Exercise tips on how to be funny

[caelanb]

Hello, I have recently watched Leo's how to be funny video because I wanted to know how to increase my humour (which is and always has been pretty low). In the video he provides different exercises in order to increase ones humour. I am wondering how to go about practising these things. I have just started doing the first exercise today; starting one sentence with the last word of the previous sentence. However, during the first exercise, I found myself being delayed a bit by proper grammar, not by if the sentence made sense or not. A sentence can make sense or not and have proper grammar or not.

Anyway, I am unsure if I should start all of the other exercises provided right now, for example, the second exercise, this is for two reasons. 1) I am so unfunny that I don't think that I'll even be able to do the visualization exercises, my life so mundane. Thinking for a moment of my day to day life, there is nothing remotely funny that pops up in my mind that happened during the day without the input of someone else making a joke or something like that. So it feels futile to attempt the virtualisation. And 2) I've heard that it's usually not wise to start to many things at once. That being said, the first exercise is only 10 minutes of my time per day, but I have also just increased my meditation time from 15 minutes -25 minutes daily to 60 minutes daily.

Any tips?

Thank you.

[universe]

A pretty easy thing to do is watch some comedy.

Get yourself in the right mood!

Then when you talk to people think about ways to make the situation more fun.

Fail and learn from there.

[Thought Art]

 

[flyingguitarist]

Observe kids , learn from them.

Sometimes when I get surrounded with them (say in a park or some function ) I naturally get more playful and funny 

[Guest EmptyVase]

Have fun; don't take yourself too serious; be willing to say random, dumb shit (visualization is great for that one); and identify your own ways of humor.

See Leos advice as an inspiration, rather than as hard rules on how to be funny. Don't try to recreate humor. Humor is spontaneous and original.

And there's actually a profound paradox with funniness: If you try hard to be funny, you won't be funny. But if you don't try at all, you will never be either. Once you're actually funny, you don't even have to try to be funny - because you ARE funny. I couldn't determine yet where this paradox exactly points to, but there's a whiff of profundity to it. I think it's identity related and also points to non-duality, but I have no clue.

[Nahm]

Just be serious. 

[caelanb]

On 2021-10-17 at 11:48 PM, universe said:

A pretty easy thing to do is watch some comedy.

Get yourself in the right mood!

Then when you talk to people think about ways to make the situation more fun.

@universe I remember watching a video from Charisma on Command that recommended doing this. The thing is I don't go to parties, I only really have family get-togethers, hang out with a couple friends once in a while, or text people. Plus, COVID makes it a little more challenging to go out to bars, clubs and the like. I also don't feel very comfortable going out to talk to people that I don't know, also partly due to COVID. Though, I am fully vaccinated. However, you're probably going to say that these are all just excuses, which I will agree with you, they are. But, I guess what I am trying to achieve/hoping I will eventually achieve with the help of Leo's video is, using exercises on my own in order to be more funny with other people. Meaning that I'll increase my humour just by doing sentence stringing exercises for example for 10 minutes a day for many months, which will increase my funniness muscle, without needing to talk to people daily in order to practise it.

If my funniness is low, then watching comedy may make me laugh, but it most likely won't make me funnier, even if it gets me in a playful mood, because I'm not 'trained' (if you will) yet . However, I could be wrong, and it may work to certain degree.

@Thought Art Personally I don't find that video very funny, if that's what it is trying to be.

On 2021-10-20 at 10:12 AM, flyingguitarist said:

Observe kids , learn from them.

Sometimes when I get surrounded with them (say in a park or some function ) I naturally get more playful and funny

@flyingguitarist I guess that may work, however, I don't have any kids, child siblings, or cousins (well three, but in a different country), so I'd have to go to someplace where those individuals are present. However, I feel like it would be kinda weird to go to a place with children that I don't have any relation to, just to watch them go about their child like playful behaviours. Parents will be like, 'wtf is this man doing here, watching my child'. If that's what your proposing me do.

On 2021-10-22 at 6:12 AM, EmptyVase said:

Have fun; don't take yourself too serious; be willing to say random, dumb shit (visualization is great for that one); and identify your own ways of humor.

@EmptyVase 95% ( rough estimate) of the random stuff I say is not funny, it just doesn't make any sense (the other 5% is kinda funny, if it makes sense to some degree). How do you visual being funny, when you aren't naturally funny? It's kinda like trying to look at a cell/the microscopic world, when you don't have a microscope. You have get a microscope somehow, by building it (in this context). I have an idea of where to find the parts, but I don't how the parts fit together, and even how to use it once I get it put together.

On 2021-10-22 at 6:12 AM, EmptyVase said:

See Leos advice as an inspiration, rather than as hard rules on how to be funny.

@EmptyVase Maybe I'm using the advice the wrong way. I think I am assuming that if I use a system of rules for humour, it will help me to get to a point where I have a bit of humour, and help me go above that, but then I would probably have to modify the rules somehow, and eventually let go of them in order to be truly spontaneous (which seems like a pipe dream right now).

On 2021-10-22 at 6:12 AM, EmptyVase said:

Don't try to recreate humor. Humor is spontaneous and original.

