2407 1078 Performing Arts Humor & Comedy Humor Techniques true Sat, 08 Mar 2008 11:42:44 -0800 /system/videos/6/07/24/2407.flv arts, audience, comedian, comedy, comic, deliver, DIY, Do It Yourself, Essential Skills, fun, funny, group, Instructional, joke, joking, laugh, Learn to, make, perform, performing, tell, Tips, tutorial How To Tell a Joke http://www.howcast.com/videos/2407-How-To-Tell-a-Joke http://www.howcast.com/videos/2407-How-To-Tell-a-Joke/edit approved 149 640 480 <object width="425" height="352" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" id="howcastplayer"><param name="movie" value="http://www.howcast.com/flash/howcast_player.swf?file=2407"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.howcast.com/flash/howcast_player.swf?file=2407" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="352" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" ></embed></object> 19 lodgerfilms http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/2407/ppn_lodger_tell_joke_still_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.jpg 6238 false false false 25590 1 25 Step http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/2407/25.jpg Choose topic Choose a joke about a topic you can relate to. Your audience doesn’t need to believe that you really got fired from your job yesterday, but if you’re only 12, it might be harder to imagine that you could have.

]]> 25591 2 33 Tip Steer clear of played out topics. Does anyone ever need to hear another mother-in-law joke?

]]> 25592 3 45 Step http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/2407/45.jpg Determine your take Determine your take on the topic—is something silly, strange, or difficult? Sometimes this will be easy, as the joke will actually state your stance, as in, “Isn’t it strange how?” Whatever your stance, commit to it. It will drive your joke.

]]> 25593 4 55 Step http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/2407/55.jpg Examine structure of joke Examine the structure of your joke. The setup contains all of the information necessary to prepare for the laugh—but it shouldn’t be funny. The second part, or the punch line, surprises the audience by changing their perspective, which makes them laugh.

]]> 25594 5 68 Tip Sometimes you’ll have to act out the kicker, or end of the punch line—if this is the case, really go for it verbally and physically.

]]> 25595 6 78 Step http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/2407/78.jpg Watch comedians Watch performances of successful comedians to get a feel for good timing, and then experiment with yours. Figuring out exactly when to deliver the “funny” is the key to eliciting uproarious laughter.

]]> 25596 7 90 Step http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/2407/90.jpg Memorize joke Memorize your joke—make sure you know it by heart!

]]> 25597 8 96 Step http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/2407/96.jpg Practice telling joke Practice telling your joke to a friend who’s willing to be your guinea pig.

]]> 25598 9 100 Tip If you’re not ready or willing to debut your joke to a live audience, try reading it into a tape recorder and then listening to the playback.

]]> 25599 10 112 Step http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/2407/112.jpg Know your audience Know your audience. Are they drunk? Sober? Easily offended? This will help you choose the appropriate joke for the moment and might influence your delivery.

]]> 25600 11 117 Tip Audiences make up their minds very quickly, so be sure to hook them from the moment you start talking.

]]> 25601 12 129 Step http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/2407/129.jpg Be confident Tell your joke with confidence! Don’t comment on or laugh at it—it doesn’t need extra help. If you let the joke and your preparation do the work, you’ll be knocking them dead in no time.

]]> 25602 13 135 Fact An online poll of 100,000 people determined that the world’s funniest joke was based on a sketch written by legendary British comedian Spike Milligan in 1951.

