Episodes
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Do you really want to be famous is a quick post about the weekend I worked with Jon Stewart at the Punchline Comedy Club in Atlanta. It gave me a unique perspective on being famous and brought up a few questions.
https://www.TheWorkLady.com Jan McInnis is a top motivational keynote speaker, comedian, master of ceremonies and comedy writer. She uses short funny stories to emphasize her tips on how businesses can use humor to handle change. Jan is a top conference keynote speaker, comedian, Master of Ceremonies, and comedy writer. She has written for Jay Leno’s The Tonight Show monologues as well as many other people, places, and groups—radio, TV, syndicated cartoon strips, guests on The Jerry Springer Show (her parents are proud). For over 25 years, she’s traveled the country as a keynote speaker and comedian, sharing her unique and practical tips on how to use humor in business (yes, it’s a business skill!). She's been featured in The Huffington Post, The Wall Street Journal, and The Washington Post for her clean humor, and she's the author of two books: Finding the Funny Fast – How to Create Quick Humor to Connect with Clients, Coworkers, and Crowds, and Convention Comedian: Stories and Wisdom From Two Decades of Chicken Dinners and Comedy Clubs. She also has a popular podcast titled Comedian Stories: Tales From the Road in Under 5 Minutes. In her former life, she was a marketing executive in Washington, D.C. for national non-profits, and she received the Greater Washington Society of Association Executives “Excellence in Education” Award. Jan’s been featured at thousands of events from the Federal Reserve Banks to the Mayo Clinic.
https://www.TheWorkLady.com https://youtu.be/BtjxzDn-QLE https://www.linkedin.com/in/janmcinnis https://twitter.com/janmcinnis https://www.pinterest.com/janmcinnis/pins/ https://www.youtube.com/c/JanMcInnisComedian https://www.facebook.com/ComedianJanMcInnis https://www.instagram.com/jan.mcinnis/
Jan has shared her humor keynotes from Fortune 500 companies to international associations. Groups such as . .. Healthcare. . . Mayo Clinic, Health Information Management Associations, Healthcare Financial Management Associations, Hospitals, Abbott Pharmaceuticals, Sanofi Aventis Pharmaceuticals, Kaiser-Permanente, Davita Dialysis Centers, Blue Cross, Blue Shield, Home Healthcare Associations, Assisted Living Associations, Healthcare Associations, National Council for Prescription Drug Companies, Organization of Nurse Leaders, Medical Group Management Associations, Healthcare Risk Associations, Healthcare Quality Associations
Financial. . . Federal Reserve Banks, BDO Accounting, Transamerica Insurance & Investment Group, Merrill Lynch, treasury management associations, bankers associations, credit unions, Money Transmitter Regulators Association, Finance Officers Associations, automated clearing house associations, American Institute of CPAs, financial planning companies, Securities, Insurance, Licensing Association
Government . . . purchasing officers associations, city clerks, International Institute of Municipal Clerks, National League of Cities, International Worker's Compensation Fund, correctional associations, LA County Management Association, Social Security Administration, Southern California Public Power Authority, public utilities, U.S. Air Force, public personnel associations, public procurement associations, risk management associations, Rehabilitation associations, rural housing associations, community action associations
Women's Events. . . American Heart Associations, Go Red For Women luncheons, Speaking of Women's Health, International Association of Administrative Professionals, administrative professionals events, Toyota Women’s Conference, Women in Insurance and Financial Services, Soroptimists, Women in Film & Video, ladies night out events, Henry Ford Health Centers Women’s Event, spirit of women events, breast cancer awareness,
Education . . . School Business Officials associations, school superintendent associations, school boards associations, state education associations, community college associations, school administrators associations, school plant managers associations, Head Start associations, Texas adult protective services, school nutrition associations, Association of Elementary and Middle School Principals, principal associations, library associations
Emergency, safety, and Disaster . . . International Association of Emergency Managers, Disney Emergency Managers, state emergency management associations, insurance groups, COPIC, Salt Lake County Public Works and Municipal Services Disaster Recovery Conference, Pennsylvania Governor’s Occupational Safety and Health conference, Mid Atlantic Safety conference and Chesapeake Regional Safety Council,
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I've been hit up for money before from various people, but listen in to this quick story about an agency who tried to get some money from me to help them promote me. It was ridiculous!
