This week’s Comedy Around the World goes to Stow, Ohio, to my Comedy 101 teacher Mike Veneman’s viewing. Mike died from ALS (Lou Gherig’s disease) the day before Halloween this year. He was the most unselfish, unjealous, unbelievably precise writing teacher I have ever met. Every bit I’ve crafted from his advice in Comedy 101 and Comedy 201 classes kills (=gets laughs) for every audience. Every time.
Mike just KNEW what was funny.
A viewing isn’t something most of us want to attend. I didn’t. But I went anyway.
It was a rough time for all Mike’s students. In that room was sorrow. Lots of it. But in that room were also the three humor keys that Mike left for us, to deal with his passing.
1. Connectedness. 90% of the comics in Cleveland may well have started with Mike’s Comedy 101 class. We reminisced with each other, meeting old friends and new. My friend Marv introduced me to everyone, and also called me on my way home, to make sure I found Route 8 without a GPS. My new friend Todd stayed with me until closing. Even the most crass and angry of comics just stood staring, half in sadness, half in disbelief. In this room, we all belonged. We had all lost our friend.
2. Openness. The main feature of a roomful of comics is that nothing is taboo. Nothing is politically incorrect. I overheard, “…is she kind of Asian?”
“Maybe a little Asian.”
“Aren’t ALL Asians little?”
Someone else recalled Mike’s last weeks in the hospital where nurses had to push his stomach to try to release the pressure. One comic who was there visiting Mike asked the nurse, “Did you pull his finger?”
And, Mike’s body lying in the casket held a rosary. And a microphone.
3. Truthfulness. As I drove to the viewing, I cried the whole way. And I drove from Pennsylvania. Mike’s widow even asked ME, “Are you going to be all right?” I didn’t care that I was making others cry, too. This was the most accepting crowd I’ve ever been in the midst of. Comics are SUPPOSED to be open to any emotion and accept its truth and then tell about it.
That’s why Mike’s final night was a feast. The truth was that he’d had a tracheotomy and was having trouble breathing. But the truth was also that Mike loved food. So the night before he passed away, he ate. Macaroni and cheese, enchiladas and beer. Comics don’t suppress anything, even till the end!
The next time you’re in a difficult, unpleasant situation, take some advice from Comedy 101. Stay connected, stay open, and tell your truth. No matter HOW funny it sounds!
This week’s Comedy Around the World goes biking. To a not-yet-Rails-To-Trails trail. Yesterday evening I rode with a friend on this remote trail. No pavement here—just dirt, large gravel, and occasional hay strewn over a newly drilled well.
We flushed 3 grouse, saw a deer jump across our path. But the most striking event was when we rode past a waiting porcupine.
He was just sitting by the side of the trail, almost as though he expected us to stop and stare at him. He was right: As we stared and stared, he raised his quills. Then, when he was bored enough by the interaction, he jogged/lumbered back into the woods.
My friend told me that porcupines, once out of the infant stage, have no enemies. “Except,” I added, “a bullet or a passing car.”
“OK,” he said, “I mean, no animal predators. The quills protect the porcupine from all danger, so that the animal can jog slowly through the woods, enjoying his time there.”
Humor is OUR quill collection.
How so?
Whereas sarcasm—the attacker of the forest—invites a fight, a good-humor nature repels attacks.
How so?
The non-offensive nature of situational humor is not only self-accepting, it’s also peace-enticing. It reminds us to have fun, relax, and enjoy life.
As stress, sarcasm, cynicism, and negative self-assessment come close, we only need to raise our quills, remembering our humor nature.
How safe, how relaxing, and how much FUN is that?
This week’s Comedy Around the World goes to Cranberry Township, PA.Site of election campaigns and lots of picnic food. Last week my friend Tom Baker, of Baker Leadership, said, “I’m going to meet Steve Forbes tomorrow.” It was a campaign event for Keith Rothfus. Because some of my web pages have actual cobwebs on them, I decided I’d go and get another celebrity photo to update my website’s photo gallery!
Although I was excited about meeting a celebrity, I was still a little uneasy. Not just about the secret service-type people standing around. But because I in fact had absolutely nothing to offer. I wasn’t in the voting district of Rothfus. The only person I knew at the picnic was Tom. My camera wasn’t working, so I would need to borrow someone else’s. When we’re confronted by these feelings of utter uselessness, what do we do?
What did I do? I got carried away by the excitement. By the picture that was bigger than my little lackings.
Sure, I couldn’t vote for Rothfus, but I could talk to his mom at the picnic table.
I could talk politics with the other people there.
I could, basically, just have FUN! And focus on that!
Why not?! Why do we always feel we need a reason to exist? Why can’t ’fun’ be our reason?
