How To Tell a Joke

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Have you ever bombed telling a joke? Never fear—it takes skill, practice, and timing. Just follow these steps to have them rolling in the aisles.

To complete this How-To you will need:

Yourself
A friend
An audience
A tape recorder

Step 1: Choose topic

Choose a joke about a topic you can relate to. Your audience doesn't need to believe that you really got fired from your job yesterday, but if you're only 12, it might be harder to imagine that you could have.

Tip: Steer clear of played out topics. Does anyone ever need to hear another mother-in-law joke?

Step 2: Determine your take

Determine your take on the topic—is something silly, strange, or difficult? Sometimes this will be easy, as the joke will actually state your stance, as in, "Isn't it strange how?" Whatever your stance, commit to it. It will drive your joke.

Step 3: Examine structure of joke

Examine the structure of your joke. The setup contains all of the information necessary to prepare for the laugh—but it shouldn't be funny. The second part, or the punch line, surprises the audience by changing their perspective, which makes them laugh.

Tip: Sometimes you'll have to act out the kicker, or end of the punch line—if this is the case, really go for it verbally and physically.

Step 4: Watch comedians

Watch performances of successful comedians to get a feel for good timing, and then experiment with yours. Figuring out exactly when to deliver the "funny" is the key to eliciting uproarious laughter.

Step 5: Memorize joke

Memorize your joke—make sure you know it by heart!

Step 6: Practice telling joke

Practice telling your joke to a friend who's willing to be your guinea pig.

Tip: If you're not ready or willing to debut your joke to a live audience, try reading it into a tape recorder and then listening to the playback.

Step 7: Know your audience

Know your audience. Are they drunk? Sober? Easily offended? This will help you choose the appropriate joke for the moment and might influence your delivery.

Tip: Audiences make up their minds very quickly, so be sure to hook them from the moment you start talking.

Step 8: Be confident

Tell your joke with confidence! Don't comment on or laugh at it—it doesn't need extra help. If you let the joke and your preparation do the work, you'll be knocking them dead in no time.

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Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• how
• tell
• joke
• howto
• howcast
• funny
• haha
• lol
• lolz

[DazzleSpawn]

thumbs if the crooked fucking lamp pissed you off

[bxxch10]

There was an ugly buss that only carried ugly people. One day the bus crashed and everyone was killed. Before they went into heaven, God granted them each 1 wish. The first person wished to be beautiful, God said "and so it shall be" The next person wish the same thing, and again, He granted it. This continued until it got to the very last guy, who was laughing his ass more and more until the front of the line. When God asked "What is you wish?" The man replied "just make them all ugly again"

[echostar900]

Press...

1: yourself

2: pose

3: GUNS!

4: mm chewy

5: must...step on banana peel

6: brows

7: record

8: THE HOOK!

9: smile!

[samantha3865]

press 6 alot to get eyebrow

[plant378]

Lol keep pressing 1:03

[L4drocker]

Search in google to find a Joke.

[3CardMonteMaster443]

how to tell a joke

you will need:a joke

step 1:read the joke

[stevesmakmanofficial]

hmm oke soo you will need yourself soo If annyone sees me before i'm back please keep me here

[Wall9K]

I think experience would suffice to making jokes without going through such a complicated process that doesn't make it sound like rocket science.

[imdamasta11]

you will need: yourself... oh fuck i'll have a hard time finding that shit...

[MeAndMyKitties]

how about u come up with one on the spot its easy i do it everyday

[MeAndMyKitties]

the stooges