Using Humor

Airlines are rushing to implement their newest “revenue enhancement,” a $45.00 Volcano Flight Interruption Fee.

A spokesman claimed, “We see this as a benefit for our travelers. This way only the passengers who wish to continue their trip will have to pay for it. Some travelers may decide to seek alternate transportation to their destination and they will not be charged this fee. Of course, they will incur a $50.00 Seeking Alternate Transportation Fee, and the $20.00 vacant seat fee.”

When asked what an airline ticket actually purchased, the spokes person replied, “People are under the mistaken impression they are buying transportation, but there is no way we can actually get them anywhere for what we charge, so essentially the price of a ticket buys passengers the right to be charged for all the things it takes to actually run an airline.”

“And how is this working out for you?” we asked.

“I am proud to report, that by implementing these fees and with the concessions we have received from the pilots, mechanics, and flight attendants unions, we were able to keep our executive compensation right where it needs to be.”

More later.

Courtesy of Apollo Ideas

My friend and Home office expert Lisa Kanarek asks,

“Where Do You Work Naked?”

Is your home office located in a tree house, playhouse or refurbished warehouse? Do you work in a funky, functional or fabulous spare bedroom, basement or attic home office? If so, you and your home office could win the “Where Do You Work Naked?” Contest sponsored by workingnaked.net between March 15-April 15, 2010.

Whether you work from home full-time, part-time or to occupy time, the place where you work naked—without the support of the corporate workplace—could earn you these prizes:

Courtesy of Apollo Ideas

Elfa products from The Container Store ($250 value)

Fellowes PS-79Ci Cross-Cut 100% Jam Proof Shredder

Epson WorkForce 610

Library edition binders from Russell + Hazel

Home Office Solutions: Creating a Space that Works for You book by Lisa Kanarek

One-year subscription to Flexjobs

Official “I’m working naked…are you?” t-shirt

To enter:

Expose yourself: E-mail a photo of your home office to contest@workingnaked.net. We’re looking for photos of offices, not people.

Share the naked truth: In 50-words-or-less, describe your home office.  We want to know why your home office is the perfect place for working naked.

The winner will be announced on April 30, 2010. For more details visit  www.workingnaked.net.

The safest target for humor is always yourself, and the best material reflects your personality.

So it’s time to start digging.

I have not had much success just sitting down and looking in my past for funny stuff. I have however, nearly always been able to come up with pertinent examples of past behavior when faced with a new humorous situation.

You can’t use what you don’t remember, so today start remembering.

Write it down.

It it’s funny, write it down.

If it strikes you as odd, write it down.

If it doesn’t make sense, write it down.

All of these notes become a foundation for future material. The idea that a major comic just riffs on their childhood is crazy. A good routine, with an absolutely natural delivery, that sounds like it’s the first time it came to mind, may take months to put together.

So start a journal, or notes on your iPhone, Blackberry, or computer. As you note present day events and thoughts, related thoughts will start to appear. Maybe not right away, maybe not for every item, and not all the time, but the thoughts will come.

So write them down.

We’ll cover what to do with all this stuff in a later post.

Meanwhile, comments are open, and if you want a unique speaker or MC for your next event… contact me! There are still good dates open for 2010. (2011 is still pretty much wide-open too. And 2012 may mark the end of the world, but I can still take your deposit.)