Understanding The Element Of Surprise
Introduction
Common sense would dictate that if you really want to learn stand-up comedy and how laughter generation happens, then you should thoroughly understand why and how you are able to make others laugh.
That will allow you to apply that understanding to anything you want to do when it comes to laughter generation.
So, let’s talk about the how you really use the element of surprise to get laughs in everyday conversation.
This is important because as I have said before, you are going to use the exact same laughter mechanics on the stand-up comedy stage.
You can easily observe the information I am going to present about the element of surprise by simply being self-aware and by observing others who say something to generate laughter and knowing what to look for.
Anyone who has generated laughter from talking with another person or a group of friends has effectively used the element of surprise without even being aware of it. Those who are considered naturally funny people use the element of surprise more often.
Understanding The Element Of Surprise
The element of surprise is a result of three primary conditions that are in play simultaneously…
1. Thinking speed vs. talking speed.
Human beings have the capability to think about 3x as fast as we talk. Most people talk around 100-120 words per minute.
Most people think at about 300 words per minute or more. We have the ability to visualize the words we hear and turn them into “movie scenes” in our brains very quickly.
In a casual conversation with a friend(s), it is this condition that allows you to think ahead and visualize a possible scenario using your sense of humor — then respond with the comment, smart aleck remark or “punchline” almost immediately after the other person has made their statement.
The same thing happens to an audience. As you speak to an audience, they are visualizing what you are saying as you say it (unless you are trying to “joke” them — then they spend their time trying to visualize the possible solution to the joke which decreases the element of surprise).
This is something we all do naturally. What lends to the element of surprise is the contrast between what the audience had visualized and the ultimate visualization they have once your view(s) has been completely expressed and understood.
Which brings me to the next condition that ties directly into this one…
2. Natural sentence structure placement of a keyword or keyword phrase in the punchline.
While there are exceptions to every rule, you will find that the vast majority of the time that naturally funny people are able to conceal the true meaning of what they have to say until the last word or group of words in a spoken sentence (punchline).
It is this end of sentence placement of a keyword or group of keywords that further adds to the element of surprise because the true meaning of what you are trying to express using your sense of humor is naturally hidden until the last word (or words) of a punchline or funny remark are spoken.
This same sentence structure can be observed in street jokes, stand-up comedy routines, comedy movies or in casual conversations.
3. Sincerity and body language alignment.
It will ALWAYS be your body language — facial expressions, hand gestures, voice inflection and tone variations that will give your views, opinions, observations, etc. and your associated sense of humor reactions their laughter power.
In other words, your natural body language will either enhance or diminish the surprise factor in what you have to say that generates a laugh.
When you talk with friends and generate laughter, your responses to what they have said that generate a laugh are in the moment and are genuine and unexpected, which means that your body language is in alignment.
Wrap Up
If you want to verify what I have been talking about, here’s what I recommend that you do:
1. Keep some paper and a pen handy and when you make someone laugh in casual conversation without thinking about it…
As soon as you can, write down what you said to generate that laugh. Look at the sentence structure (specifically keyword or keyword phrase placement) you used naturally to generate that laugh.
2. Go find a street joke (two guys walk into a bar…) and look at the punchline of that joke.
Look at the structure of the keyword or keyword phrase in the punchline of that joke. Most of the time, you will see the keyword or keyword phrase at the end of the punchline.
3. Go find a YouTube video of your favorite comedian. Write down a couple of punchlines they use to get laughs as evidenced by the recorded audience response.
Look at the sentence structure with regard to keyword or keyword phrase placement that I have talked about in this special report.
4. Take a look at a scene in any comedy movie you like. Write down a line that makes you laugh.
Again, look at the sentence structure for keyword or keyword phrase placement at the end of the punchline.
I firmly believe that if individuals truly understand what it is that makes them funny in the first place, then they will have a much, much easier time utilizing and structuring their own unique sense of humor for the stand-up comedy stage.