I tried helping them out, but in the end, it really wasn't worth it.
It's funny business! Learn leadership & business skills to deal with people & handle life's curveballs. A professional comedian offers laughs & practical tips.
Funny comedian & top keynote speaker Jan McInnis's unique, fun and useful ideas will help you develop solutions to your own work and life issues.
Jan is an established comedy writer. She's sold material for Jay Leno’s Tonight Show monologue on the Tonight Show as well as many other people, places and groups – radio, TV, syndicated cartoon strips, and even guests on the Jerry Springer show (her parents are proud).
For over 25+ years she’s traveled country as a comedian, keynote speaker, and Master of Ceremonies. She's shared her clean comedy with thousands of organizations, and her business tips with thousands of corporations and associations. She's been onstage in front of everyone from the Mayo Clinic to several of the Federal Reserve Banks. Jan is also currently co-starring in the Baby Boomer Comedy Show, touring theatres with comedian Kent Rader, and she is also an excellent Master of Ceremonies!
Jan is the author of two books "Finding the Funny Fast – How to Create Quick Humor to Connect with Clients, Coworkers & Crowds," and "Convention Comedian – Stories and Wisdom From Two Decades of Chicken Dinners and Comedy Clubs." Her short stories can be heard on her popular podcast: "Comedian Stories: Tales From the Road in Under 5 Minutes."
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Missing episodes?
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There are some lists you want to make it on in comedy and some you don't. Here's a quick story about the time I got on a very good list!
Funny comedian & top keynote speaker Jan McInnis's unique, fun and useful ideas will help you develop solutions to your own work and life issues.
Jan is an established comedy writer. She's sold material for Jay Leno’s Tonight Show monologue on the Tonight Show as well as many other people, places and groups – radio, TV, syndicated cartoon strips, and even guests on the Jerry Springer show (her parents are proud).
For over 25+ years she’s traveled country as a comedian, keynote speaker, and Master of Ceremonies. She's shared her clean comedy with thousands of organizations, and her business tips with thousands of corporations and associations. She's been onstage in front of everyone from the Mayo Clinic to several of the Federal Reserve Banks. Jan is also currently co-starring in the Baby Boomer Comedy Show, touring theatres with comedian Kent Rader, and she is also an excellent Master of Ceremonies!
Jan is the author of two books "Finding the Funny Fast – How to Create Quick Humor to Connect with Clients, Coworkers & Crowds," and "Convention Comedian – Stories and Wisdom From Two Decades of Chicken Dinners and Comedy Clubs." Her short stories can be heard on her popular podcast: "Comedian Stories: Tales From the Road in Under 5 Minutes."
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Cursing on stage is usally a BIG no-no for corporate events, BUT here's a quick story about the ONE time I did it and it worked!!! In fact I got booked for MORE shows.
Funny comedian & top keynote speaker Jan McInnis's unique, fun and useful ideas will help you develop solutions to your own work and life issues.
Jan is an established comedy writer. She's sold material for Jay Leno’s Tonight Show monologue on the Tonight Show as well as many other people, places and groups – radio, TV, syndicated cartoon strips, and even guests on the Jerry Springer show (her parents are proud).
For over 25+ years she’s traveled country as a comedian, keynote speaker, and Master of Ceremonies. She's shared her clean comedy with thousands of organizations, and her business tips with thousands of corporations and associations. She's been onstage in front of everyone from the Mayo Clinic to several of the Federal Reserve Banks. Jan is also currently co-starring in the Baby Boomer Comedy Show, touring theatres with comedian Kent Rader, and she is also an excellent Master of Ceremonies!
