Humor Resources so you can Live Life–Lite!
Trina Hess with Dan Hubbard, at Four Farthings Restaurant in Chicago.
Check out Dan Hubbard and the Humadors, I met him after the Cubs game and heard him play at Four Farthings that night. His new CD is great, my favorite is “New Love Song.” He sounds like a mix of Chris Isaak and Elvis Costello, and someone told me he is the new Tom Petty. Listen for yourself at www.myspace.com/hubbardsmusic
At Thursday’s comedy show at Tailgate Restaurant, in the Clybourn Corridor in Chicago.
Thanks to the guys at Tailgate Restaurant @ U.S. Beer Co. in Chicago for hosting our comedy night on Thursday. If you’re in Chicago and going to the game, check them out. Born out of a love of football and pre-game tailgating, Tailgate Restaurant is an upscale version of many years’ experience outside Soldier Field. Visit them at www.thetailgatecatering.com 773-857-6644.
Outside historic Second City theater in Chicago, where John Belushi, Gilda Radner, Shelley Long, Dan Akroyd, and others got their comedic start.
Improvisation is the art of thinking on your feet and off the top of your head. When I trained at Second City Cleveland, we learned how to create conflict, and then find ways to resolve it—with improv games. Improv games can help improve skills in: teamwork; creativity; focus; spontaneity; and problem-solving. In improv, you create the scene, as well as your way OUT of the scene.
Some of the rules of improvisational acting are:
1. Share Your Voice–What you have to offer is important and can contribute to the success of the scene.
2. “Yes, and‗Acknowledge others’ ideas without criticism; you never know if their idea is one that will complete the scene better than yours may have.
3. “Do it wrong, do it strong!‗Don’t focus on being perfect, just on being heard.
4. Commit to your scene and ideas—Believe that what you have to offer is valuable; this belief will be projected through your performance.
5. Respect the subconscious mind—This is where we get our best ideas. Here we’re not thinking or planning our ideas, we’re merely catching them as they go by.
Bonus rule 6. “Get Your SHINE Together!”
Just like Babe Ruth did…
Bonus week of Comedy Around the World, coming to you from wonderful Chicago. I went to Friday’s Cubs game–sat in the bleacher seats (paid 1/2 off face value for my ticket), met new friends in the stands, met the new Tom Petty, learned how to navigate the red line. How did I do all this?
By NOT focusing on perfection. My only goal was to see a Cubs game while I was in Chicago. All the rest were just details that I believed would work themselves out. And they did! More wonderfully than I could have ever planned.
That day of the game, I was living in the essence of humor: I could actually feel the freedom of being in the flow. Just riding the wave of trust. Sure it would go up and down. Like when I missed our Penn State group’s game day on Wednesday. When I couldn’t find a game schedule online. Forgetting my sunglasses the day of the game. Or when it started to rain. But the positive waves more than compensated for all that.
Make Believe. That’s all it takes. Make a goal. Then believe that everything will work itself out for that goal to transpire. And when it does, it will be better than you could have ever dreamed.
“Get Your SHINE Together!” so your team can win, too!
Writing today from Chicago, where yesterday I heard a lot of music–first at the Turkish festival. What does Turkish music sound like? Just imagine playing the clarinet in minor keys. Constantly. The lilting, hypnotizing Anatolian-like sounds were mesmerizing.
Then, later that night I went to an international music festival that featured Spanish music. Again, with the clarinet. But this time, even though some notes were in minor keys, it was a completely different sound that generated a totally different mood.
That’s like humor. We each have this instrument available to us at all times, night and day, 24/7. Some of ours play Turkish-sounding melodies. That is, maybe your style of humor is sarcastic, negative, creative, analytical, or cerebral. Then there are some that play smooth Spanish tones. Maybe your style of humor is one that is warm, inviting, situational, and that lets everyone save face and relax.
Same instrument, played in two different ways. Some musicians practice more, some less, and some never take their clarinet out of the case. I’m sure there are many other types of music that use the clarinet. If I could only find a jazz place here in Chicago…
Hey everyone, remember the Samuel J Benefit Comedy show I emceed a few years ago–Here’s a note from the Samuel J Foundation founder, Kelly Johnson. Mark your calendar to attend and support this fantastic program for patients and their families.
