Comments for Humor Power http://www.humorpower.com/blog Better thinking -- Better speaking -- Better living Sun, 07 Sep 2008 18:24:28 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc Comment on The Roller Coaster of a Speech Contest by John Kinde http://www.humorpower.com/blog/2008/09/the-roller-coaster-of-a-speech-contest/#comment-93383 John Kinde Fri, 05 Sep 2008 20:39:25 +0000 http://www.humorpower.com/blog/?p=352#comment-93383 Yes we learn from pain...whether it's ours or someone else's. Toastmasters doesn't focus on comedy...in the form of stand-up comedy. But many Toastmasters are interested in adding humor to their talks. The Humorous Speech Contest is presented in all (or most) districts, in the fall. It is normally presented at the Club, Area, Division and District levels. About 20 years ago the competition used to go to Regional level, but these days it stops at the District. The focus is on giving humorous SPEECHES not in developing comedy routines. Yes we learn from pain…whether it’s ours or someone else’s.

Toastmasters doesn’t focus on comedy…in the form of stand-up comedy. But many Toastmasters are interested in adding humor to their talks. The Humorous Speech Contest is presented in all (or most) districts, in the fall. It is normally presented at the Club, Area, Division and District levels. About 20 years ago the competition used to go to Regional level, but these days it stops at the District. The focus is on giving humorous SPEECHES not in developing comedy routines.

]]> Comment on The Roller Coaster of a Speech Contest by P.L. Frederick http://www.humorpower.com/blog/2008/09/the-roller-coaster-of-a-speech-contest/#comment-93355 P.L. Frederick Fri, 05 Sep 2008 17:58:49 +0000 http://www.humorpower.com/blog/?p=352#comment-93355 Interesting! Perseverance is the key. You know, I'm glad Ken suffered through that process -- if he hadn't, I wouldn't be reading his story and learning from it! I'm curious: In general, is it often that Toastmasters participants do comedy? I never see anything on Toastmasters' website that mentions humor speaking. Interesting! Perseverance is the key. You know, I’m glad Ken suffered through that process — if he hadn’t, I wouldn’t be reading his story and learning from it!

I’m curious: In general, is it often that Toastmasters participants do comedy? I never see anything on Toastmasters’ website that mentions humor speaking.

]]> Comment on A Toastmasters Speech Contest by Hiren D. Vashi http://www.humorpower.com/blog/2007/10/a-toastmasters-speech-contest/#comment-93194 Hiren D. Vashi Fri, 05 Sep 2008 00:38:58 +0000 http://www.humorpower.com/blog/2007/10/a-toastmasters-speech-contest/#comment-93194 10/10 from me. This is a great speech. I am sure Steve must have his own website. I learned call back and Rule-of-Three just by reading observation comments. Great Job Steve! 10/10 from me. This is a great speech. I am sure Steve must have his own website. I learned call back and Rule-of-Three just by reading observation comments. Great Job Steve!

]]> Comment on Cartoon Caption Contest — Creative Humor Writing by John Kinde http://www.humorpower.com/blog/2008/09/cartoon-caption-contest-creative-humor-writing-3/#comment-93112 John Kinde Thu, 04 Sep 2008 15:32:49 +0000 http://www.humorpower.com/blog/?p=348#comment-93112 There is a common American cliche when people sample rattle snake meat or frogs legs: "It tastes like chicken!" Writing this joke, I knew up front that some would not get it, so in that respect maybe I wrote it for me. I included only one sample caption, sometimes I include three but readers have commented that I used up all the good lines. In this case, the good news is that I left the good lines to you! There is a common American cliche when people sample rattle snake meat or frogs legs: “It tastes like chicken!” Writing this joke, I knew up front that some would not get it, so in that respect maybe I wrote it for me. I included only one sample caption, sometimes I include three but readers have commented that I used up all the good lines. In this case, the good news is that I left the good lines to you!

]]> Comment on Cartoon Caption Contest — Creative Humor Writing by Sharmila Maiti http://www.humorpower.com/blog/2008/09/cartoon-caption-contest-creative-humor-writing-3/#comment-93027 Sharmila Maiti Thu, 04 Sep 2008 07:57:57 +0000 http://www.humorpower.com/blog/?p=348#comment-93027 This caption is so-so. needs revision. This caption is so-so. needs revision.

]]> Comment on Cartoon Caption Contest Results — Barber Shop by Sol Morrison http://www.humorpower.com/blog/2008/08/cartoon-caption-contest-results-barber-shop/#comment-92431 Sol Morrison Mon, 01 Sep 2008 17:58:42 +0000 http://www.humorpower.com/blog/?p=341#comment-92431 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 -- 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 –

]]> Comment on Cartoon Caption Contest Results — Barber Shop by Sol Morrison http://www.humorpower.com/blog/2008/08/cartoon-caption-contest-results-barber-shop/#comment-92427 Sol Morrison Mon, 01 Sep 2008 17:36:01 +0000 http://www.humorpower.com/blog/?p=341#comment-92427 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 -- 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 –

]]> Comment on Cartoon Caption Contest Results — Barber Shop by John Kinde http://www.humorpower.com/blog/2008/08/cartoon-caption-contest-results-barber-shop/#comment-92104 John Kinde Sun, 31 Aug 2008 01:14:58 +0000 http://www.humorpower.com/blog/?p=341#comment-92104 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. 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.

]]> Comment on Responding With Humor — Paris Hilton For President by Alicia King http://www.humorpower.com/blog/2008/08/responding-with-humor-paris-hilton-for-president/#comment-91706 Alicia King Thu, 28 Aug 2008 17:50:52 +0000 http://www.humorpower.com/blog/?p=302#comment-91706 I believed that the response of Paris to the "McCain Ad" where her photos were shown was a right thing... She responded it with a humor :- ) and indeed it was so hilarious the things that she said. Well, speaking of the McCain Ad, I found this clash video entitled Presidential Campaign TV Ads Getting a Little Nasty!Well, sooner or later you knew it had to start! The media is begging for it and the people want to see some fight in their candidates. So here ya go...and I am sure this is only the beginning. http://clashorama.com/index.php?id=191 I believed that the response of Paris to the “McCain Ad” where her photos were shown was a right thing… She responded it with a humor :- ) and indeed it was so hilarious the things that she said. Well, speaking of the McCain Ad, I found this clash video entitled Presidential Campaign TV Ads Getting a Little Nasty!Well, sooner or later you knew it had to start! The media is begging for it and the people want to see some fight in their candidates. So here ya go…and I am sure this is only the beginning.
http://clashorama.com/index.php?id=191

]]> Comment on Cartoon Caption Contest Results — Barber Shop by Gary Bachman http://www.humorpower.com/blog/2008/08/cartoon-caption-contest-results-barber-shop/#comment-91296 Gary Bachman Tue, 26 Aug 2008 05:28:56 +0000 http://www.humorpower.com/blog/?p=341#comment-91296 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. 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.

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