Using Humor to Deepen Connection

Steve KaplanSteve@KaplanComedy.com

11/9/2017

Comedy

How does it work?Why does it work?Why doesn’t it work sometimes?

How can you fix it when it’s not working?

The Comedy Perception Test

l A) Man Slipping on a Banana Peel l B) Man in Top Hat . . .l C) . . . After Kicking a Dogl D) . . . After Losing His Jobl E) Blind Man . . . l F) . . . Dog Slipping . . . l G) Man Slipping on a Banana Peel . . .l and Dying.

WHAT IS COMEDY?l Comedy tells the truth

l Comedy tells the truth . . . about people

COMEDY EQUATION

l An ordinary guy (or gal)l Struggling against insurmountable odds l Without many of the required skills and

tools with which to win . . .

lYet never giving up hope!

The Hidden Tools of Comedy

l NON-HERO

l METAPHORICAL RELATIONSHIP

l STRAIGHT LINE/WAVY LINE

NON-HERO

l Someone who lacks some, if not all the skills and tools required to win.

METAPHORICAL RELATIONSHIP

l The essential relationship beneath the surface relationship.

"We used to think that comedy was watching someone do something silly . . . we came to realize that comedy was watching somebody watch somebody do something silly.“

---John Cleese

STRAIGHT LINE/ WAVY LINE

STRAIGHT LINE/ WAVY LINE

l The one blind to, or creating, the problem, & the one struggling with the problem.

Using Humor to Deepen Connection

lHumor doesn’t compete with drama; humor completes drama

Contact Steve Kaplan atsteve@kaplancomedy.com

Follow Steve on Twitter at@skcomedy

our website is:www.KaplanComedy.com