How to Be Funny

Thank you. This post really summed up what I said to Alana on her Alana Flower's Charlette, NC radio show the other day on "the six steps for radio hosts (and guests for that matter) to create a comedic persona". I don't advise you listen to the radio show because it wasn't very funny listening to me teach the six steps... which Elizabeth, my dear (friend since I discovered you were Scott Stratten's friday pick five an hour ago) 1/2 an hour after I learned who Scott is @unmarketing) is precisely why your video above on how to be funny was perfect for me! Being the fool is fun, scary, embarassing and all of what you said above which is great if like you said is great if you can laugh at yourself while staying true to your authenic self! P.S. My worst critique after a comedy I wrote about Massage for the Philly Fringe '07, was from an ex nun. Choose your audience or they'll choose you.

First, I love the fact that you found Scott and then found me, watched this video, and then replied, all in an hour. Awesome. :)

And yes, there will always be people who will not like us, which is actually great. If we are not polarizing, we are saying nothing.

You bring up such a great truth Elizabeth,

"Embrace the Fool"

Most people in our genre, and in life in general, feel like they have to put on a front, wear a mask, or strike a pose (worked for Madonna anyway).

The bravery, the courage, the authenticity shines through when you're willing to be real and share your flaws, your challenges, and the fact that sometimes you fall flat on your face can be a good thing...it's part of being human.

I love the fool, I embrace the fool, hell, I'm the guy who says that "when I was 27, I was a millionaire living the American Dream, then I found God, Self Help, and Dr. Phil, and I've been screwed up ever since."

So many books, teachers, workshops, Guru's etc. are all telling us what we're supposed to do, and they leave out the part about being original and just sharing our unique gifts and talents with the world...we need to do that, otherwise people get stuck in Sheepwalking and looking like everyone else without letting their own Soul's shine through in the work.

we all stumble, but through the awesome adversity, (yes I called adversity awesome, go figure), we become amazing leaders and have a ton of wisdom to share, without ever having to think we have it all figured out, because I don't think we ever get it ALL figured out...Humans are a little nuts, (especially me), and that keeps me in business and makes for great comedy material.

You nailed it to, I think one of the funniest people on late night TV now is Craig Fergsuon, and he is the king of being a fool and poking fun at himself and his journey, and it's super funny!

Thank God for us all being the fool, because that allows us to keep the funny coming, and I will always continue to embrace that fool, because in my humble opinion,that is one of the most amazing ways to be successful, stay connected to the Universe, to live, and have a frickin' good time.

Great video, thanks for sharing,
Scott

@TheEntertainer

Thanks so much Scott! Yes, we are all the fool, and it's easy to bond with people if you just embrace that!

"Claim the unfunny!" Woot! We'll let you slide on this one. ;-)

Seriously, thanks for always being the authentic ElizabethPW. Candid, amusing and inspiring!

Unfunniness (with the eyebrow rais following)... That qualifies as a wee bit funny I think.
Another great one in the can (the figurative can of course.) hee hee!
;)
Amy

so maybe the moral actually is that you have to learn how to raise one eyebrow. oh, and @unmarketing also does that too, so there's our proof.

In epic irony, my "how to be funny" video is not actually funny. So apparently I'm also teaching you a lesson in how to embrace your unfunniness in an authentic way. Or, let's hope.