Peter The Humorist Fogel Blog
Delivering Huge Laughs for Companies of All Sizes!
Saturday, March 03, 2007
Five Public Speaking Commandments To Get You Big Bucks For Big Yuks
By Peter "The Humorator" Fogel NSA Member
With over twenty-four years of performing stand-up comedy, writing comedy, and doing audience warm-up on sitcoms, I've learned that using humour in a corporate setting is a lot different than in a comedy club. For success here, you must tread carefully. To that end, I offer you my five writing commandments for delivering humourous keynote speeches.
Fogel's First Commandant: Thou shall know your audience. Are they young or old or mixed? Remember: Humour is subjective. A youngster of six might laugh at a good making-potty-in-your-pants joke. On the other hand, an elderly senior may find it offensive having just made potty in his pants himself feeling a tad embarrassed.
Fogel's Second Commandment: Thou shall test, but never test a new joke in your opening line. If it bombs you better have a good saver. I once performed on a cruise ship where I quickly learned that seniors sometimes lose the sarcastic gene once they hit retirement age. The night before they had seen a juggling and fire eating team called The Village Idiots.
At my show the next night, I looked out at the audience and asked them, "Hello folks, did you enjoy The Village Idiots last night?" They applauded. Then I said, "Great guys. I've known them for years. I've known them since they were morons." Nothing! Crickets stopped chirping to listen to the silence. The audience just stared at me taking what I'd said literally as if I was actually calling the comedy team morons.
They were thinking, "We liked them. Why are you calling them morons?" I kid you not. That joke was funny. I know it's funny, because I've used it and received great response in other venues. However, I learned it was the wrong joke for the wrong audience at the wrong time. Always test a new joke or story in the middle of your speech.
Fogel's Third Commandment: Thou shall choose your target appropriately. For humour to work you must realize that there's a punch line and/or a victim in the joke. In observational humour, you make fun of the fact that everyone loses a sock in the dryer, for example, and you get laughs at the recognition of it. Understand that the corporate world dictates political correctness unlike a comedy club. You should never poke fun of anyone's race, creed, color, or handicap in a corporate environment. Even if it's fun, someone will be insulted, guaranteed. For corporate humour: When in doubt, leave it out.
It is also not a wise idea to make fun of the CEO of the company to which you're speaking, even if it's in a playful manner and has been cleared with the Powers That Be – including the CEO himself. Rather, make the target of your humour a common enemy that your audience loves to hate, like the competition.
I just performed at a Wynn-Dixie Supermarket conference in Florida. Their competition is Publix. All of the store managers were there and so I cleared an opening joke with the person that hired me. I looked out at the sea of white shirts and polyester ties at 7:30 in the morning and said, "Hi everyone. All I can say is screw Publix!" Huge laughter and applause! Now, understand that what I did was not the norm! But it worked, because I cleared it first.
Fogel's Fourth Commandment: Thou shall be self-effacing, not self-deprecating. Ever notice how fat comedians get constant laughs? They put themselves down. Self-deprecating humour works in comedy clubs, but not in a corporate setting. As a speaker in this environment, you want respect and need to instead be self-effacing.
Show the audience your humility or some of your frailties. Remember a few years back when Firestone had tires exploding off SUVs? When it hit the newswire that day, I knew I had some great humour material. That night I spoke at an event and my opening line was: [sighing] "Hope you're all in a good mood. Two days ago I bought stock in Firestone." That line generated a huge response.
Find some current catastrophe in the newspaper that occurred at a particular company and substitute their name for Firestone's. It does work!
Fifth commandment: Thou shall take notice of the room's seating arrangement. Humour and delivering strong content works best when there is intimacy in the room. Arrive early at your engagement and make sure – to the best of your ability – that the seating is in close proximity to the stage. If it's not, know that the humour-response may be smaller than you expected.
I once spoke in a huge dining room where there was a buffet table filled with hot food right in front of the stage. The audience was about twenty feet back from the table. I looked at the attendees and said, "I've never had the pleasure of speaking in front of rising steam before." That was self-effacing humour and I received a nice large laugh because it was current and in the moment.
Try these techniques. I hope they work for you as well as they do for me.
Need more strategies on how to become an effective speaker? Then go to
www.publicspeaklikeapro.com -- and check out my program Peter "The Humorator"
Fogel's Guide To Effectively Public Speaking (and sign up for my FREE 7 Days To
Effective Public Speaking E-Course
www.fortune500comedy.com
With over twenty-four years of performing stand-up comedy, writing comedy, and doing audience warm-up on sitcoms, I've learned that using humour in a corporate setting is a lot different than in a comedy club. For success here, you must tread carefully. To that end, I offer you my five writing commandments for delivering humourous keynote speeches.