“Kick off the summer with a splash at The Samuel J Foundation’s Fifth Annual “Sam’s Summer Splash†fundraiser planned for June 27, 2009, at 6:30 pm at Scott Township Pool. Tickets are only $5 per person age 4 and up (children under 4 are free) or just $4 per person for groups of 10 or more (perfect for sports teams, scout troops or groups). Refreshments, including KFC, games for the kids and music by DJ Roy Smith are included in the price of admission. There will also be a 50/50 raffle and ticket auction (including Steeler tickets!).
“Proceeds from this event will support Sam’s Snack Wagon, a snack cart program for parents and children on the inpatient oncology unit and outpatient hematology/oncology clinic at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. Sam’s Snack Wagon was started as something tangible that could serve as a daily reminder for these families that someone is thinking about them, and that they are not alone. Many parents have said that when their children are discouraged about having to go to the hospital, reminding them of the snack cart lifts their spirits and encourages them. Sam’s Snack Wagon has received wonderful support through food and monetary donations from patient families, individual donors, churches and athletic teams, such as the Mt. Lebanon Blue Devils Soccer Team which has supplied the program with Gatorade for the past two years. Sam’s Summer Splash is a really fun way for the whole community to be a part of this program, and make a difference for these kids and their families.
“For Summer Splash tickets, to donate to Sam’s Snack Wagon, or for more information about the Samuel J Foundation, visit www.samuelj.org, or contact Kelly Johnson at (724)693-9901. If you wish to order tickets via U.S. Mail, send a check payable to Samuel J Foundation along with a self-addressed stamped envelope to P.O. Box 75, Oakdale, Pa 15071. Write “Summer Splash Tickets” on the memo line. Volunteers and raffle or refreshment donations are still being accepted. Hope to see you there!“
Kelly Johnson
Here’s a clip from my friend Leslie Prevish, women`s outreach manager for Harley-Davidson Motor Co., as she talks with Maggie Rodriguez on the CBS Early Show.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/05/26/earlyshow/main5040140.shtml.
From my friend, author Sheryl Roush:
“We still need your submissions — and to pass this invite along to those who will submit as well! This forthcoming book truly honors those who serve our country – and their support—their FAMILIES!
Longer stories and tributes – up to 1,200 words each. Short clips needed too — 325 words! WE NEED TO HEAR YOUR STORIES!
NEW DEADLINE: May 31
Please read and forward:
CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS to be PUBLISHED!
Heart of a Military Woman
Stories and Tributes to Those Who Serve Their Country
Are you a wife—or daughter—of a man in the military?
Write YOUR story!
Are you an active or veteran woman in the military?
Share your stories!
Are you a relative—or friend—of a woman in the military?
Write a TRIBUTE to her.
BOOK SUBMISSION IDEAS:
Inspiration and experiences from deployments, military exercises, basic training, special missions, motherhood, friendship, marriage and relationships, day to day duty and life, promotion, professional military education, temporary duty and any other topics of interest.
We are looking for real stories, from real people, about real life.
What got you INTO the military.
What were your experiences like?
Relationships? Boot camp? Officer school?
What did you learn about OTHERS as a result?
What did you learn about YOURSELF as a result?
How are you different as a result of your service.
Why did you re-enlist? Honorably discharge? Retire?
What advice might you offer to anyone considering enlisting?
SITE: http://heartbookseries.com/heart-of-a-military-woman/
DEADLINE: MAY 31.
Up to 1,200 words per submission. More than one submission welcome.
Email in a text message or Word.doc file to: Eldonna@HeartBookSeries.com.
Indicate “Book Submission” in the subject line.
INCLUDE:
• Your suggested submission title.
• Your name, and position/title/rank/branch to be printed with your contribution.
• Your contact name, email, phone. Website (optional).
• Name of publication, if your submission has been previously published.
• Indicate that you have permission to reprint if your work is previously published.
RELEASE DATE:
August, 2009–in celebration of Labor Day, September 7th
CO-AUTHORS:
Eldonna Lewis-Fernandez is passionate about touching the lives of female veterans. Being a retired veteran with 23 years of honorable service in the United States Air Force, Eldonna is teaching women how to take more RISK in their lives for maximum results. When she enlisted in October 1980, women made up only 8% of the military and today although more than doubled still only 20%. Professionally, Eldonna is a contract specialist in purchasing, negotiation and administration of government contracts. She is the President of Dynamic Vision International, based in Redondo Beach, California.