@EmptyVase Yeah, I see how that is true from watching comedians and people that are great at sarcasm in interviews, talk shows, or if something unexpected happens in their comedy show (for comedians), very context dependent.

On 2021-10-22 at 6:12 AM, EmptyVase said:

And there's actually a profound paradox with funniness: If you try hard to be funny, you won't be funny. But if you don't try at all, you will never be either. Once you're actually funny, you don't even have to try to be funny - because you ARE funny. I couldn't determine yet where this paradox exactly points to, but there's a whiff of profundity to it. I think it's identity related and also points to non-duality, but I have no clue.

@EmptyVaseThis issue will probably f*ck me up quite a bit. How can I be funny, when I am not funny? Lol. From watching Leo for a while, I would probably say that pretty much all paradoxes relate to infinity.

20 hours ago, Nahm said:

Just be serious. 

@Nahm Do you mean be serious about becoming funny?

[Nahm]

@caelanb

Just be serious on purpose. 

[Guest EmptyVase]

9 minutes ago, caelanb said:

95% ( rough estimate) of the random stuff I say is not funny, it just doesn't make any sense

Ever watched Eric Andre? Imagine he'd hesitate with his dumbness on his skits. That'd be lame for his type of comedy.

9 minutes ago, caelanb said:

How do you visual being funny, when you aren't naturally funny?

That's the rewiring-your-brain part. Just visualize being goofy and loose while daydreaming about random situations. Also visualize that you embarrass yourself and that you look really dumb. This hijacks your brain and gets the stick out of yo' ass.

14 minutes ago, caelanb said:

I think I am assuming that if I use a system of rules for humour, it will help me to get to a point where I have a bit of humour, and help me go above that, but then I would probably have to modify the rules somehow, and eventually let go of them in order to be truly spontaneous (which seems like a pipe dream right now).

Yeah, that's kinda the approach. But I will quote a wise man, who has something else to say:

15 minutes ago, caelanb said:

very context dependent

Context dependent humor or system of rules for humor? Hmm..

16 minutes ago, caelanb said:

How can I be funny, when I am not funny?

Crack the not joke. (Just kidding don't crack the not joke - not)

[Thought Art]

Use wit, tact and play with expectations 

[Proserpina]

Find that mindset and vision that inspires you. 

When I was at my 'funniest' I was like a little pixie getting into all kinds of trouble. Bouncing here and there.  Mischevious. Airy, care free, laughter occurring naturally like breathing.  I would attract similar beings and we would play off eachother. 

[universe]

@caelanb If you want to go that route then yeah do the association exercises. I would only recommend watching something light-hearted before you socialize to acclimate. Like in that CoC video.

If you have enough time and want it badly enough you can also practice some storytelling and stuff like that. Have a funny answer to the most common questions "Where are you from" "What do you do for work" etc. You don't need to use them but you then have the option and it will set the mood for the whole conversation.

The thing though, you are kinda trying to learn to swim by doing exercises and reading books. In my experience it doesn't work that way.

@Nahm Yep, the truth is funny 

[AlphaAbundance]

@caelanb Perhaps try to go for proper grammar, if not just go for it making sense.

Then perhaps focus on the most funny thing that happen that day. When it comes to minor hiccups, misunderstandings or roadblocks on these type of exercises, perhaps just try to focus on the main goal of the exercise and not be to OCD when it comes to the specifics. (Though keep a mind there probably are some types of endeavors where that is neccessary or helpful)

Depending on how much you want to be funny, how much of a priority it is, perhaps that can determine how much practice you will put in. Whether its starting with one exercise, and gradually adding more, or starting all the exercises at once. Either is possible. If you have the time (you do) and inclination then perhaps just start on all the exercises to be funny as fast as possible.

Edited October 24, 2021 by AlphaAbundance

[BlackMaze]

Read a book about why we laugh or about how to be a stand up comedian. Watch south park, family guy and rick and morty. Spend much time collecting memes like i do. Lol. You are serious about becoming funny. Stop being serious. Be around funny people and socialize with them.

[FlyingLotus]

     Learn the basics of joke writing.  Jokes are the building blocks of humor.  When you practice writing jokes a lot you’ll be amazed at how they pop into your head without you trying (and sometimes when it’s really inappropriate and gets you in trouble…?)  Analyzing and deconstructing jokes will also make you funnier.

      A basic joke consists of:

      Setup + Punchline = Laughter

     -The Setup is an emotional statement or opinion about a topic.  It’s not meant to be funny.  It’s short, to the point and contains one idea only.

     -The Punchline is the funny part of the joke.  It contrasts against and twists the Setup.  It pulls the rug out from under the Setup and re-contextualizes it.  It violates certain logical assumptions about the Setup, thus creating laughter.

Examples:

• Setup:  Follow your passion, stay true to yourself, never follow someone else’s path.
• Punch:  Unless you’re in the woods and you’re lost and you see a path, then by all means you should follow that.

 

• Setup:  My mom ruled our house with an iron fist.
• Punch:  She also used to breastfeed with an iron nipple.