Jan is the author of two books "Finding the Funny Fast – How to Create Quick Humor to Connect with Clients, Coworkers & Crowds," and "Convention Comedian – Stories and Wisdom From Two Decades of Chicken Dinners and Comedy Clubs." Her short stories can be heard on her popular podcast: "Comedian Stories: Tales From the Road in Under 5 Minutes."
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It's funny business! And today Jan shares a quick story from her comedy club days about doing radio . . . or NOT doing radio. Take a quick break and pick up a quick tip.
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Funny comedian & top keynote speaker Jan McInnis's unique, fun and useful ideas will help you develop solutions to your own work and life issues.
This episode is what she learned from the drunkest emcee gig she ever had to do!
Jan is an established comedy writer. She's sold material for Jay Leno’s Tonight Show monologue on the Tonight Show as well as many other people, places and groups – radio, TV, syndicated cartoon strips, and even guests on the Jerry Springer show (her parents are proud).
For over 20+ years she’s traveled country as a comedian, keynote speaker, and Master of Ceremonies. She's shared her clean comedy with thousands of organizations, and her business tips with thousands of corporations and associations. She's been onstage in front of everyone from the Mayo Clinic to several of the Federal Reserve Banks.
Jan is the author of two books "Finding the Funny Fast – How to Create Quick Humor to Connect with Clients, Coworkers & Crowds," and "Convention Comedian – Stories and Wisdom From Two Decades of Chicken Dinners and Comedy Clubs." Her short stories can be heard on her popular podcast: "Comedian Stories: Tales From the Road in Under 5 Minutes."
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It's funny business! Learn leadership & business skills to deal with people & handle life's curveballs. A professional comedian offers laughs & practical tips.
Check out Jan's website here.
Check out more stories on her Facebook Business page here.
Today Jan shares one of the keys of her success!
It's funny business! Learn leadership & business skills to deal with people & handle life's curveballs. A professional comedian offers laughs & practical tips.
Funny comedian & top keynote speaker Jan McInnis's unique, fun and useful ideas will help you develop solutions to your own work and life issues.
Jan is an established comedy writer. She's sold material for Jay Leno’s Tonight Show monologue on the Tonight Show as well as many other people, places and groups – radio, TV, syndicated cartoon strips, and even guests on the Jerry Springer show (her parents are proud).
For over 25+ years she’s traveled country as a comedian, keynote speaker, and Master of Ceremonies. She's shared her clean comedy with thousands of organizations, and her business tips with thousands of corporations and associations. She's been onstage in front of everyone from the Mayo Clinic to several of the Federal Reserve Banks. Jan is also currently co-starring in the Baby Boomer Comedy Show, touring theatres with comedian Kent Rader, and she is also an excellent Master of Ceremonies!
Jan is the author of two books "Finding the Funny Fast – How to Create Quick Humor to Connect with Clients, Coworkers & Crowds," and "Convention Comedian – Stories and Wisdom From Two Decades of Chicken Dinners and Comedy Clubs." Her short stories can be heard on her popular podcast: "Comedian Stories: Tales From the Road in Under 5 Minutes."
What's in store every week? -
Short stories from Jan's comedy and keynote speaking career with unique tips for business.
https://www.theWorkLady.com Jan McInnis is a top keynote speaker, funny female motivational speaker, comedian, Master of Ceremonies, and comedy writer. She has written for Jay Leno’s The Tonight Show monologues as well as many other people, places, and groups—radio, TV, syndicated cartoon strips, guests on The Jerry Springer Show (her parents are proud). For over 25 years, she’s traveled the country as a keynote speaker and comedian, sharing her unique and practical tips on how to use humor in business (yes, it’s a business skill!). She's been featured in The Huffington Post, The Wall Street Journal, and The Washington Post for her clean humor, and she's the author of two books: Finding the Funny Fast – How to Create Quick Humor to Connect with Clients, Coworkers, and Crowds, and Convention Comedian: Stories and Wisdom From Two Decades of Chicken Dinners and Comedy Clubs. She also has a popular podcast titled Comedian Stories: Tales From the Road in Under 5 Minutes. In her former life, she was a marketing executive in Washington,
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Two quick jokes from the news today. Check them out!
