Jun 05

Secret Comedy Writing Technique – Daffynitions

The next post in my Secret Comedy Writing Technique deals with Daffynitions. I actually only heard of this technique a couple of years ago.

The term Daffynitions comes from the word daffy meaning “a little crazy” and the word “definition”, which obviously provides the meaning or a word. Hence we get the word Daffynitions. The term itself is a pun format that involves the reinterpretation of a word based upon the fact that it sounds like another word or combination of words. Making up daffynitions was popular on the BBC radio show I’m Sorry I Haven’t a Clue.

Some examples include the following: Continue reading

Jun 03

Pulblic Speaking: Hecklers

This may seem a bit incongruous to the public speaking arena and more associated with comedy clubs, but it does happen. But even in the comedy club market heckling doesn’t happen as often as some people think that it does. So in the corporate environment I’d have to say that it happens even less than that. Although in after dinner situations where alchohol is involved some audience members want to “join in”.

The are different reasons why people heckle. Continue reading

May 28

Secret Comedy Writing Technique – Mondegreens

Another entry in my mini series Secret Comedy Writing Techniques are Mondegreens This is when you miss hear the lyric of a song or some other spoken line. Examples of this are as follows:
Continue reading

May 26

Public Speaking: Listen to other Speakers

Whenever you’re due to speak at an event take the opportunity to listen to the other speakers. There are two reasons to do this; the first is by listening to other speakers you may discover that they actually cover the same points as you’re planning to cover in your speech.

If that happens you have two choices: Continue reading

May 18

Secret Comedy Writing Technique – Freudian Slip

Here’s another installment in my mini series, Secret Comedy Writing Techniques. In this one I’m going to cover Freudian slips. And no I don’t mean the Austrian psychiatrist’s female undergarment. Cheap these laughs are, what can I tell ya?

So on to business! Continue reading