Comedy is Precise
I’m going to attempt to be funny. Most people will tell you that’s not a good idea. I agree, but there are some great lessons from comedy.
First of all, we all like to laugh. It’s the greatest medicine. You might call it an escape or a healthy reprieve. I prefer for it to be less reactionary and more preventative. It’s just good to laugh from time to time even if life is great. In fact, I believe humor is a key part of a great life.
It’s Just Good
There are so many sources of humor. You can find it in films, dedicated shows, daily interactions, and even in your own personal thoughts.
I’m curious. What’s your favorite way to laugh? Tell me and and I’ll be sure to share it.
For me, it’s at myself. This might solely be the result of many opportunities (see what I did there?). I learned a long time ago that I have a limited skillset and am very effective at those few things. Everything else is a potential source of humor.
There is no “right” answer to that question. Regardless of what it is for you, that’s great. I encourage you to enjoy those moments.
One of my favorite clichés is, “I haven’t laughed that hard in ages” (or some variation). It reminds me that laughing is just good for the soul.
How Does it Work?
Before I claim to know the answer to the question in this subsection, read “How Laughter Works". This will give you the scientific explanation.
The great thing about laughter is that it is a response (as the article says). We know that something is funny because people laugh. There really is no confusion - unless someone is faking it. But, can you really fake laughter well?
I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about creativity. See the two previous entries, E-Impact 115 and E-Impact 116. I now believe that laughter is an expression of creativity.
If it’s a clear message and an expression of creativity, then laughter is one of the most insightful pieces of information we can have about a person. It tells you how they think.
As much as I love the zygomatic major muscle, epiglottis (I actually knew what this is before reading the article), and larynx, no one thinks about those when laughing. You just react.
Not Perfect
We’ve covered the benefits of laughing and so we can’t skip over its troubles. One thing sticks out to me is that it can sometimes be insulting. You shouldn’t laugh at people who are embarrassed (“but Bob, it’s just a reaction”). Young people are taught to be careful when they express their reaction to humor. It’s obvious for most.
Perhaps what is not as obvious about the messages that humor sends is their limit timespan. The article from above also talks about how hard it is to study laughing because its lifespan is severely limited.
Wouldn’t it be great to be laughing all day long? Not so much when you think about it.
There’s a reason why laughing is only temporary and I believe it is the perfect length of time. However, that length makes it tough to study and understand.
Therefore, laughter is a great way to learn about someone - if you can catch it.
The Other Side
Spontaneous humor might be the best form. Sometimes, it hits you when you least expect it (hopefully not in one of those situations where you shouldn’t show it).
What makes you laugh?
Not all forms of humor are spontaneous though. Certain people spend a lot of time (many professional) creating humorous scenarios.
In another life, I’d love to feel the rush of being a comedian, but not in this one. That is an incredibly hard career. Imagine standing on stage telling a whole story in hopes that one line in the end gets the crowd to laugh. And if it doesn’t - awkward!
I looked it up and there are various estimates ranging from one hundred thousand to one million comedians in the United States. I suppose there is a discrepancy between who is actually making a living and who is an aspiring comedian. Either way, there aren’t that many. I think most understand how tough it could be to do that job.
Are you glossophobic? Now take that fear and apply the need to be funny to it.
It’s safe to say that stand-up comedians have a tough role in society. Even comedy writers have a tough profession. At least it’s someone else delivering the lines.
Precise
I found 9 documentaries you can find on Netflix, and one you can’t. Your homework is to watch a few and learn about that life.
Despite humor's spontaneity in certain situations, comedy is very precise. It takes specific delivery, timing, sounds, facial expressions, and overall environments.
My favorite comedian is Brian Regan. The scenarios he thinks of are hilarious. In the last year, I had a chance to see him live (only my second time). My wife and I took a friend of ours who was new to the area to the show. It was outdoors in front of Hard Rock Stadium (where the Miami Dolphins play). Everyone was extremely spread out as a result of the pandemic.
It was a beautiful evening for a walk or barbecue but it was a terrible spot for a comedy show. Brian knew it pretty quickly when it was hard to hear any laughter and see his facial expressions from fifty yards away. You could tell he was a bit frustrated.
In the end, Brian made the best of a tough situation and even referenced the inadequate venue (along with some sirens and a helicopter flying over us) to add some spontaneous humor. However, it wasn’t a great evening and I’m sure he’ll never forget that night for some not so flattering reasons.
Lessons
It was that night at Hard Rock Stadium that I realized how important the place was for a comedy show. I also realized how in control a comedian likes to be of his or her environment when performing. This made me think of how much control we have over our own environments when working or volunteering.
Some professions or impact projects are anything but controlled. Think about an athlete that spends years training to compete in a reactionary sport. They try as much as they can to be in control but once you’re between the white lines, anything can happen. It’s anything but precise.
Regan’s adjustment to a tough situation was impressive despite the ultimate result. There are a lot of times in our lives that the timing or placement just isn’t right and we have make adjustments on the fly.
Flexibility is an amazing thing. Although, it shouldn’t be relied upon.
I know some very flexible, “go-with-the-flow” type of people who are great when in crisis mode. They don’t panic. They react without uncontrollable emotions and can usually solve issues in the moment. However, ask them to prepare for something and you’re in trouble.
It seems that stand up comedy is a great metaphor for life, business, and positive impact. Here’s three things we can learn from it:
Precision - Take the time to do specific research, talk to the right people, and plan out your actions, especially related to the most meaningful things in life. For example, don’t just take time off and wing it with your family. Plan a great vacation even if it’s not an expensive trip across the world or to Disney ($125 for a single day ticket!).
Flexibility - The “jokes” don’t always hit and the venue isn’t always ideal. Don’t assume your precision was a failure just because things don’t go exactly as planned. It was worth the pre-work to learn more about the situation (whether a family vacation or a business pitch). Plan on things not going to plan.
Transparency - Regan made it clear that he was thrown off by the scenario that night out. This is not an encouragement to complain about your situation (you have to apply the comedic lens here) but it is an invitation to be honest with people you interact with. It’s better to be real than try to fake your way through something. In fact, there is something to be said for the precision of honesty.
Saturday Night Live
SNL has been gathering attention for a long time.
Saturday Night Live (SNL) has been aired since 1975. That’s a lot of laughs - and a lot of precision. I was recently made aware of the process that the cast and crew goes through before a show goes live. It’s incredibly detailed. See this article from Business Insider. The amount of effort put into one show and the amount of material that never makes the air is crazy.
The show would not have been around for so long without some great work but I would guess most would be astonished by the effort that goes into each episode. Even Mondays are packed with work six days out from airing.
I have secret goal of hosting the show someday. We’ll have to look back at this entry someday if it ever happens. I promise in that case I’ll report back on the precision.
In reality, most of us work in some sort of collaborative environment and so SNL might be a better metaphor than stand up comedy. But either way, your best work will come from precise preparation with a dose of flexibility in the moment.
Laughter has been the greatest medicine for life since the beginning of time. It seems now that which precedes laughter (humor) is the greatest blueprint for success.