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Jan's Website3 news jokes under 1 minute. I've written and sold a ton of jokes from news stories. Nowadays I just do them for myself because I think they're funny. News stores are an easy way to add humor - just stay away from politics and messy stories like that. Oh, and don't be mean or do stories about catastropies . . . stupid criminals are fair game! For more of Jan's Humor, check out her website, her blog, her podcast or the other many ways that people can listen but don't! LOL.
Enjoy your journey!
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Murder Investigations and Big Business are connected! At least that's what funny motivational speaker, comedian and business humorist Jan McInnis says. Her latest article titled "Five Things I Learned From Forensic Files" shows what business leaders can learn from crime and murder scene investigations.
Forensics, not just crime but other types of forensics such as accounting forensics, encompasses diverse fields such as DNA analysis, ballistics, toxicology, and fingerprint identification. Investigators employ forensics to reconstruct events, identify victims and suspects, and establish timelines. By meticulously examining blood spatter patterns, examining fibers, and studying wounds, analyzing financial statements, and other things, experts can piece together crucial details. And these details many times lead to an ARREST!
You probably won't need to arrest anyone in business, BUT there some take-aways from Forensic Files and other crime investigation shows, that you can use in in business and in your personal life.
Here's an excerpt below. Take a 2 minute humor break and click here to read the whole article or https://theworklady.com/five-things-i-learned-from-forensic-files/
ONE: The biggest killer of people isn't disease or accidents: it's life insurance policies! We've all thought about murdering our spouse or partner, usually when there's snoring involved and the payday is a good night's sleep. But some people who actually murder are looking for million-dollar insurance paydays. LESSON: With the right incentive, people will do most anything. Remember that when rewarding employees and find out what makes THEM happy. My recent Lyft driver said he left his last company, as manager of a call center, because the rewards were things like a keychain and a water bottle. His prior company had given him a paid day off, which he appreciated much more. But a trinket for busting your butt, especially at a call center? Nope. He'd rather drive strangers to the airport.
Check out this humor article and other articles on my website and JanFanS.com facebook business page.
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It's funny business! Learn leadership & business skills to deal with people & handle life's curveballs. A professional comedian offers laughs & practical tips.
Today Jan shares one of the keys of her success!It's funny business! Learn leadership & business skills to deal with people & handle life's curveballs. A professional comedian offers laughs & practical tips.
Funny comedian & top keynote speaker Jan McInnis's unique, fun and useful ideas will help you develop solutions to your own work and life issues.
Jan is an established comedy writer. She's sold material for Jay Leno’s Tonight Show monologue on the Tonight Show as well as many other people, places and groups – radio, TV, syndicated cartoon strips, and even guests on the Jerry Springer show (her parents are proud).
For over 25+ years she’s traveled country as a comedian, keynote speaker, and Master of Ceremonies. She's shared her clean comedy with thousands of organizations, and her business tips with thousands of corporations and associations. She's been onstage in front of everyone from the Mayo Clinic to several of the Federal Reserve Banks. Jan is also currently co-starring in the Baby Boomer Comedy Show, touring theatres with comedian Kent Rader, and she is also an excellent Master of Ceremonies!
Jan is the author of two books "Finding the Funny Fast – How to Create Quick Humor to Connect with Clients, Coworkers & Crowds," and "Convention Comedian – Stories and Wisdom From Two Decades of Chicken Dinners and Comedy Clubs." Her short stories can be heard on her popular podcast: "Comedian Stories: Tales From the Road in Under 5 Minutes."
What's in store every week?
Monday – Friday – Jan offers a quick tip for managing work and personal life
Saturday – a tip for Finding the Funny . . . Jan will help you find the funny in your life with a quick tip on using humor
Sunday – It's time to sit back and enjoy a minute of Jan's clean comedy from her shows
Jan has shared her humor keynotes with groups such as...