Fogel's First Commandant: Thou shall know your audience. Are they young or old or mixed? Remember: Humour is subjective. A youngster of six might laugh at a good making-potty-in-your-pants joke. On the other hand, an elderly senior may find it offensive having just made potty in his pants himself feeling a tad embarrassed.
Fogel's Second Commandment: Thou shall test, but never test a new joke in your opening line. If it bombs you better have a good saver. I once performed on a cruise ship where I quickly learned that seniors sometimes lose the sarcastic gene once they hit retirement age. The night before they had seen a juggling and fire eating team called The Village Idiots.
At my show the next night, I looked out at the audience and asked them, "Hello folks, did you enjoy The Village Idiots last night?" They applauded. Then I said, "Great guys. I've known them for years. I've known them since they were morons." Nothing! Crickets stopped chirping to listen to the silence. The audience just stared at me taking what I'd said literally as if I was actually calling the comedy team morons.
They were thinking, "We liked them. Why are you calling them morons?" I kid you not. That joke was funny. I know it's funny, because I've used it and received great response in other venues. However, I learned it was the wrong joke for the wrong audience at the wrong time. Always test a new joke or story in the middle of your speech.
Fogel's Third Commandment: Thou shall choose your target appropriately. For humour to work you must realize that there's a punch line and/or a victim in the joke. In observational humour, you make fun of the fact that everyone loses a sock in the dryer, for example, and you get laughs at the recognition of it. Understand that the corporate world dictates political correctness unlike a comedy club. You should never poke fun of anyone's race, creed, color, or handicap in a corporate environment. Even if it's fun, someone will be insulted, guaranteed. For corporate humour: When in doubt, leave it out.
It is also not a wise idea to make fun of the CEO of the company to which you're speaking, even if it's in a playful manner and has been cleared with the Powers That Be – including the CEO himself. Rather, make the target of your humour a common enemy that your audience loves to hate, like the competition.
I just performed at a Wynn-Dixie Supermarket conference in Florida. Their competition is Publix. All of the store managers were there and so I cleared an opening joke with the person that hired me. I looked out at the sea of white shirts and polyester ties at 7:30 in the morning and said, "Hi everyone. All I can say is screw Publix!" Huge laughter and applause! Now, understand that what I did was not the norm! But it worked, because I cleared it first.
Fogel's Fourth Commandment: Thou shall be self-effacing, not self-deprecating. Ever notice how fat comedians get constant laughs? They put themselves down. Self-deprecating humour works in comedy clubs, but not in a corporate setting. As a speaker in this environment, you want respect and need to instead be self-effacing.
Show the audience your humility or some of your frailties. Remember a few years back when Firestone had tires exploding off SUVs? When it hit the newswire that day, I knew I had some great humour material. That night I spoke at an event and my opening line was: [sighing] "Hope you're all in a good mood. Two days ago I bought stock in Firestone." That line generated a huge response.
Find some current catastrophe in the newspaper that occurred at a particular company and substitute their name for Firestone's. It does work!
Fifth commandment: Thou shall take notice of the room's seating arrangement. Humour and delivering strong content works best when there is intimacy in the room. Arrive early at your engagement and make sure – to the best of your ability – that the seating is in close proximity to the stage. If it's not, know that the humour-response may be smaller than you expected.
I once spoke in a huge dining room where there was a buffet table filled with hot food right in front of the stage. The audience was about twenty feet back from the table. I looked at the attendees and said, "I've never had the pleasure of speaking in front of rising steam before." That was self-effacing humour and I received a nice large laugh because it was current and in the moment.
Try these techniques. I hope they work for you as well as they do for me.
Need more strategies on how to become an effective speaker? Then go to
www.publicspeaklikeapro.com -- and check out my program Peter "The Humorator"
Fogel's Guide To Effectively Public Speaking (and sign up for my FREE 7 Days To
Effective Public Speaking E-Course
www.fortune500comedy.com
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
How Not To Be "The Cowardly Lion" When It Comes To Public Speaking
"How Not To Be "The Cowardly Lion" When It Comes To Public Speaking..."