 

• Setup:  Pop-tarts can’t go stale,
• Punch:  because they were never fresh.

Here’s a longer example:

Setup:

     -Leo always wears a white button down shirt when he films Actualized.org videos.

     Notice how boring and matter of fact this premise is.  It’s an observation.  It’s thoroughly unfunny.  Don’t be funny here.  Be observant.  The funny part is in the Punchline. 

     Now identify the Setup’s no-brainer assumptions.  Then ask, “what else could this mean?”

 

No brainer assumptions:

• Leo wears something neutral to not distract from what he’s talking about.
• Leo wears the same white shirt because it’s easier for filming.
• People care about way more about his content than his outfit.  

 

What Else Could This Mean?:

     Setup:  Why does Leo wear a white button down shirt when he films Actualized.org videos?

     Punchlines:

• a) He’s secretly a white shirt model.  You’re supposed to play the videos on mute.
• b) He’s has over 500 episodes, some are three hours long, and you expect him to dress nice too?  Kinda picky, gee…
• c) That’s not a white shirt!  It’s a cotton blend picture frame for his glistening chest hair.
• d) It's his super, special filming shirt.  You can tell because he also wears it to shoot pornos.
• e) That white shirt is his second skin, because Leo's a never nude!!

     I’m not saying these are professional level jokes you’d see on an HBO special, but they’re good examples of asking, “what else could this mean?”  You’ll have to write a lot of crappy jokes to get to the good jokes.  Just notice how each Punchline violates assumptions about the Setup.

• Option a) challenges the assumption that the videos are more important than the shirt.  Also assumes Leo’s not a model.
• Option b) points out the elephant in the room.  Caring about his shirt is fairly stupid compared to enlightenment work.
• Option c) challenges the assumption that he’d rather you focus on what he’s saying than what’s happening below his neck.
• Option d) assumes you haven’t found Leo’s Only Fans account…?
• Option e) is the truth .  

     !!! Sorry Leo !!!  Don’t ban me…(or hopefully he won't see this thread ?)

 

     -This is just the tip of the iceberg.  Read books on joke writing.  A good one is Judy Carter’s “The New Comedy Bible.”  It’s all about creating a standup routine.  Scott Sedita’s “The 8 Characters of Comedy” is also good for understanding and performing comedy.

      If you’re stumped when asking “What Else Could This Mean” try different points of view.  Ideally very emotional ones.  The most effective, I find, are: Weird, Hard, Stupid, Scary.

     -Weird doesn’t necessarily mean bad, just unusual.  “Go suck a bag of dicks” is a weird thing to say.  According to Louis CK, it’s not bad, just confusing.    

     -Ronny Chieng: how weird US state mottos are.

 

 

     -Ronny Chieng: how it’s hard to fix your mom’s computer.

 

 

     -Ronny Chieng: Life in America is so convenient it’s stupid.

 

 

     -A man’s sign at Jon Stewart’s “Rally to Restore Sanity”:

     My wife is Iraqi and she’s not a terrorist,

     but I’m scared of her anyway.

Edited October 25, 2021 by FlyingLotus

[universe]

Oh my god these videos, jesus... Im dying 

Great examples!

[FlyingLotus]

On 10/26/2021 at 10:17 AM, universe said:

Oh my god these videos, jesus... Im dying 

Great examples!

Glad you enjoy!  Ronny Chieng's hilarious.  

Here he is interviewing Andrew Yang about Universal Basic Income. 

That's only half the segment.  I think you can only get the full clip in the US.

[flowboy]

On 23/10/2021 at 7:52 PM, caelanb said:

I also don't feel very comfortable going out to talk to people that I don't know, also partly due to COVID. Though, I am fully vaccinated. However, you're probably going to say that these are all just excuses, which I will agree with you, they are. But, I guess what I am trying to achieve/hoping I will eventually achieve with the help of Leo's video is, using exercises on my own in order to be more funny with other people. Meaning that I'll increase my humour just by doing sentence stringing exercises for example for 10 minutes a day for many months, which will increase my funniness muscle, without needing to talk to people daily in order to practise it.

I'm so sorry to tell you this, but the comedic muscle develops only with the correct pressures of a social environment. Other people around you.

You are asking: can I please train my biceps for months and months before going to a gym and picking up a weight?

Humour is a social virtue. It's a social lubricant. It allows other people to relax, feel more at ease, get insights about themselves, feel more connected, decrease stress, release the pressure of awkward situations, and more.

Comedians will also tell you that it's impossible to develop their craft without going in front of an audience. No matter how many fancy joke-writing exercises they do. The only test that counts is other people. Did they laugh, or not. That's how you learn.

In my opinion, there is little value doing all these exercises by yourself, and a lot of value in practice.

Why do you want to be funny?

Edited October 29, 2021 by flowboy

[Nahm]

A you can neither be serious, nor taken seriously. That would be impossible. ? 

[Fearless_Bum]

On 10/22/2021 at 4:40 PM, Nahm said:

Just be serious. 

@Nahm comedic gold, how did this fly over people's heads?