Mayo Clinic
Abbott Pharmaceuticals
Sanofi Aventis Pharmaceuticals
Kaiser-Permanente
Davita Dialysis Centers
Blue Cross
Blue Shield
National Council for Prescription Drug Companies
Organization of Nurse Leaders
Federal Reserve Banks
BDO Accounting
Transamerica Insurance & Investment Group
Merrill Lynch
American Institute of CPAs
National League of Cities
International Worker's Compensation Fund
LA County Management Association
Social Security Administration
Southern California Public Power Authority
U.S. Air Force
American Heart Associations
Go Red For Women luncheons
Speaking of Women's Health
International Association of Administrative Professionals
Toyota Women’s Conference
Women in Insurance and Financial Services
Soroptimists
Women in Film & Video
Henry Ford Health Centers Women’s Event
Breast cancer awareness
School Business Officials associations
School superintendent associations
School boards associations
State education associations
Community college associations
Head Start associations
Texas adult protective services
Association of Elementary and Middle School Principals
International Association of Emergency Managers
Disney Emergency Managers
COPIC
Salt Lake County Public Works and Municipal Services Disaster Recovery Conference
Pennsylvania Governor’s Occupational Safety and Health conference
Mid Atlantic Safety conference and Chesapeake Regional Safety Council
Risk associations
American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation
Rehabilitation Associations
NIGP
Public procurement associations
Public purchasing associations
correctional associations
public utilities
public personnel associations
rural housing associations
community action associations
Health Information Management Associations
Healthcare Financial Management Associations
Hospitals
Home Healthcare Associations
Assisted Living Associations
Medical Group Management Associations
Healthcare Risk Associations
Healthcare Quality Associations
state emergency management associations
insurance groups
state education associations
community college associations
school administrators associations
school nutrition associations
principal associations
library associations -
Funny comedian & top keynote speaker Jan McInnis's unique, fun and useful ideas will help you develop solutions to your own work and life issues.
Jan is an established comedy writer. She's sold material for Jay Leno’s Tonight Show monologue on the Tonight Show as well as many other people, places and groups – radio, TV, syndicated cartoon strips, and even guests on the Jerry Springer show (her parents are proud).
For over 25+ years she’s traveled country as a comedian, keynote speaker, and Master of Ceremonies. She's shared her clean comedy with thousands of organizations, and her business tips with thousands of corporations and associations. She's been onstage in front of everyone from the Mayo Clinic to several of the Federal Reserve Banks. Jan is also currently co-starring in the Baby Boomer Comedy Show, touring theatres with comedian Kent Rader, and she is also an excellent Master of Ceremonies!
Jan is the author of two books "Finding the Funny Fast – How to Create Quick Humor to Connect with Clients, Coworkers & Crowds," and "Convention Comedian – Stories and Wisdom From Two Decades of Chicken Dinners and Comedy Clubs." Her short stories can be heard on her popular podcast: "Comedian Stories: Tales From the Road in Under 5 Minutes."
What's in store every week?
