Humorous Interpretation: Shock Humor VS Risk Taking
Can I say THAT?!?! Maybe it is less of can but rather should…
Everyone has that moment in daily conversation where they want to say whatever thought has entered their mind but first must ask if it is appropriate. Even free spirits become entangled in these social constraints. Luckily for Forensicators, i.e. Humorous Interpretation performers, these boundaries are somewhat muddied and can be tip-toed, or rushed, across. In the quest for laughs pushing limits is acceptable and encouraged if done smartly. Yet, as with anything, there is a line within Humorous Interpretation. Stray too far and you become a shock performer.
DO take risks. Having a Humorous Interpretation that plays it safe might be good enough to get you into finals, but you may not have a memorable piece. Why? It’s conservative, a piece they have heard before. Sure, your interpretation and delivery may be immaculate, but the piece itself lacks the pizazz to really cause you to out shine other performers. However, using a script with a topic that is rarely handled, or with characters hardly seen, will cause you to be unique. Even if you choose a pretty standard, funny piece you can be risky with your interpretation of characters. Challenge your boundaries with characterization (vocals, physicality, facials, etc.) and see them differently as most. For example, Gene Wilder’s Willy Wonka is strikingly opposite from Johnny Depp’s risky take, but both are valid interpretations of the material.
DON’T be vulgar and crude. What turns risk into SHOCK is when a Humorous Interpretation is nothing more than cheap, “OHHHHHH! Did THAT just happen?!?!” humor. A string of flatulence jokes is not funny. Nor is an endless barrage of dead celebrity jokes. And does the audience really need to see you grab yourself, curse uncontrollably, or be a massive stereotype? No. No they do not. CHOSE YOUR MATERIAL AND INTERPRETATIONS CAREFULLY! If actions transpire simply for shock, rather than for some sort of character development, then the piece is trashy.
Motivational Humorous Speakers Inspire People To Laugh More At Meetings!
Abraham Lincoln was well known in his day for his sense of humor, and often told funny stories to engage and earn the trust of his audience.
During the Civil War, he sometimes visited Washington area hospitals to lift the wounded soldiers’ spirits. After one such visit, a journalist entered a hospital to find infantrymen boisterously laughing and talking about the president. He found it curious to see injured men to be seemingly so healthy.
“You must be very slightly wounded,” he said to the soldier.
“Yes,” the soldier replied, “Very slightly. I have only lost one leg, and I’d be glad to lose the other, if I could hear some more of ‘Old Abe’s’ stories.”
What Honest Abe knew, and what more people should learn, is that humor is an incredibly powerful tool that can make anyone happy and attentive even in the most trying of circumstances. When somebody engages you with humor, you genuinely want to listen, and soak up more of what they are saying. If humor can engage and motivate someone subjected to Civil War era medicine, it can engage and motivate anyone. And that’s why hiring a motivational humorous speaker makes good sense!
Today, motivational humorous speakers use the massive power of comedy to make people laugh and increase personal potential. The magic of humorous motivational speaking is its ability to stimulate people with comedy while delivering gobs of inspirational content. Unfortunately, most traditional speakers (whose speeches can sometimes be as bad as Civil War era medicine) totally miss the chance to get their message across by dryly orating in a monotone and artless way.
Improving Humorous Interpretation Vocal Range
One of the major components to any Humorous Interpretation are vocals. Vocals are used not only for humor purposes but for characterization as well. All characters must have a distinct voice which is clear, consistent, and a good representation of who that character is. Though the definition of vocalization is fairly basic, vocals are anything but. Defining multiple personas’ voice with the vocal chords of one is ambitious. It takes practice, dedication, and WORK. Blindly trudging forward with the development of a vocal range is admirable. However, here is some guidance on the subject.
Reference your script. As you create your Humorous Interpretation characters it is important to keep them in tune with the intentions and heart of the script. And finding a voice is easier when you understand the character. Analyze their lines and interpret what sort of character they are. Look for personality traits and sculpt an image of who that person is. Once you have an idea, try to connect that image to your established prior knowledge; “this character reminds me of…” Further, a character with a prominent style of speaking could suggest a particular vocalization. For instance, a character with complaints for lines could have vocals that sound whiny/nasally to vocally reflect the annoyance of their speech.
Look to television and film for accents. Reflect on films or television shows you have seen with accents unlike those on your circuit. An accent is a quick fix to expanding your vocal range, and TV and film can be a great way to learn an accent. Honestly, watching nothing but BBC America for a week will have you imitating the English with ease. Just be careful to not overuse accents in your Humorous Interpretation or to do a poorly imitated accent (when not intended for comic effect). Accents take practice, so find sources of quality accents, watch, and start speaking!
How a Motivational Humorous Speaker can help Teachers Motivate Students with Humor!
Motivational Humorous Speakers Teach Teachers
Teachers have the glorious responsibility of imparting education to students. There are fewer jobs more venerable than that of a teacher, for they are entrusted with the task of molding the lives of very young people. Ideally a good teacher has a solid command over her subject of specialization. She is also equally skillful in influencing and help shaping the personality of a student. After parents it’s the teacher that makes an immeasurable contribution in the personality development and academic achievement of the student.
A committed and astute teacher uses motivation profusely. She knows a pat on the back, a smile, and a few good words in praise of hard work done by a student can go a long way in encouraging him/her to do better. Good grades are fine motivators and the A’s help, but it’s the constant motivation of the teacher that works like magic.
Though it’s the responsibility of the teachers to motivate the students to excel in studies, sports, and other constructive activities many teachers do not know the fine art of motivation. Their ignorance about the nuances of motivation makes them poor
Motivational humorous speakers enter the picture here. They teach the teachers about the fine art of motivation by the use of humor.
Motivational Humorous Speakers Teach about Humor
Children are the ones that laugh easily. They are not weighed down by the cares of the world yet. Just making a funny face or mimicking an animal would set them on the course of unstoppable laughter. Motivational humorous speakers know this. They know that once a teacher can make the children laugh, she can lead them like the Pied Piper.
motivational humorous speaker help America get happier & healthier
Motivational humorous speakers can help bring humor and motivation into the proverbially stressful workplace. Recent studies reveal that humor and motivational humorous speakers can have a positive impact on the corporate bottom line, since a good sense of humor is a key communication tool that can bring about group cohesion and commitment, thus facilitating good performance and increased productivity.
A Gallup poll in 2005 found that only 31 percent of all employees felt engaged in their work and a sense of connection to their organization. These are the ones who drive innovation and move the company forward. But while an overwhelming 52 percent of the workers were not engaged and merely sleepwalked through their jobs, an alarming 17 percent were actively disengaged and unhappy in the workplace – they not only did not contribute positively to productivity, but also had a negative impact in that they undermined what the engaged workers were trying to accomplish. This Gallup study estimated that the lower productivity of actively disengaged employees could cost the U.S. economy up to $370 billion each year.
A recent survey conducted by an international consumer research firm reveals a full 90 percent of participants believe humor in the workplace helps relieve stress and a further 60 percent believe they would be more productive if their employers encouraged the use of humor. The results of the study indicate that the humorous style of a manager may be one of a number of factors that contribute to bottom-line performance and that the style of humor exhibited by a leader had a positive impact on unit performance. They suggest that leader’s use of humor may help shape a creative and efficacious work force. It also found that managers with a “transformational” leadership style – a management style known to promote the highest levels of employee and overall organizational performance – use humor most often.
