Observational Humor — Case Study #46
Here’s an Observational Humor monologue used at the end of the first day of a Fripp Speakers School.
THE SET-UP (What happened and what was said during the workshop, before the monologue was delivered.)
1. Fripp mentioned that a speaker was tall, and had long, pretty hair.
2. An effective phrase as part of a speech opening might be: “In the next few minutes you’ll learn…”
3. Someone suggested, as part of a speech opening, that you could say: ”…information which you will take away.”
4. Fripp pointed out that the word “stuff” is weak, non-specific and does not build credibility.
5. Fripp said it’s best not to put your hands in your pockets, especially for men: “Men are genetically prone to jingle.”
6. A speaker put his hands in his pockets. Fripp grabbed his pockets to see what was inside.
7. Fripp shared that, “Logic makes you think. Emotion makes you act.”
8. A speaker opened a story about someone dying in a hospital with “I wish you could have been there.” Fripp suggested that you only use that opening for a fun and happy event.
9. We were told “there is not such thing as a boring subject…only boring speakers.”
THE MONOLOGUE
I know what you’re thinking.
Sure you’re tall.
But your hair isn’t long.
And it’s not pretty.
How could you possibly be funny.
(A call back to the tall/long/pretty comment. A disconnect between those physical descriptions and being funny. A bit of self-deprecation mentioning the thought that I don’t look funny.)
In the next few minutes you’ll laugh…or you’ll take away some techniques not to use.
(Self-deprecation suggesting that my humor might bomb.)
I’m going to share some funny stuff.
(A simple line re-visiting the word STUFF.)
It’s time for a jingle.
You heard the speaker was really hip.
So you packed your bag and took a trip.
It’s more than fluff.
Much more than stuff.
The speaking master’s name is Fripp.
(This “jingle” was just a simple limerick. It wasn’t meant as a stand-along joke, but was used only as a set-up for the following two jokes.)
I’m a man…I’m genetically prone to jingle.
I bring that up hoping that Fripp will want to feel what’s in my pockets.
(The first line received a good laugh. The second line, a huge laugh.)
Today I learned that:
Logic makes you think.
Emotion makes you act.
And stuff makes you laugh.
(Making STUFF a running gag.)
I wish you could have been there. He was strapped to a gurney in the execution chamber. It was so much fun.
(Using the opposite of a happy situation to re-visit the “wish you could have been there” line. Big laugh after “It was so much fun.”
As a final thought: There is no such thing as an un-funny subject. There are only un-funny speakers.
(Not a huge laugh, but a good closer recalling a piece of advice and substituting the word FUNNY. Simple and effective.)