This week’s Comedy Around the World returns to Maine, site of the Hunt-of-a-Lifetime event. Last summer, Wired Outdoors’ founders Jason Say and Kyle Schwabenbauer, and local residents, companies, friends, families and fans helped raise $20,000 to help send terminally ill children on their “Hunt of a Lifetime.”
The most recent trip recipient is Douglas Fickel, who suffers from Ataxiatelangiectasia (AT). His condition is like having muscular dystrophy, cystic fibrosis, cerebral palsy and cancer all rolled into one. Doug spent almost 200 days in the hospital in 2009 and receives chemo every single day of his life.
But he loves the outdoors and he loves to hunt. His Hunt of a Lifetime took him to Maine in search of a bull moose. On Monday, the team was disappointed that they hadn’t seen a moose. But Tuesday they prayed that they would see one.
They set the environment up so that they could and would expect great things to happen. And they weren’t disappointed. Although they hadn’t seen a thing the day before, on Tuesday they opened the door and saw—a moose!
It wasn’t the right kind, it was a cow moose. But the team wasn’t distracted by that minor detail. They still took this cow moose as a good sign.
Although it wasn’t EXACTly what they were hoping for, they used this small step as a motivator to keep up their positive expectation about the day.
Later that day, Doug shot a 38’ moose that was field-dressed over 700 lbs. Although I am from the country, I have no idea what that exactly means. I only know that Doug and his team were really happy about it. That event sealed the success of their trip.
Makes me realize that despite the tragedy that Doug has lived through, and daily lives with, he still know all about preparing the environment. Creating the chance that his team would work together smoothly. That they would reach their goals for the trip. And that they would have a fun time doing it!
Doug’s team created their environment by praying. Maybe you set an intention. Or you post a statement. Whatever way you do it, when you keep a humorous mindset, you get your mind wired for a productive outcome.
This week’s Comedy Around the world goes to Youngstown, Ohio. I’ve always thought this was a rough town. Last weekend I went to Youngstown to see a Rob Zombie concert. So you could say I’ve paid my dues.
What was striking about this concert was how humorous it was. Unintentionally, I am sure, but humorous nonetheless.
What stood out for me was how closely the Zombie worked within the humor spectrum.
1. Rob Zombie created an environment of levity, creativty, newness and fun. He was part of the Halloween Hootenany—a mega-event that encouraged the costumes, face-paintings and risk-taking that I saw throughout the crowd. What kind of celebration are you creating?
2. This shock performer strengthened our feelings of inclusion. Any outcast of society was welcome here—whether living or dead. Piercings, tattoos, heavy mascara—bring it! And also included were any emotion, not just celebratory feelings. The anger, frustration, rage and fury people feel about living in a modern technological age: they were allowed here, and not just allowed, but encouaged and rewarded. It was a very freeing environ. In what other atmospheres are people allowed to be their whole self—ugliness and all!
3. Rob Zombie was accessible to his fans. All of a sudden, the crowd surged toward where I was standing on the middle of the former ice rink. I wondered what was going on—was there a fire? Then I watched where the crowd was going. Over the barrier and into the crowd—following Rob Zombie. He had shone a deer spotlight on the crowd, acknowledging them. Not only that, but he went into the crowd and through the aisles, forcing people to stand in their seats to let him pass. What other high-profile rock stars would do that?
4. Rob Zombie grabbed my attention and didn’t let go. Shocking lyrics were only one part of the repertoire of shockingness. He also sported gigantic double screens full of scenes and clips from Night of the Living Dead and other low-budget campy horror flicks. Are you willing to shock yourself out of your ordinariness?
5. The concert bolstered creativity. That’s because the surprises kept coming. One song, the Eurythmics’ “Sweet Dreams,” was the version I’d heard in a Lifetime movie. No kidding! What unlikely combinations can you make once you’re willing to overlook taxonomies?
Next time you think you know someone, think about what you can learn from them, about humor.
This week’s Comedy Around the World takes an inspiring trip to Maine. I just learned that Wired Outdoors’ Hunt-of-a-Lifetime program will be taking this years recipient, Douglas Fickel, on a moose hunt to Maine.
The Wired Outdoors guys tell the story: “As usual I always find myself getting choked up when it comes to these kids and this year was no different. Each year I am so personally attached to each of the families it always becomes emotional. Most of you have heard Douglas’ story but in case you haven’t he is suffering from a disease called Ataxia-telangiectasia. A-T is like having muscular dystrophy, cystic fibrosis, cerebral palsy and cancer all rolled into one.
“This disease is also very rare and only 600 children in the United States have been diagnosed with this disease. A-T is a fatal genetic disease that causes progressive loss of muscular control, various types of cancer and immune system problems. Children with A-T are usually unable to walk by the age of ten and rarely survive their teens. If A-T wasn’t enough, Doug was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, T-Cell on December 5, 2008.
