What to Do If Your Funny Story Isn’t Funny
I’m a terrible storyteller. With enough time on the keyboard, I can turn a personal experience into a passable story, but personally I fall apart. Whenever I try to share a “funny story,” even if I try to follow Lifehacker’s storytelling tips , I see my audience’s faces freeze in ritual as my story reaches its disappointing climax. So I abused my power as a journalist to ask some comedians for free advice: How do I fix a funny story that doesn’t work?
I forgot something about the comedians: because they hang out with other comedians, they hear too many “funny” stories. And they got tired of them. So their best advice is to stop trying so hard.
“The most important thing is self-awareness,” says Nicole Drespel, UCB teacher and author of The Chris Gethard Show . She recommends acknowledging out loud when your story fails, which can win back your audience.
But she also says she’s spent too many nights at tables full of comedians, “where ignorant status dolts monopolize everyone else’s time, like we’re all extras in the unaired pilot of their lives. Perhaps they deserve the story to fail. ” Therefore, if you notice any signs that you are talking too much, heed her advice:
Be prepared to cut your losses. You are not actually performing. Nobody bought a ticket for this show. You are a person who communicates in society, so do not treat your listeners as if they should be a captive audience. You will never get your audience back if they resent your kidnapping.
Stand-up and Last Week Tonight writer Josh Gondelman also suggests giving up:
Get rid of boring stories. Ask other people questions! That’s what good conversation is! He’s not the funniest person in the room.
This is no surprise response from Josh, a famous polite guy who is so curious and genuinely interested in others that you can talk to him like in a job interview. And if a professional “joke” storyteller says “your funny story isn’t all that important,” you should probably listen.
I usually don’t like it when “quick fix” is “just don’t do it,” but honestly, in this case, it’s a relief. Unless you have any wacky stories, you don’t need to force them; no one will miss them. Just ask other people questions until you find their good stories. But if you really want to fix your own story, read our other tips and hone this thing until people want to hear it.