Cartoon Caption Contest Results — Barber Shop
Here are the results of the August cartoon caption contest selected by our panel of eleven judges (speakers and improv players). Our contests feature the art of professional cartoonist Dan Rosandich.
Look for our next caption contest on September 1.
Our joke writing contests are announced in the middle of the month.
Here are this month’s top lines.
** FIRST PLACE **
You should of told me she was your wife!
Jeanette Diss, Cowes, Phillip Island Victoria, Australia
** SECOND PLACE **
This is one expensive haircut. In fact, I think I’ll be paying for this haircut for the next couple months.
Gary Bachman, Hagerstown, Maryland, USA
** THIRD PLACE **
No! I did not want a style that looked like the Chicago skyline.
Jerry Smith, New Albany, Ohio, USA
HONORABLE MENTION (in random order)
– I thought the sign that said 50% off referred to the price of a haircut.
– I know I didn’t tip you so well last time, but did you have to do this?
– I’d like to see you try cutting someone’s hair during an Earthquake!
– The Last of the Mohicans? Sure, I saw it….why? Acckkkk!
– I didn’t know your only previous experience was a landscaper!?
– Have you been drinking that green stuff the combs are kept in?
– I hope you aren’t expecting a tip. The only tip I have for you is to go back to barber school.
– Are you sure I look taller with this hair cut ?
– If I wanted to be scalped — I’d call my bookie!
– Now watch me shave a little off your TIP!
– When I asked for a shave, I didn’t mean my head!
Visit the web site of Dan Rosandich for information on professional custom cartoons for your next project: Book, T-shirt, Brochure, Web Site, etc.
August 23rd, 2008 at 5:34 pm
The first place entry from Jeanette is really funny. That is what is interesting about humor writing. People come up with funny lines from angles you never even considered. Kudos to her.
August 25th, 2008 at 9:28 pm
One of the biggest problems I have in humor writing is finding the right words for maximum humor impact. For example, I recently wrote a joke about American Idol adding a fourth judge. One possible punchline is “the new judge will be Randy Jackson’s translator.” Another possible punchline is “American Idol is also considering adding a fifth person to translate for Randy Jackson.” I have no idea which is funnier (or if either is funny). What do you do in a case like this? Are there any guidelines for choosing the right words? Thanks for any help.
August 30th, 2008 at 5:14 pm
1. Generally, the punch words go at the end. And the goal is fewer words. Based on that, “the new judge will be Randy Jackson’s translator,” is probably funnier.
2. Good humor is a numbers game. How about writing ten more Randy Jackson punch lines?
3. Broaden your horizons by writing jokes for Simon Cowell and Paula Abdul. You may discover that your best line is for Simon or Paula. Or how about Ryan Seacrest?
4. Test your joke lines on friends. If you belong to a Toastmasters club, try the lines at a meeting. The audience is the final judge of what’s funny.
September 1st, 2008 at 9:36 am
I did not enter this specific contest; just not enough Visual
“cues to work with.” I see this cartoon as too explicit ; too limiting. ( No third person or animal reacting. No “unusual” tools of the trade visible. Even the sign in the window is pretty “straight-forward ” — has to say ” Barber.” )
So your correspondents did well (I think ). I personally think the “ideas” in the LAST 3 or 4 “Honorable Mentions” are the
most clever. And This : Most of the entries could use a good
“Pruning” — to Sharpen the Punch. –Sol M –
September 1st, 2008 at 9:58 am
John : I’ll betcha’ got FEWER entries with this Cartoon than with previous Rosandich cartoons. Why not take a “Barber Poll” and find out WHY ? And can we also hear from Dan Rosandich himself on this one ? Thank You , Sol M –