Website: www.DynamicVisionIntl.com
Sheryl Roush is an inspirational conference speaker, and creator of the Heart Book Series. As a former Navy wife, she recognizes the dedication, unique lifestyle (an understatement) and challenges of military life. She was only the third woman in the world (in 93 countries and out of 4 million people served) to be honored by Toastmasters International with their elite “Accredited Speaker” designation for outstanding platform professional speaking skills. She is the President of Sparkle Presentations, Inc., based in San Diego, California.
Website: www.SparklePresentations.com
COPYRIGHT:
Original stories, quotations and poems remain the property and copyright of the contributor.
NO FEE to participate in this publication. NO OBLIGATION to purchase printed books.
NO royalties are given for selections accepted. Books are published through: Sparkle Press.
VIEW OTHER BOOKS IN THIS SERIES:
Heart of a Woman, Heart of a Mother, Heart of the Holidays,
Heart of a Woman in Business, and Corazon de Mujer (Heart of a Woman in Spanish).
www.HeartBookSeries.com • www.Amazon.com • www.Borders.com • Borders Bookstores
This week’s Comedy Around the World remembers Memorial Day–in Bermuda. Memorial day marks the remembrance of our military men and women and the sacrifices they have made for our freedoms. But it’s also a day where we can remember people who have helped us become who we are. The ones who have helped us to accomplish certain goals.
The person I remember today is Gus P. He was a member of our Pittsburgh/Erie/West Virginia Team In Training Marathon program with the Leukemia Society. Our team traveled to Bermuda one February to run in either the half or the full marathon. In Bermuda that means you ran around the island either once or twice.
It was one of those winters where the snow was piled high along the streets (people in Pennsylvania are asking, “Which winter was that?” Or perhaps they are asking, “Which winter wasn’t that?”). One of our team members from Pittsburgh had to train on treadmills; the streets were too full of snow for both cars and runners to coexist.
I had an easier time of it, running on country roads, packed snow, and snowmobile tracks. And nice, cool, 30 degree weather. It was paradise. But Bermuda was deadly: First of all, it was sunny. And it was humid. And it was in the 80’s. Most (read: normal) people would think this was a paradise. For marathon runners it spells disaster.
After my first lap around the island, I was completely exhausted. Yes, I realize this was a marathon and that’s what is supposed to happen to people. But it was beyond that–I was barely hanging on to consciousness. I had to actually stop and walk. First time in over ten years of running every day, that I had to stop during a run.
Gus P. saw what was happening. Even though he was a veteran of ultramarathons (50+ mile races), he wasn’t being competitive here. He was being a team member. He stayed with me during the whole race, and when I was forced to walk, he walked with me. And–he took my hand when I was crying in shame at having to walk, having another lap around the island yet to go, having blisters on my feet and salt in my eyes (from the sweat, not the ocean), having heat exhaustion, having dehydration, and having a generally bad time of it.
He walked with me, holding my hand, until we crossed the finish line, many, many hours later. I think of Gus P. today and hope that I can measure up to that type of character. Who do you remember today? Share your comments www.yourshiningexample.com
Naomi Rhode, in her “Alpha & Omega Synergistic Openings and Closings for Successful Presentations” told us at Pittsburgh’s NSA meeting to “keep plus-ing away!” We should continue to add stories to our keynote speeches and continue to take risks by adding new stories. How will we know if our new stories work? Record every speech, every show, every performance you do. Only then can you hear what happened during the speech, and hear where the audience response was greatest.
Another thing Naomi mentioned was that speaking shorter is much more difficult than speaking for longer periods of time. Any comic who has ever had a three-minute audition will tell you the same. Because absolutely everything you say has to be meaningful; in the case of the comic, everything you say has to be funny. There is no time to take the audience on a roller coaster ride of emotion–let them laugh, let them rest, make them laugh again, etc. If you’ve heard me give my “Get Your SHINE Together!” keynote, you will recognize this as the “S” in The SHINE System of Communication.
So as we say farewell to Naomi this week, and all her wisdom and ideas, you too can keep “plus-ing away” at your communication skills. And of course, remember to, “Get Your SHINE Together!”
What stories will you add this week?