Monday – Friday – Jan offers a quick tip for managing work and personal life
Saturday – a tip for Finding the Funny . . . Jan will help you find the funny in your life with a quick tip on using humor
Sunday – It's time to sit back and enjoy a minute of Jan's clean comedy from her shows
Keywords (Up to 30) #topkeynotespeaker #findingthefunnyinchange #humorkeynote #funneyfemalespeaker #funnymotivationalspeaker #cleancomedian #funnykeynotespeaker #inspirationalkeynotespeaker #changemanagementspeaker #femalecomedians #femalestandupcomedians #femalecomedian #bestfemalecomedian #topfemalecomedian #bestfemalestandupcomedians #changemanagementkeynotespeaker #changespeaker #keynote #keynotespeaker #comedyemcee #masterofceremonies #leadershipkeynote #masterofceremonies #comedyemcee #comedianemcee #emcee #funnymasterofceremonies
Mayo Clinic
Abbott Pharmaceuticals
Sanofi Aventis Pharmaceuticals
Kaiser-Permanente
Davita Dialysis Centers
Blue Cross
Blue Shield
National Council for Prescription Drug Companies
Organization of Nurse Leaders
Federal Reserve Banks
BDO Accounting
Transamerica Insurance & Investment Group
Merrill Lynch
American Institute of CPAs
National League of Cities
International Worker's Compensation Fund
LA County Management Association
Social Security Administration
Southern California Public Power Authority
U.S. Air Force
American Heart Associations
Go Red For Women luncheons
Speaking of Women's Health
International Association of Administrative Professionals
Toyota Women’s Conference
Women in Insurance and Financial Services
Soroptimists
Women in Film & Video
Henry Ford Health Centers Women’s Event
Breast cancer awareness
School Business Officials associations
School superintendent associations
School boards associations
State education associations
Community college associations
Head Start associations
Texas adult protective services
Association of Elementary and Middle School Principals
International Association of Emergency Managers
Disney Emergency Managers
COPIC
Salt Lake County Public Works and Municipal Services Disaster Recovery Conference
Pennsylvania Governor’s Occupational Safety and Health conference
Mid Atlantic Safety conference and Chesapeake Regional Safety Council
Risk associations
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I think I actually had that thought when I was in my marketing job. I talked about using statistics in yesterdays humor tip, so that's an example of how I did it.
I hope you're having a wonderful Sunday. If you want to hear stories from my comedy career, check out my short podcast wherever you listen to podcasts. It's called Comedian Stories. I kick off with a joke, tell a short 3 or 4 minute story, and end with a take-away tip from what I learned. All under 5 minutes.
That's it for today. Take care and enjoy your journey.
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And it's the Saturday edition of Finding the Funny, which means I'll be giving you a tip to find the funny yourself! I've written for everyone from the Tonight Show to radio, syndicated cartoon strips, CEO's, companies like airline food vendors. I now travel the country showing organizations how to use humor in business.
So here's your 60 second tip. . . Use statistics. They may be boring, but they are your friend in comedy. Make them up or find out ones. If you find out that 60% of people do one particular thing, then you can make up what the other 40% do or vice versa. Statistics are weird and they are kept , and then make up reasons why this is what it is. It's a fun, quick way to find the funny. Listen to tomorrow's joke to hear one of my statistic jokes
If you want more fast tips on coming up with humor in your communications, then check out my book on Amazon – Finding the Funny Fast. It's how to create quick humor to connect with clients, coworkers and crowds.
That's it for today. Take care and enjoy your journey.
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If you watch 20 comics, you may see 20 different approaches to telling a joke. In my act I do 3-4 jokes a minute, and I like the set-up punch style of Rodney Dangerfield and Jay Leno. If you don't like this one, then you'll like this one. But other comics like to tell stories, and other comics like to tell stock jokes that we've all heard, and some comics like to act out and be physical while tell jokes, while others like to be deadpan.
I'm talking this week about humor rules, and while there aren't many in a comedy club, aside from be funny, there are a few if you want to do the humor out in the real world as a non-comedian. And today's tip is . . . do the humor that YOU, yourself, think is funny. Then you'll have fun doing it AND you'll sell it better. If you like knock knock jokes, okay, I guess you can do them. Whatever it is.
I tell up and coming comedians, that they should try to write clean so they can find the punchline, BUT if they curse a lot, then they won't be comfortable telling a joke without curse words, so yeah, make sure there's a punchline, but add in curse words. Find your style, and your sense of humor, and do that. . .Just make sure you know your audience or you may get yourself in trouble.
ACTION: Go forward and give some kind of thought to what really makes YOU laugh. Tomorrow I'll be doing a quick tip on finding the funny in your life.
That's it for today. Take care and enjoy your journey.
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I always have a client call before my keynotes and comedy shows. And people try to come up with funny things, instead of just telling me the facts and let ME come up with the funny. And people have actually said things to me such as "make fun of her hair" or "make fun of his divorce." Wow, really? Would you say that to them?
