How to Be Funny on Purpose: Joel Morris on the Craft of Comedy

Unlocking the Secrets of Comedy with Joel MorrisSummaryIn this episode of Present Influence, host John Ball delves into the intricacies of comedy with Joel Morris, the prolific comedy writer behind beloved characters like Paddington Bear and Philomena Cunk. Joel discusses his book, 'Be Funny or Die,' shedding light on the rhythm of humour, the similarities between jokes and music, and the universal nature of comedy. They explore how jokes are constructed, the importance of setup and timing, and the challenges of creating comedy in today's diverse media landscape. Whether you're a professional speaker or simply someone who loves a good laugh, this episode offers invaluable insights into the craft of comedy.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Joel Morris and His Comedy Craft01:20 Discussing 'Be Funny or Die'01:44 The Mechanics and Philosophy of Comedy02:54 Comedy as a Universal Language06:16 The Journey of a Comedy Writer11:53 The Role of Persona in Comedy17:16 Writing Process and Inspirations23:02 Mocking Doc and Shakespeare23:36 Philomena Cunk's Interviewing Skills23:40 Favourite Person to Write For25:33 Comedy at the BBC32:14 The Craft of Comedy Writing36:03 Advice for Adding Humour40:44 Upcoming Projects and Final ThoughtsVisit presentinfluence.com/quiz to take the Speaker Radiance Quiz and discover your Charisma Quotient. For speaking enquiries or to connect with me, you can email [email protected] or find me on LinkedInYou can find all our clips, episodes and more on the Present Influence YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@PresentInfluenceThanks for listening, and please give the show a 5* review if you enjoyed it.Mentioned in this episode:Speaker Fee AuditFind out in less than a minute if you're undercharging for your speaking and where you need to look to fix any leaks with the Speaker Fee Audit. It's free to take and find out if you're missing out on money.