I have to be honest with you. No one was more scared of being in front of an audience than I was. But, then again, I was seventeen years old doing and doing stand-up comedy for the first time at New York's prestigious comedy showcase club, Catch A Rising Star. Imagine this: I am seventeen – looked thirteen years old (yes, I had good genes) and could hear audience members murmuring to themselves, "God, he's so young." I was so scared that before bounding on stage I actually wrote the jokes on the palm of my hand. A nervous wreck and sweating big time, the ink smeared across my hand and I couldn't read anything. Well, that was then and this is now.
For the full article go to http://www.fortune500comedy.com/articles.html
www.fortune500comedy.com
I have to be honest with you. No one was more scared of being in front of an audience than I was. But, then again, I was seventeen years old doing and doing stand-up comedy for the first time at New York's prestigious comedy showcase club, Catch A Rising Star. Imagine this: I am seventeen – looked thirteen years old (yes, I had good genes) and could hear audience members murmuring to themselves, "God, he's so young." I was so scared that before bounding on stage I actually wrote the jokes on the palm of my hand. A nervous wreck and sweating big time, the ink smeared across my hand and I couldn't read anything. Well, that was then and this is now.
For the full article go to http://www.fortune500comedy.com/articles.html
www.fortune500comedy.com
Sunday, February 18, 2007
Ready To Earn Six Figures As A Public Speaker?
Hey, Peter "The Humorator" Fogel here. Please allow me to ask you a few questions.
1) Are you satisfied with your present job/career?
2) Are you very knowledgeable in a certain field or are an expert on your topic?
3) Have you ever thought of sharing that information with a targeted audience in the exciting and rewarding field of public speaking?
If so, then I hope you'll go to http://www.publicspeaklikeapro.com/ and check out my program:
Peter "The Humorator" Fogel's Guide To Effective Public Speaking. There you learn about my e-book/audio and DVD program that will give you the strong foundation to not only survive BUT thrive in the lucrative public speaking arena.
I've been a professional speaker and stand-up comic for close to 25 years. I earn between $3,500 and $6000 a speech. I can give you the tools that will allow you to compete in the public speaking world-- and win! You'll discover the tips, tricks, and strategies that top gun NSA speakers use to earn impressive six figure incomes. PLUS you'll be able to sign up for my FREE 7 Days To Effective Public Speaking E-course. http://www.publicspeaklikeapro.com/
www.fortune500comedy.com
1) Are you satisfied with your present job/career?
2) Are you very knowledgeable in a certain field or are an expert on your topic?
3) Have you ever thought of sharing that information with a targeted audience in the exciting and rewarding field of public speaking?
If so, then I hope you'll go to http://www.publicspeaklikeapro.com/ and check out my program:
Peter "The Humorator" Fogel's Guide To Effective Public Speaking. There you learn about my e-book/audio and DVD program that will give you the strong foundation to not only survive BUT thrive in the lucrative public speaking arena.
I've been a professional speaker and stand-up comic for close to 25 years. I earn between $3,500 and $6000 a speech. I can give you the tools that will allow you to compete in the public speaking world-- and win! You'll discover the tips, tricks, and strategies that top gun NSA speakers use to earn impressive six figure incomes. PLUS you'll be able to sign up for my FREE 7 Days To Effective Public Speaking E-course. http://www.publicspeaklikeapro.com/
Labels: Public Speak lIke A pro...
www.fortune500comedy.com
Monday, October 02, 2006
Peter The Humorist Fogel Blog
Peter The Humorist Fogel Blog
The purpose of my ezine is to make you laugh and learn and to show you how to find your “humor eye” that will empower you to over come the many obstacles you face in life.
Its second purpose is to also present to you power” humor techniques that you can use to givemore powerful and effective speeches.
Don’t forget: when you use humor corerctly... if they’re laughing…they’re listening (to your content.)
One of the humor strategies that I preach about is to exploit current events. Humor as you know works best when it’s unexpected and comes off as being “fresh” to your audience.
Here’s an example. Do you remember when there were tire blow outs on the road with Ford’s SUV’s that used Firestone tires?
The news hit the media like a Tsunami that day. Well, that night on stage while performing I opened my show with a “hang dog” depressed look.
I said, “Well, folks… I hope you’re all in a good mood tonight. Two days ago I bought stock in Firestone. (beat; laughter) Who knew?”
I got a great HUGE response from the audience. Why? Because it was current and because I committed to the joke fully.
And you can easily do the same! So let’s update it. I could not believe that when crazy Venezuelan President “Hurricane Hugo” Chavez came to the UN and put down President Bush -- that our “Commander in Chief” didn’t respond with humor.
