I have just watched Suart Brown’s TED talk: Why Play is Vital – No Matter Your Age.
Play.
When did we get so serious?
We’re even serious about humor. Somehow somewhere we seemed to get the idea that to be serious, we have to be solemn.
Maybe it’s best to just throw stuff out there and hope something sticks, or more accurately, someone laughs.
Sometimes things work, and sometimes things don’t.
I performed with a man for several years who wrote some wonderful material. But hoarded it as if he would never write anything good again. Anytime I thought something was too good to let go, I locked up, kind of creative constipation. But when I let it all go, new stuff always filled in the space.
This is not new. It’s sort of a comic version of what televangelists call, The Prosperity Gospel, or some motivational speakers call the principle of vacuum.Zen yogis caution us that if we are already full of crap, there is no room for anything else, no room for anything new. If you are busy finding places to use what you already know, you are not looking for new things to learn.
Funny surrounds us.
In Focus On The Escape we talked about locking in on something to the exclusion of everything else. The only barriers are self created ones. There is always another story, always another joke, always another stupid frat guy who not only does something stupid, but films it and puts it up on YouTube for the world to see.
The only way to find out if something is funny is to put it out there.
If you are one of those rare individuals who has such a highly refined sense of humor that only three people on the planet share your insights, as long as they are not bedouins who live in a tent, or pygmies who live in the jungle of New Guinea, you will find each other and laugh.
So play.
It’s OK.
If it works, it works,
if it doesn’t…. try something else.
And if your company or group has forgotten how to play, bring me in for your next meeting or event! (I’ve got kids in college, and an expensive wife, I need the money!)
Meanwhile, play around with comments, and with the subscribe buttons.
on May 25th, 2009 at 1:56 pm
Great article. I totally agree that — at least with being humorous — hoarding isn’t a great idea. Assuming that you’ll come up w/ more brilliant stuff seems to help.
Thanks for the blog!
Brad
if you’re interested, I have a blog where I write on similar topics at http://www.bradlaughs.com Come on by!
THanks again. Brad
on May 26th, 2009 at 4:18 pm
Thanks Brad, I have visited your site. You are a busy guy!
We need to talk!
on Jun 5th, 2009 at 5:33 am
Great advice! Humor is best enjoyed out loud. It’s also a great way to really judge if something is funny or not. How many times do we think of something and it seems funny, but when we say it (or type it) out loud, it just doesn’t hit the ol’ funny bone… not even to ourself.
on Jun 30th, 2009 at 4:41 pm
So true..One of the reasons I left corporate america. People (esp fancy-pants at the VP and up level) seem to think that a serious demeanor = professional. Anyone know has actually been there knows that nothing could be further than the truth.
My wife is now a Doctor, and I’m trying to instill in her the same wisdom….give a shit, love what you do, help people, and don’t be afraid to crack a fart joke now and then. If you are good at what you do, they will forgive you for it, and they might even like you better in the process.
Wise words my caffeine-riddled friend
PS Loved the article about calling ahead to TP a house. Next, I wonder if they will be calling to let you know their son plans to have unprotected sex with your daughter after prom
on Jul 2nd, 2009 at 5:01 pm
JJ,
I’ve never known a bedside manner that wasn’t improved by fart jokes… on the other hand isn’t your wife a vet? I am not sure about the cross-species aspects of flatulence humor…
Let’s hope they at least call to ask where to get condoms… and may they turn out to be as strong as Charmin Ultra Extra Strong!
on Jan 12th, 2010 at 4:08 pm
Originality is key. Humor can take many different forms, and one should never feel they have to steal someone elses thunder to be good.