Exploring Comedy
Embracing Laughter with Billy Connolly
The Art of Comedy Unveiled
Yesterday, I signed up to the BBC Maestro course on comedy, delivered by Billy Connolly.
Surfing Laughter: The Performance Craft
He shares how he discovered the magic of making people laugh by accident; how he surfs laughter during a performance, waiting for it to almost subside, and then he talks before the wave dies and the laughter builds again.
The Improvisational Genius of Billy Connolly
And how he improvises! Sure, he’ll have a short list of stories beside his glass of water, but that’s it.
He shared how his tales grow live as he tells them—some becoming so big they’re almost a show of their own. Audiences might come specially to hear that segment and then Connolly will kill it off if he loses interest in it.
The Power of Laughter: Good for the Soul
Laughter is good for us. Comedy offers a different, crazy perspective. It’s good for the soul.
Exhilarating Moments: Making Audiences Laugh
Making an audience laugh can be exhilarating. Some years ago, I won my first Toastmasters Humorous Speech contest. (And by the way, would whoever stole the trophies give them back!)
The Bee on the Bosom of the Bride!
I told the tale of a bee on the bosom of a bride—as I was conducting an outdoor wedding. It was in the middle of a handfasting ritual. The bride’s hands were bound to the groom’s hands, so she gestured to me to brush it off her.
‘Are you sure?’ I asked.
‘Yes!’ she shrieked.
I obliged.
The audience gasped in horror—they couldn’t see the bee, nor hear the bride. Most had never before been to a Humanist wedding and felt this was a ritual too far!
Capturing the Moment: Comedy as Shared Joy
The laughter that night in the room was intoxicating, and I wished it had been recorded. But that’s another thing about comedy—it’s a moment of laughter in time, often shared with others.
Resolution for Laughter: Finding the Funny Side
If you’re tempted to make a new year’s resolution, what about looking for the funny side of everything? Billy Connolly’s comedy is built on it.
Season’s Greetings: Wishing You a Humorous New Year!
Have a happy Christmas and a funny-ha-ha new year!
Happy days,
Joe
PS It cost me €59.40 to sign up to the BBC Maestro comedy course with Billy Connolly but it’s even better value to pay €77.40 for access to all courses for a year! I’m not sure how long that offer will last. And, no, they’re not paying me to promote their courses!