An Odd Thing...

**Interpret** · 07-14-2006, 10:38 AM

From what I've noticed, being from Ohio, what some States' competitors see as an amazing piece, is considered a flop by others. Reasons for this? Competing against certain kinds of pieces all year perhaps, but that's not what I want to get in to.
What this is for (more or less) is to see a few things you think a good humor MUST have, so we can build a list. That, or tear each others
e-heads off when we disagree. Either way, ideas?

1. Multiple creative characters
2. Good Intro
3. Quick Transitions/snaps/pops (everyone calls them different things, and I've received odd looks when I said "pops")
Those are basic things, does anyone have others, or a more in depth look at those ones?
Austin (haha, that's my real name!)

**airpezman** · 07-14-2006, 11:41 AM

You need to be a genuinely funny person. In my opinion, if I would take a group of 100 avg beginning interpers across the nation, more would be able to handle duo than humor. More would be able to handle drama than humor. The point is-to be VERY good at humor, you need natural timing. But let's not make this complex...

You need to be a very funny person. If you are not, you can MAYBE get to a point by tech carrying you.. I've seen humors in final rounds where I am like....nah he or she is not that funny... (just the person)

But, a humor person can command the room and make you laugh at their command... facial expressions, inflections, tone, ... they are just funny people:

Example: I guarantee that people who know Tom Finley (not in speech) would say "yah he's goofy...." or "that kid is wild..." same with Nick Kannelis.

Wild, Goofy, Hyper, Manic, Crazy, Outgoing, Extrovert, Jim Carreyesque, HOWEVER... you need to be able to control it in Humor..

Here's the deal: It's easier to bring someone DOWN than tell them to go UP.

So- if you are looking for the recipe for a strong humorous interper: find a manic, loud, outgoing nutball.... it's not a badplace to start.

PEZ

**popper2014** · 07-14-2006, 02:07 PM

Amen

**bwspeechteam** · 07-14-2006, 02:56 PM

After attending Nats for the first time this year, I see that being funny is a necessity at that level.

However, for most of our local tournaments in Illinois, someone who isn't that funny but has great characters and tech will beat someone who's just funny almost every time.
Even at the state tournament I sometimes don't think that you HAVE to be funny to get into finals.

**Cinderella** · 07-14-2006, 10:05 PM

Airpezman, you are DEFINITELY onto something.

But I think in addition to being naturally funny (sense of timing, etc), the greatest competitors whether in humor or otherwise, have a natural sense of control. Not only of their bodies, voices, and movements, but a natural sense of controll over the room. You know those performers that when they walk up to the room, you KNOW they're going to be good just because of their initial posture and attitude, they KILL the room from that first moment and CONTINUE to controll the room throughout the performance.

**nirorivers6** · 07-14-2006, 10:18 PM

yes pez and cinderlla! both a controlled manic! no seriously though I think you are absolut;y right. control is very important. you get a funny person and get them to control their Jim Carrey-esue nature and harness it to the best timing in the piece. If you have that manicness all over the place, you won't have that contrast that will make the craziness so much funnier.

**Interpret** · 07-14-2006, 10:34 PM

Thanks everyone, keep them coming!
I do agree that you need a naturally funny person, and that does the most. But is that really the biggest thing? And when does coaching come into play, and how much does it matter?

**nirorivers6** · 07-14-2006, 10:39 PM

I don't know how important a funny-person is, but now, that I think of it, pez's description fits every successful HIer I know personally.

**airpezman** · 07-15-2006, 04:08 AM

We have all see those "Humor No Nos" where you KNOW the kid "thinks he is funny" and probally is goofy but he has pushed it so far that it became annoying after 45 seconds. My point is that there are levels, and you need to hit different levels. You need to have the correct natural instinct how to play these levels. OR (and here is where coaching comes in) you need to be coached on these precise "Levels".

However, if you don't have a natural sense of comedic timing and levels, than you will not be able to adapt to your room/audience. This will run you into problems at some point.

I have seen a humor where the kid had "amazing facial expressions," "amazing sound efx," "amazing body movements" but he had no control. He was Robin Williams but no where there as funny, since there is only on Robin Williams. He was a wannabe.

1. Manic
2. Levels
3. Enthusiasm
4. Control

PEZ

**tgjdlc** · 07-15-2006, 04:43 AM

Originally Posted by airpezman

We have all see those "Humor No Nos" where you KNOW the kid "thinks he is funny" and probally is goofy but he has pushed it so far that it became annoying after 45 seconds. My point is that there are levels, and you need to hit different levels. You need to have the correct natural instinct how to play these levels. OR (and here is where coaching comes in) you need to be coached on these precise "Levels".

However, if you don't have a natural sense of comedic timing and levels, than you will not be able to adapt to your room/audience. This will run you into problems at some point.

I have seen a humor where the kid had "amazing facial expressions," "amazing sound efx," "amazing body movements" but he had no control. He was Robin Williams but no where there as funny, since there is only on Robin Williams. He was a wannabe.

1. Manic
2. Levels
3. Enthusiasm
4. Control

PEZ

I think a great example of what you just said shows a lot in Phillip from the last couple of years. In particular, I was impressed with 'Fully Committed'. I saw it a couple of times, and was impressed both times, but for different reasons. On stage I was able to see how great his pops were. But in a small room...****. I judged his 4th round, and when he let his pop down for going over for x-mas, he reached beyond the humorous 'level' and hit us with a little personal drama...I mean, the way he pulled it off in a small room, I wanted to tear up for his dad. That boy had so many levels in his piece, it was amazing.

Sorry, i know i kinda went off topic, but I think Pez was onto something...Levels, and your execution of them are the most important thing in ANY interp. Control yourself, find yourself, and use it. Everyone has something special in them, you just have to pull out that 'difference' and mold it.