We're talking humor rules this week and my tip today sounds obvious, but shockingly it's not. Don't make jokes about something that you wouldn't say to their face. The only caveat to this is if you're a comedian in a comedy club and that's your thing, or you're roasting people. But I'm talking about if you just want to come up with every day humor, or joke around a bit. Don't do it at the expense of others. I talked earlier this week about not joking about sensitive subjects, but you should also not joke about personal issues . . . even if you're going to get a huge laugh. Don't get laughs at other people's expense unless that's you're goal and you're fine with hurting others.
Check out my website https://www.TheWorkLady.com to see the kind of humor I do.
That's it for today. Take care and enjoy your journey.
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I was performing for a group of 4400 people. It was a dinner event, and they ran out of dinners for 1500 people. It was plated, so basically they miscounted by 1500 meals. AND it was their employee appreciate banquet. As a comedian, I wanted to get onstage, pull the curtain back and say "hey, I found them."
I didn't do that – why? Well this week's tips are on humor rules, and my tip today is to watch the sensitive subjects. . . don't take the easy shot. People had stormed out of this dinner, so the people left behind would have loved my joke about it – they obviously had a sense of humor, so I could have come up with several killer lines. BUT the client was backstage crying. She had messed up big time, and she knew it. I knew she was crying backstage, and I didn't want to get laughs at her expense.
When we're coming up with humor, sometimes you're tempted to take the easy shot and make fun of something someone has worked on, or make fun of a BIG mistake someone made. Watch yourself and make sure you're not going after a sensitive issue.
ACTION: If you'd like a copy of my 2-page article The Anatomy of a Joke – send me an email to [email protected]
That's it for today. Take care and enjoy your journey.
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Years ago I got to do comedy in front of 500 blind merchant. I was the only sighted person in the room, so of course as a comedian, the first thing I want to say when I get on stage is "hey, I'm naked!" But I didn't. Why? Okay, maybe it's a bad visual, but also they had put in my contract that they have heard every blind joke on the planet, so I can't do them. Period. They had a GREAT sense of humor, but they've heard all the blind jokes they want to hear.
My tips this week are on humor rules, and while there pretty much aren't any rules if you're a comedian in a comedy club, there are some general rules for non-comedians. And today's tip is to don't do the obvious jokes. It's not about being politically correct, it's the person or group you're joking with has probably heard it all. So you're not being funny, you're being obvious! Try to be a little more creative than regurgitating a fact they already know. I did a show for postal workers, and my friends were saying I should talk about going postal. . .no. these people lived it and it wasn't funny to them. Stay out of trouble, and avoid being boring by not doing the obvious jokes.
ACTION: Check out https://www.ComedyEmcee.com to see me being the Master of Ceremonies for various groups. And note how I have fun with them without doing mean jokes.
That's it for today. Take care and enjoy your journey.
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There are few rules for humor, and in fact, I think the only big rule in comedy is to be funny. You can be dirty, clean, insulting or whatever, but as long as you're funny, you've fulfilled the job requirement. That's the number one rule for the comedy clubs anyway. BUT doubtful most of you will be performing in a comedy club. So, if you want to tell jokes around family, friends, or the office, there really are a few loose rules that you might want to pay attention to. And that's what I'll be focusing on this week – humor rules.
Today's tip . . . only make fun of a group that you are a member of. If you're bald, you can make bald jokes. If you're obviously overweight, you can make fat jokes. If you're not, then don't. Ask if you belong to that group, only THEN you can do some humor about it. Beware, you still might make people uncomfortable, but at least you're in the same boat as them. It's that simple rule, but people break it all the time, and then they get themselves in trouble. Don't be one of those people – stick to this rule.
ACTION: If you want some tips on writing humor, check out http://www.ComedyWriterBlog.com - it's my blog with great tips on comedy writing.
That's it for today. Take care and enjoy your journey.
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