]]> 1078 3135 How To Write a Joke HowcastGuide 3581 Tue, 15 Apr 2008 09:25:37 -0700 10 Chris_Davis ]]> 125 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/6/35/31/3135.flv arts, comedy, DIY, Do It Yourself, Essential Skills, humor, Instructional, joke, Learn to, performing, technique, techniques, tell, telling, Tips, tutorial, write, writing Performing Arts Humor & Comedy Humor Techniques 2 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/3135/ppn_davis_write_joke_sd_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.jpg http://www.howcast.com/videos/3135-How-To-Write-a-Joke 1050 2425 How To Get a Job Doing Voice-Overs HowcastGuide 5270 Sun, 09 Mar 2008 23:33:37 -0700 24 vinzfeller ]]> 131 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/3/25/24/2425.flv act, acting, actor, actors, announcing, artist, arts, audition, auditioning, character, characters, DIY, Do It Yourself, Essential Skills, get, getting, hire, hired, impersonate, impersonating, impersonation, impersonations, Instructional, job, Learn to, Performing Arts General Performing Arts Announcing & Voice Over 3 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/2425/ppn_feller_job_voice_over_sd_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.jpg http://www.howcast.com/videos/2425-How-To-Get-a-Job-Doing-VoiceOvers 1051 944 How To Juggle Three Balls HowcastGuide 10216 Mon, 04 Feb 2008 18:09:39 -0800 35 bender ]]> 123 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/6/44/09/944.flv arts, balls, circus, clown, DIY, Do It Yourself, Essential Skills, Instructional, juggle, juggling, Learn to, performing, three, Tips, tutorial Performing Arts General Performing Arts Circus 6 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/944/jugglestill_sd_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.jpg http://www.howcast.com/videos/944-How-To-Juggle-Three-Balls 1051 17502 How To Throw Knives HowcastGuide 26111 Mon, 07 Jul 2008 06:01:21 -0700 39 LonnyNewton ]]> 112 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/2/02/75/01/17502.flv DIY, Instructional, tutorial, Do It Yourself, Tips, Essential Skills, Learn to, performing, arts, circus Performing Arts General Performing Arts Circus 6 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/17502/throw_knives_hd_3_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.jpg http://www.howcast.com/videos/17502-How-To-Throw-Knives 1056 2489 How To Make a Small Acting Role Stand Out HowcastGuide 2118 Thu, 13 Mar 2008 08:00:19 -0700 11 vinzfeller ]]> 102 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/4/89/24/2489.flv act, acting, art, arts, DIY, Do It Yourself, Essential Skills, Instructional, Learn to, make, making, out, performing, role, small, stand, standing, Tips, turn, turning, tutorial Performing Arts Acting General Acting 2 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/2489/ppn_feller_small_role_stand_out_sd_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.jpg http://www.howcast.com/videos/2489-How-To-Make-a-Small-Acting-Role-Stand-Out 1056 5335 How To Memorize Lines HowcastGuide 8250 Tue, 29 Apr 2008 07:19:48 -0700 30 vinzfeller ]]> 94 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/1/35/53/5335.flv act, acting, actor, actress, arts, DIY, Do It Yourself, drama, Essential Skills, Instructional, Learn to, line, lines, memorize, movie, performing, prepare, preparing, scene, stage, study, studying, Tips, tutorial Performing Arts Acting General Acting 9 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/5335/feller_httomemorizelines_final_sd_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.jpg http://www.howcast.com/videos/5335-How-To-Memorize-Lines 1058 111890 How To Prepare For an Acting Audition HowcastGuide 2016 Wed, 31 Dec 2008 06:03:18 -0800 12 Seaworthy ]]> 161 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/2/90/18/11/111890.flv DIY, Instructional, tutorial, Do It Yourself, Tips, Essential Skills, Learn to, performing, arts, actor Performing Arts Acting Auditions 2 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/111890/acting_audition_hd_3_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.jpg http://www.howcast.com/videos/111890-How-To-Prepare-For-an-Acting-Audition 1058 241659 How To Nail a Broadway Audition and Get the Part HowcastGuide 713 Fri, 18 Sep 2009 04:10:47 -0700 1 Equilibrio ]]> 144 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/5/72/06/24/240672.flv auditioning,broadway,preparing,acing,nailing,getting,part,cast,show,theater,theatre,role,musical,theatre,acting Performing Arts Acting Auditions 0 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/241659/nail_audition2_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.jpg http://www.howcast.com/videos/241659-How-To-Nail-a-Broadway-Audition-and-Get-the-Part 1061 13874 How To Avoid Long Lines At the Amusement Park HowcastGuide 42506 Fri, 13 Jun 2008 14:31:42 -0700 19 BenandCarter ]]> 111 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/0/74/38/01/13874.flv DIY, Instructional, tutorial, Do It Yourself, Tips, Essential Skills, Learn to, performing, arts, Carnival Performing Arts Carnivals, Festivals & Amusement Parks 2 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/13874/avoid_long_lines_hd_1_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.jpg http://www.howcast.com/videos/13874-How-To-Avoid-Long-Lines-At-the-Amusement-Park 1061 13877 How To Avoid Getting Sick on Amusement Park Rides HowcastGuide 3762 Fri, 13 Jun 2008 14:56:40 -0700 9 BenandCarter ]]> 110 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/3/77/38/01/13877.flv DIY, Instructional, tutorial, Do It Yourself, Tips, Essential Skills, Learn to, performing, arts, carnivals Performing Arts Carnivals, Festivals & Amusement Parks 1 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/13877/avoid_getting_sick_hd_1_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.jpg http://www.howcast.com/videos/13877-How-To-Avoid-Getting-Sick-on-Amusement-Park-Rides 1062 19642 How To Be Famous For 15 Minutes HowcastGuide 39832 Tue, 15 Jul 2008 07:58:08 -0700 36 Dynamic ]]> 138 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/0/42/96/01/19642.flv DIY, Instructional, tutorial, Do It Yourself, Tips, Essential Skills, Learn to, performing, arts, celebrities Performing Arts Celebrities 9 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/19642/famous_fifteen_hd_2_fix_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.jpg http://www.howcast.com/videos/19642-How-To-Be-Famous-For-15-Minutes 1062 28619 How To Handle a Celebrity Sighting HowcastGuide 5341 Sun, 09 Nov 2008 21:01:34 -0800 22 Seaworthy ]]> 149 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/3/19/86/02/28619.flv at&t, phones, cell, calling, texting, celebrities, stars, handling, seeing, viewing Performing Arts Celebrities 7 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/28619/celeb_sighting_hd_3_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.jpg http://www.howcast.com/videos/28619-How-To-Handle-a-Celebrity-Sighting 1062 32526 How To Be a Paparazzo HowcastGuide 5975 Fri, 12 Sep 2008 06:01:04 -0700 14 dannyroew ]]> 125 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/4/26/25/03/32526.flv paparazzi, become, photographer, celebrity, stars, celebs, famous, tabloids, celebrities Performing Arts Celebrities 2 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/32526/dannyroew_paparrazo_hd_1_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.jpg http://www.howcast.com/videos/32526-How-To-Be-a-Paparazzo 1062 233820 How To Date a Celebrity HowcastGuide 1982 Sun, 27 Sep 2009 04:12:19 -0700 4 vinzfeller ]]> 103 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/4/41/51/23/235141.flv dating,relationship,sex,famous,celebrity,building,star,love,partner,girlfriend,boyfriend Performing Arts Celebrities 1 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/233820/date_a_celebrity_hdstill01_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.jpg http://www.howcast.com/videos/233820-How-To-Date-a-Celebrity 1064 1097 How To Dance Without Embarrassing Yourself HowcastGuide 79920 Tue, 05 Feb 2008 18:31:57 -0800 66 Chris_Davis ]]> 158 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/5/97/10/1097.flv arts, dance, dancing, DIY, Do It Yourself, embarrassing, Essential Skills, good, Instructional, Learn to, performing, Tips, tutorial, well, yourself Performing Arts Dance General Dance 8 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/1097/ppn_davis_dance_embarrassment_sd_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.jpg http://www.howcast.com/videos/1097-How-To-Dance-Without-Embarrassing-Yourself