How to become Funnier?

[HORNS]

You've GOT to be self-deprecating. You have to be able to laugh at yourself - if you take yourself too seriously, people will laugh at you, but only behind your back.
You must see the humor in daily life - the good and the bad stuff that happens to you. Of course, the bad stuff is the fodder for humor.

 

[j]

I prescribe intense sessions of British humor (e.g. Monty Python) and Seinfeld. Do not try to take examples from these and repeat them yourself - rather, learn how to see the world in an absurd way. When you can do that consistently, you will find yourself seeing the funny in things.

 

[MetroStyles]

You either got it or you don't. The only thing you can try to do is bring out the funny that is already within you. The way to do this is, in my personal experience, is to express yourself without inhibition. The more self-conscious you are, the more difficult it is to be funny.

 

[robbie]

'funnier' might be grammatically correct, but more funny seems as if it would be the most appropriate.

that being said I got a c in just about every English class ever.

My real advice is NEVER LAUGH AT YOUR OWN JOKES!

Its easier for people to laugh at you than themselves, so obviously avoid taking stabs at your audience.

Responding to any question with 'NO!' is funny, try it on your boss sometime.

'thats what she said' is only funny when Steve Carell says it.

 

[vaclava krishna]

Most day I, feel like a month aged, korppu which doesn't make, for many chukers or, giggles..

 

[phreak]

My real advice is NEVER LAUGH AT YOUR OWN JOKES!

i have found myself doing this to perfection. when i say something really fkn funny, you and everyone who hears it knows its funny, i will just stoneface it while everyone else laughs.

what it comes down to is acting like you have been there b4

 

[lifersfc]

I laugh at my own jokes or quips--but only when everyone else is cracking up.

 

[Joshua Arson]

Originally Posted by HORNS

You've GOT to be self-deprecating. You have to be able to laugh at yourself - if you take yourself too seriously, people will laugh at you, but only behind your back.
You must see the humor in daily life - the good and the bad stuff that happens to you. Of course, the bad stuff is the fodder for humor.

Laughing at yourself is one thing, being that annoying guy who's always ripping on himself is another. Do it in moderation or you'll come off as having incredibly low self esteem.

 

[West24]

i actually make fun of everyone. but i do it in a joking manner, and make fun of myself as well so people dont really get offended. im pretty good at reading people, so i know when i can make sarcastic jabs or just flat out make fun of them, and i know when not to. the worst are people who cant read people, yet think theyre funny when the people are just completely annoyed by it etc.

 

[bbaquiran]

Originally Posted by j

I prescribe intense sessions of British humor (e.g. Monty Python) and Seinfeld. Do not try to take examples from these and repeat them yourself - rather, learn how to see the world in an absurd way. When you can do that consistently, you will find yourself seeing the funny in things.

+1.

 

[unrated]

A lot of the times, the truth is funny. Look at little kids, they're pros at it.

 

[Shraka]

Originally Posted by lifersfc

I laugh at my own jokes or quips--but only when everyone else is cracking up.

Yeah, Jimeoin says you should laugh at your own jokes. The idea is that if you don't find them funny enough to laugh, what hope do you have of convincing others?

The comedians behind The Goon Show used to crack up at their own jokes. You could often hear someone dying of laughter trying to get lines out. One of them (Wiki tells me it's Harry Secombe) used to blow raspberries before laughing his head off at his own or other people's jokes (Thanks again to wiki: Apparently it was to let the rest of the cast know he was about to crack up).

 

[micbain]

can't be afraid to be not funny. gotta throw them out there - sometimes they land sometimes they don't but you'll figure out what your friends/co workers, etc find funny.

 

[West24]

sometimes jokes that purposely arent funny are the funniest ones, when added with a stupid looking face at the end etc.

 

[CTGuy]

Originally Posted by j

I prescribe intense sessions of British humor (e.g. Monty Python) and Seinfeld. Do not try to take examples from these and repeat them yourself - rather, learn how to see the world in an absurd way. When you can do that consistently, you will find yourself seeing the funny in things.

I think being funny often comes from appreciating a lot of great humor. As Stephen King has said about writing- don't expect to be a great writer unless you do a lot of reading. So goes joke telling or being funny. I don't claim to be hilarious, but Monty Python is an important one for me. I also listen to Howard Stern pretty often and I love South Park.