Thanks a bunch for the shout out! While my blog is currently in hibernation mode due to my current U.S. visa status, I estimate that this will change by the end of April 2010. Then I’ll be back blogging in full force.

And you’re absolutely right, the mechnics are the same. Whether you’re doing stand-up, a humorous speech, sketch comedy and so on. Each art-form has it’s own aspects that need to be adhered to, but if you have a sense of humor that translates to the stage then it’s fundamentally all the same.

Tim you said: “Like during a eulogy or a speech in response to a natural disaster”. While that may be true for a natural disaster or a man-made human tragedy, I would say that depending on the person being paid tribute to, you can use humor in an eulogy.

My father passed away nine years ago and I delivered a eulogy which had a humorous story about something that we shared together. My friend, who is an actor, delivered eulogies both at his mother’s and father’s funeral each laced with humor.

When Graham Chapman of Monty Python passed away, John Cleese gave a particularly funny eulogy. I’m sure it’s on You Tube.

Sometimes humor in situations like these can be good coping mechanisms, not only for the speaker but also for the mourners.

But it really depends upon the the person speaking, the person being remembered and those in attendnace.

Like during a eulogy or a speech in response to a natural disaster.
.-= Tim Winter´s last blog ..bad goldfish names =-.

The key is to trust your sense of humor, use humor that is appropriate and rehearse the comedy and humor you are going to do before you do it — just like a comedian would.

The Prof

I agree that for most speeches, humour can make or break the speech, especially if it is contrasted with sadness/high emotion.

Most of us are scared of humour, after all the audience may not laugh.
.-= Keith Davis´s last blog ..easy peasy! =-.