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\nHow to Write Funnier Jokes<\/h2>\n
In this joke writing article, How to Write Funnier Jokes: Tip 5 – Make Punchlines More Negative,<\/em> I\u2019ll show how stand-up comedians increase the pain within jokes to get bigger laughs. This is another skill to practice as you write and rewrite your comedy routines.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
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Previously in this series of joke writing articles, you learned<\/span> How to Write Funnier Jokes: Tip 1 – Make Setups and Punchlines Short, Tip 2 – End Punchlines with the Reveal, Tip 3 – Use K-Words to Enhance Punchlines<\/span><\/i>, and <\/span>Tip 4 – Localize Comedy Routines<\/span><\/i>. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
You are well on your way to writing funnier and funnier jokes. <\/span><\/p>\n
Next,<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n
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Tip 5 – Make Punchlines More Negative<\/h2>\n
On an unconscious level most comedians and comedy writers know this technique, yet it\u2019s not often explicitly stated or taught. We laugh at someone else\u2019s pain, so if we can ratchet up the pain, it\u2019s more likely to get a bigger laugh because the negative consequences are more intense.<\/span><\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/span>Here\u2019s a joke by my student Aaron Thompson who was a police officer when he took my classes. Since, he\u2019s transitioned into a full-time comedian.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/span>Aaron: \u201cI was on a walking patrol when a drug addict ran up to me.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n
Addict: \u201cOfficer, stop that man.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n
Aaron: \u201cWhy?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n
Addict: \u201cHe stole my drugs.\u201d (laugh)
Aaron: \u201cWhere\u2019d you get them?\u201d
Addict: \u201cIt was a present.\u201d (laugh)
Aaron: \u201cFrom who?\u201d
Addict: \u201cMy drug dealer.\u201d (laugh)<\/p>\nThe stand-up comedy routine was already getting laughs by acting out the scene and playing the character. I made a note, so when Aaron sat back down, I gave him kudos for writing a funny bit. Then I used the technique: make punchlines more negative.<\/p>\n
I pointed out the specific places in the funny story where he might push the laughs by finding more negative consequences.<\/p>\n
1. Addict: \u201cHe stole my drugs.\u201d
Though this got a good laugh I wanted him and the class to search for a specific and worse drug. After a bit of class banter, I suggested \u201ccrack.\u201d It\u2019s a worse drug and it’s a K-word.<\/p>\n2. Addict: \u201cIt was a present.\u201d
This also got a laugh, yet I knew it could be funnier if it was more specific and negative. After some discussion someone said, \u201cIt was baby shower present.\u201d Very inappropriate.<\/p>\n3. Addict: \u201cMy drug dealer.\u201d
Again, a really good laugh, but I wanted to see if we could bump it up a bit. This took a bit longer as we went through, \u201cwife, grandmother, priest, doctor,\u201d and more, until Jake Gallo said, \u201cHis AA sponsor.\u201d The class went into a fit of laughter for a minute or so. That was so ironic and terrible, it was perfect.<\/p>\nHere\u2019s the rewrite:<\/p>\n
Aaron: \u201cI was on a walking patrol when a drug addict ran up to me.\u201d
Addict: \u201cOfficer, stop that man.\u201d
Aaron: \u201cWhy?\u201d
Addict: \u201cHe stole my crack.\u201d (laugh)
Aaron: \u201cWhere\u2019d you get it?\u201d
Addict: \u201cIt\u2019s a baby shower gift.\u201d (laugh)
Aaron: \u201cFrom who?\u201d
Addict: \u201cMy sponsor.\u201d (laugh)<\/p>\nAll three of these examples are basically the same jokes, yet they got more robust laughs when performed. Not an accident, but the willful construction of a funnier stand-up comedy routine by simply using this technique.<\/p>\n
My job as a stand-up comedy teacher was to point out this joke writing technique to show everyone in the joke writing portion of my class how to punch-up the jokes of this funny story. BTW this is a common occurrence in my stand-up comedy classes as I often use this technique to make punchlines get better laughs.<\/p>\n
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Comedy Writing Practice:<\/h2>\n
Search your jokes and routines to find circumstances that can be given more negative results. Sift through the wording of every sentence to uncover that moment that could explode into a much bigger laugh just by making it more negative. Same basic jokes with bigger laughs.<\/p>\n
In this joke writing article, How to Write Funnier Jokes: Tip 5 – Make Punchlines More Negative, you learn to search for the aspects of jokes you can add more negative consequences to get more laughter from the same stand-up comedy routine.<\/p>\n
In the next joke writing article, How to Write Funnier Jokes: Tip 6 – To Pun or Not to Pun, you\u2019ll learn how to turn puns that get groans into stand-up comedy jokes that get big laughs.<\/p>\n
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Greg Dean’s Stand Up Comedy Classes<\/h2>\n
Greg teaches his techniques in two classes.\u00a0 The first is called “How to Build a Stand Up Comedy Routine” and is the beginning class (also called the “101 class”) and the “Advanced Joke Writing & Performing Class” (also known as the “201 class”).\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n
Even though these classes are named a beginning and advanced,\u00a0 they are actually classes that stand up comedians of any number of years of experience can take.\u00a0 They are beginning and advanced in the Greg Dean system.\u00a0 If you’re interested in faster and better ways to create good jokes and you want to dive deeper on joke writing then you’ll want to take both of these classes.<\/p>\n
Greg teaches his classes live in Santa Monica as well as live on zoom.\u00a0 If you are in the greater Los Angeles area, you can sign up for his classes at the Santa Monica Playhouse.\u00a0 Check our Calendar of Events to see all upcoming classes.\u00a0 Calendar of Events<\/a><\/p>\n