Edmund Gwenn’s quote, “Dying is easy, comedy is hard,” has become a go-to mantra for artists from all walks. There are different stories about the exact words he used. Most agree that it is difficult to make others laugh, especially when trying to do it consistently.
I am a massive advocate of storytelling, whether you are connecting with one person or with an audience. Storytelling needs to be fluid. Whether you are an artist, actor, or author, you must have empathy for others. You can communicate your heart through your writing, speeches, podcasts, or books.
Nothing works better than using humor in your work. People like to laugh. Humor is one of the quickest ways to strike a connection with others while lightening the mood.
Before we go into the how let’s look at what laughter does to a person. When a person laughs, there is an immediate feeling of relaxation. Then, as laughter brings more oxygen into the body, it stimulates your muscles, lungs, and your heart. Finally, because it releases endorphins in your brain, laughter helps the stress float away.
When you get someone to laugh, you are improving their mood and helping them feel happier. When you can pull this off, you have people that will want to listen to you. It is one of the best ways to have others seek you out!
Now that you know what laughter does for a soul, how do you do this? This is where the “Dying is easy; comedy is hard” axiom comes into play. We all know people who don’t have to lift a finger to be funny. They have a way of looking at the world or a situation and presenting it in a way that makes us laugh. They have a sense of humor that seems to be off the charts.
For those who need to develop their sense of humor more, think of it as a muscle. The more you work out your sense of humor and stretch it, the better you will be at using it when you need it. As in any sport, chances of you falling flat on your face as your practice are high. When that happens, do what any good athlete does – pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and try again. If you try to make an audience laugh and something doesn’t quite click, you learn not to do that anymore!
We’ll get the “don’ts” out of the way first. You never want to do any humor that will demean or insult any individual or group of people. Society is becoming more of a place where you need to watch what you are saying. People are more aware of how words can hurt. All you have to do is to see someone make a faux pas or a purposeful negative statement in a speech or interview. This negative clip will dominate social media to an incomprehensible degree. If you really screw up, you might even find yourself in the news! Avoid that.
Humor comes in all different forms. If your presentations lack humor, research jokes that match your topic. I have a friend who gives sermons in church. He Googles “church humor” to find jokes that he can use to kick off each address. People look forward to whenever it is his turn to preach on Sunday.
You can do the same. Imagine giving a lengthy speech covering different facets of a topic with no jokes. Then, reimagine giving the same address interspersed with relevant humor. One tip here on using jokes – practice them! Any great comedian you have ever seen practiced their jokes on a small audience before going big. A great deal of humor comes down to timing.
Self-effacing humor is a great way to connect with your audience. Making fun of yourself projects tremendous empathy. It is a compelling form of humor built on highlighting your weaknesses. None of us is perfect. Even super-achievers have the “Oh geez” moment where something went very wrong, or they screwed up royally. It happens. We are all far from perfect, and that includes you. I hate to be the one to break that to you, but it is true. Furthermore, everyone in the audience can relate to such moments. What better way to break down the barriers between you and the audience than for them to realize you are one of them!
Start becoming more aware of the funny things you encounter through the course of your work and life. And bring them into your stories. The reality of life is often hysterical and more amusing than anything we can come up with on our own. Great humorists are those who observe life with an eye to comedy in any situation. Practice bringing the same discipline to your everyday existence. Write down what you find funny and build your library. Then, when preparing your following speech, podcast, article, or book, draw from your humor cache.
“Laugh and the world laughs with you” and “Laughter is the best medicine” are all true clichés. Incorporating humor into your storytelling will always leave your audience wanting more!
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