Orny Adams once said, "I never knew suffering until I started doing comedies." It's true: making people laugh is not an easy thing. Whether the joke is yours or a reinterpretation of classic material, you can make the task less daunting by following the steps below.
Steps
Step 1. Choose a joke that fits your audience
If the joke is complicated or inappropriate for certain age groups, you need to change your choice. Telling a wrong joke (for example: a joke about the world of physics to a six-year-old, from which you would get a blank stare and a "I don't get it, Mom") could ruin everything.
Try to capture the mood of the audience. Are they ready to laugh at your jokes? If you joke with your partner when he is not in the mood you will get a response "Why don't you leave me alone?" or “Why do you have to joke all the time? Can't you be serious once?”
Step 2. You need to know the composition of a beat
All the jokes follow a very simple path, from the beginning to the conclusion. First there is the premise (where the foundations of the joke lie). Consider this part as a presentation of the story. Here comes the time for the joke (the funny part of the joke). And finally, the reaction (which can be anything from the audience's fragrant laughter to their disapproving buu).
Step 3. Find a good start
It's the time when jokes fall apart for most people. Don't worry if you want to start the joke the same old way you've heard a thousand times before. No two people talk alike, so tweaking the premise your way will make the whole joke more authentic.
Step 4. Let the tension build
Don't tell the premise quickly and don't jump straight from the premise to the punchline. Give people some time to realize what you have said up to that point.
Step 5. Break in with a strong punch
So far you have been committed to telling the premise well and waiting for it to take hold, don't throw it all away with an ephemeral conclusion. Find a good line to finish off with a flourish.
Say the line with a smile, but don't laugh
Step 6. Evaluate the reactions
If the joke seemed funny enough in this context, why not bring it back? Evaluate the reactions to understand where you went strong or what your weaknesses were. This way you can improve diction and timing for the next time.
Advice
To tell a joke effectively, it has to sound natural. Don't shoot yourself in the foot by just saying what's going to happen (for example: This is too funny, etc). Instead, let the joke fit into a normal conversation. By doing this, you can take advantage of the element of surprise, which is a major part of the jokes. Don't put too much pressure on yourself. We all told jokes that weren't funny, but we're still alive to say it. Finally, if you tell a bad joke, putting the accent on it after the failure could save the money. If your joke didn't make anyone laugh, say “Well, I'll have to make it more interesting” and add a couple of elements next time so that people can finally laugh
Warnings
- Sometimes jokes just don't work. If people don't even laugh the first few times, then maybe it's not the right place or time to joke.
- Pay attention to the audience in front of you. Some jokes can trigger absurd laughter among your former schoolmates, but they are to be avoided in a business setting.
- If you can't find a way to adapt a joke to a particular context, keep it for next time.