YIKES! He let a perfect opportunity to go by and should’ve retorted on the news that night by saying…
“As you know President Chavez was here recently and made some disparaging comments about my character. I will take the high road and wish him only the best as he visits our free and open society.... Oh, and as he dines out tonight might I recommendhe have the Spinach salad!”
To effectively use current events you are in essence capturing“lightning in a bottle.” Humor when applied correctly can hit a target like no other weapon—especially when it’s in the audience'scollective memory.
Read the papers daily and see what two current events you can bring together for optimal results.
Once you train yourself to do this… it will almost become second nature to you. I guarantee it!
Keep laughing!
Peter “The Humorator” Fogelwww.fortune500comedy.com
PS Please pass this ezine onto any one who can benefitfrom it.
I will thank you … and so will they.
I am headlining “Catch a Rising Star” at Resorts International in Atlantic City, Oct 7th through the 14th. If you’re in the area please stop by, see the show— and say “hi!”
Peter “The Humorator” Fogel’s Guide To Effective Public Speaking
http://www.fortune500comedy.com/PublicSpeakingEBook/index.html
“If Not Now… Then When? StoriesAnd Strategies of People Over 40 Who Have SuccessfullyReinvented Themselves – by Peter Fogel
http://www.buybooksontheweb.com/description.asp?ISBN=0-7414-2401-0
Comedy CDAlmost Live From NYC It's The Comedy of Peter “The Humororator” Fogel
http://www.fortune500comedy.com/products.html#Want
(I pay shipping and handling on comedy CD)
www.fortune500comedy.com
The purpose of my ezine is to make you laugh and learn and to show you how to find your “humor eye” that will empower you to over come the many obstacles you face in life.
Its second purpose is to also present to you power” humor techniques that you can use to givemore powerful and effective speeches.
Don’t forget: when you use humor corerctly... if they’re laughing…they’re listening (to your content.)
One of the humor strategies that I preach about is to exploit current events. Humor as you know works best when it’s unexpected and comes off as being “fresh” to your audience.
Here’s an example. Do you remember when there were tire blow outs on the road with Ford’s SUV’s that used Firestone tires?
The news hit the media like a Tsunami that day. Well, that night on stage while performing I opened my show with a “hang dog” depressed look.
I said, “Well, folks… I hope you’re all in a good mood tonight. Two days ago I bought stock in Firestone. (beat; laughter) Who knew?”
I got a great HUGE response from the audience. Why? Because it was current and because I committed to the joke fully.
And you can easily do the same! So let’s update it. I could not believe that when crazy Venezuelan President “Hurricane Hugo” Chavez came to the UN and put down President Bush -- that our “Commander in Chief” didn’t respond with humor.
YIKES! He let a perfect opportunity to go by and should’ve retorted on the news that night by saying…
“As you know President Chavez was here recently and made some disparaging comments about my character. I will take the high road and wish him only the best as he visits our free and open society.... Oh, and as he dines out tonight might I recommendhe have the Spinach salad!”
To effectively use current events you are in essence capturing“lightning in a bottle.” Humor when applied correctly can hit a target like no other weapon—especially when it’s in the audience'scollective memory.
Read the papers daily and see what two current events you can bring together for optimal results.
Once you train yourself to do this… it will almost become second nature to you. I guarantee it!
Keep laughing!
Peter “The Humorator” Fogelwww.fortune500comedy.com
PS Please pass this ezine onto any one who can benefitfrom it.
I will thank you … and so will they.
I am headlining “Catch a Rising Star” at Resorts International in Atlantic City, Oct 7th through the 14th. If you’re in the area please stop by, see the show— and say “hi!”
Peter “The Humorator” Fogel’s Guide To Effective Public Speaking
http://www.fortune500comedy.com/PublicSpeakingEBook/index.html
“If Not Now… Then When? StoriesAnd Strategies of People Over 40 Who Have SuccessfullyReinvented Themselves – by Peter Fogel
http://www.buybooksontheweb.com/description.asp?ISBN=0-7414-2401-0
Comedy CDAlmost Live From NYC It's The Comedy of Peter “The Humororator” Fogel
http://www.fortune500comedy.com/products.html#Want
(I pay shipping and handling on comedy CD)
www.fortune500comedy.com
Sunday, October 01, 2006
Welcome To My Blog!
Besides being a comedy writer, I am an accomplished stand-up comic who has performed in the United States, Canada, Australia and parts of New Jersey for over 20 years.
Stay tuned for lots of good things to come in this blog.
www.fortune500comedy.com
Stay tuned for lots of good things to come in this blog.
www.fortune500comedy.com
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