for about a year or so and then my brain started to understand what funny was and then every once in a while something punny would pop into my head magically and I could use it in a conversation.
I also read this book The Comic Toolbox: How to be Funny Even If You're Not. It'll get you in the right mindset, and teach you techniques.
1