“Douglas has spent almost 200 days in the hospital in 2009 and receives chemo every single day of his life, 365 days a year. With all of Douglas’s issues he still loves to hunt and reminds us all of how precious are time in the outdoors is.” View the video below all about Douglas and Camo Cares!
What’s so special about this trip? It’s something that the co-founder of the Wired Outdoors organization, Kyle Schwabenbauer, said about this year’s Hunt-of-a-Lifetime recipient. Although he has daily medications and treatments, Douglas is excited about this trip. “It’s keeping him going.” Kyle said.
That made me think about how WE can use this strategy, too. Maybe our situation isn’t as urgent or dire as Douglas’s situation is. Maybe we don’t hunt moose, but we do hunt for our car keys, a better parking spot, a better job, and many other things. What can WE do to keep ourselves excited during our trying times? During the traumas and transitions that enter each of our lives?
We can, like the Hunt-of-a-Lifetime, schedule daily things to get excited about. We can do this by being on the lookout. No, not for wildlife or predators, but for HUMOR.
When we know and understand that humor surrounds us daily, we can better be on the look-out for it. And, when we seek it, we WILL find it. And it WILL lighten our days, our moods, our outlook, and our reactions during times of trauma and transition.
Today’s Comedy Around the World goes to Jericho, on the West Bank area of Israel. When I visited this ancient town in the 1990’s I was a little upset.
Not about the weather.
Not about the lack of language skills I had for this area of the world.
Not even about the various livestock that were riding the bus with us.
What was upsetting was how I and my fellow kibbutz volunteers were being treated.
“Move over, let them have the seats!” is what I understood the driver to be saying to the locals on the bus. He motioned them out of the way and ushered us into the available seats.
I felt bad. I felt the striations of the culture I was in. I sensed the inequality.
And I wondered not only how this nation would ever really get it together. But I wondered how ANY of us get together, work together, and progress together.
We are Samaritans and Jews. Arabs and Jews. Christians and Muslims. Gen-X and Gen-Yers. Typists and texters.
With so many strata how do you possibly keep a team together?
You lighten up.
You look beyond the schisms.
You focus on the commonality—the humanity.
You get to the baseline.
This week’s Comedy Around the World goes to Yosemite Valley, home to some of the most majestic granite landscapes the world has ever seen. Yesterday I hiked to Vernal Falls. At the top of the falls, people were milling around, held back by a rail fence.
I thought they were crazy! Why—and more importantly, HOW—could anyone get up there? “That’s way too far!” I thought to myself, “and besides it’d be way too scary up that high!”
But after wrestling with fear and doubt, I finally decided to go to the very top of the falls.
Yes, it was scary. But yes it was also majestic, mind-blowing, and marvelous. All at the same time! Behind me was an almost-still pool, feeding the river rushing over the falls. And various forest animals that hoped to catch some tourist-crumbs hopped right up to me and walked on by.
I looked down at the place I’d been standing when I doubted the sanity of this whole hike-to-the-top. I couldn’t believe it: It wasn’t really all that far—or high–at all!
Later onto the trail, I got an even better vantage point, as I could see even further above the falls than I had been standing the second tier of the climb.
I picked up a pink rock nearby, to honor my finding: That things that seem impossible can actually be possible. We just have to adjust our thinking, traverse the doubts in our minds, and just do it!
And, of course, the best way to do that is through creating a humorous environment. Try it today! See where it takes YOU!
This Week’s Comedy Around the World goes to yoga class.I’ve been dabbling in this sport/science/meditation ever since grade school when my mom showed us how to stand on our heads and do the plough and other poses.It helped that she had been a majorette because not only did we learn flexibility, we also learned how to twirl a baton quite well.
But back then, it wasn’t called “yoga.”It was called, “Look what I can do!”
At the end of each yoga class our instructor Libby leads all of us together in saying, “Namaste.” This word isn’t a chant.It isn’t psychobabble.It isn’t a cult initiation.
All it indicates is that I acknowledge the good—or, in some people, the potential good—in you.And, you in saying Namaste, do the same for me.
I use the sound of the word, “Namaste,” to remind myself:
*No more stains (on your consciousness, about today’s, tomorrow’s, or yesterday’s worries).
*No more stay (in your cramped, clenched, caged-animal body stance).
*No more staid living; if you have a grievance, tell the offender.
*No more stakes—in the ground, in my claim, in the heart, or in the mind.
Namaste.
Today’s Comedy Around the World goes to the world of television. Since I don’t have one, I read about it on the internet. And today I just read that my friend Michael McGlone is starring in a series of Geico commercials. Not only was Michael a fellow actor with me on the Kill Point on SPIKE TV. He is also a writer, voice-over artist, and musician.
The Geico commercials are compelling not just because my friend is in them. They are riveting because they are so funny.
Once again, humor operates to
1. improve profits by
2. increasing our retention of those products by
3. making us listen intently to the commercial What are you selling, saying, or doing that could be more remarkable by adding humor?
