giving in an old-fashioned way. I invited
factor to remember is that you need to
everyone in my neighborhood to my
make yourself laugh first.
house, we had an enormous feast, and
An example of comparison and metathen I killed them and
phor in action is in
took their land.” It is
Jim Gaffigan’s ‘Mr
important when using
Universe’ when he dis“I
celebrated
Thanksgiving
the Rule of Three to
cusses McDonald’s: “I
in
an
old-fashioned
way.
I
establish the pattern
reference McDonald’s
you want to create,
a lot because I go to
invited everyone in my
then introduce the
neighborhood to my house, McDonald’s. I love the
final concept as somesilence that follows
we
had
an
thing completely disthat statement. Like I
enormous
feast,
and
then
I
similar to the first two,
just admitted to supso that it shocks the
porting dog fighting, or
killed them and took
audience.
something. ‘How could
their land.”
you? McDonalds?’”
3. Comparisons
Using comparisons or metaphors can be 4. Clichés
used to create vivid images in the auMisdirection works incredibly well in comdience’s mind. Creating metaphors can
edy and storytelling, and juxtaposing this
be done by brainstorming a number of
with a well-worn phrase can also work
interesting, or even outlandish ways to
very well. Demitri Martin often starts his
liken the subject area to something else. jokes with a cliché, only to throw them on
Writer’s Digest suggests examples such their head, noting how odd some English
as needing to quit smoking. In this case, words and expressions are. For examthe storyteller might list a number of sitple, in his show ‘Live at the Time’, Martin
uations that are difficult, such as reading jokes, “my friend said, ‘oh I’m way better
“without your glasses, flossing a cat’s
with faces than I am with names’ and I
teeth, getting a teen to tell you about his was like, yeah, me too, everybody is. If I
day, getting a cat to tell you about its day see somebody, I’m like, yeah, right there,
while flossing its teeth”. The important
that’s his face”. Clichés can work with a
number of catchphrases, titles, lyrics, or
literature.
The advantage of storytelling is that audiences are more receptive to feeling a
range of different emotions, as opposed
to feeling like they need to be immediately impressed and laughing, as soon
as the act comes on stage. While standup comedians may focus their attention
on delivering four to six jokes a minute,
storytelling may be less structured and
allow for more freedom. What matters
most is that the audience is entertained.