All Good Things... Timing is...

2nd June 2020

Hello Chaps and Chapettes.

I think I know how you finished that title. “Timing is… Not my strong point!” Right? No?

(Source: https://smallbizclub.com/leadership/strategic-planning/another-personal-story-timing-everything-sale/)

Of course not, more than likely you finished it with the word ‘everything’, which is the sensible answer and makes absolutely no sense. Timing isn’t a building, it’s not a light switch, and I’m definitely not made of timing. I’d probably be better at it if I was.

That’s not the point of this blog though, it might be the point of another one. The point of this blog is to talk about what is funny and why I feel I am not (yet…).

Let’s start with that phrase, ‘timing is everything’. It’s not funny, not until you start picking apart what utter rubbish it is as a phrase - sorry, sorry! I cannot help myself. However, if you subvert expectations and change what people expect to be the norm, it starts to get a bit funnier. Shows like ‘Police Squad!’ with Leslie Nielsen and comedians such as Robin Williams, Sarah Millican and Lee Mack are brilliant at this.

(Source: https://tv.avclub.com/police-squad-testimony-of-evil-dead-men-don-t-laugh-1798173433 )

There are extremes to this, my friend. If I had said, ‘timing is a potato,’ it would have been ridiculous, yes, but only funny to some and confusing to others. If I’d have said ‘timing is time’ then, it’s less funny because, well, yes, you need to have time to make timing. Good Job. However, when you turn it into something a bit more relatable, it gets a little bit funnier. Everyone can think of a time when their timing was off, when they were late for that meeting, or reunion, or wedding (hopefully not their own!) yet there are several more factors that make it a bit more funny too.

If I hadn’t added the ellipsis, or the pause, or the suggestion that you know how that phrase ends, and simply written ‘timing isn’t my strong point’ as the title, then it wouldn’t have been seen as a joke, rather a conversation starter. It’s only when you build expectations and then pull the subverbial rug out at the last second that it at least rises a giggle, maybe a chuckle, hopefully a titter… No? Okay, well we’ll come to that…

Right now, apparently, since I seem to have ran out of things to say about the above. You see, dear reader, I think I’ve proved there that I’m not all that funny. I explain things in too great detail, I over-analysis the information and I come up with details that most start to yawn at after the words ‘let’s start with the phrase…’ My problem is that I’ve grown up with explainers. Not a terrible thing, I’ve learnt a lot from what they’ve told me when I’ve been listening, and when I haven’t it was just nice to have that nap time (I’ve even learnt how to do it with my eyes open now!) This has rubbed off of me harder than a dog’s well-loved pillow or stuffed toy (ask your parents…).

(Source: https://www.pets4homes.co.uk/pet-advice/dog-mounting-how-to-stop-dog-mounting-behaviour.html )

I find the details interesting and unfortunately, a large audience does not. In today’s auditoriums, the crowd want the facts as snappy as you can make them. If you can get it down to a few syllables or a couple of grunts, they’ll be happy. That’s not to say that the audience is stupid, the world is getting smarter everyday, but if aliens landed looking for intelligent life even they might struggle to rouse someone from their smart phone for more than a second or two.

So, a short phrase is key to a giggle, maybe even a laugh if you’re lucky. One-liners are good, and that makes it hard if you’ve got a long story that you know is leading to a funny conclusion, but will bore the pants off the listener (or reader) if you don’t give them something to get them jolly before the end (that was also a sex joke!).

So, in summary, good fellow, if you want to write humor, or tell someone something interesting, that might be long winded and dull, try this. Break it up with observation jokes, remember to subvert the expectations of the person you’re telling the story to and concen-TIMING-trate on the… damn. I guess I’ll have to keep practicing and hope I get better at it.

Side note, your audience will feel more engaged and a part of what you are telling them if you include them, as I’ve tried to throughout this, partner. ;)

All good things,

Love, Scaramouche.

X

P.S. if you haven’t seen it, watch Police Squad! If you have seen it, re-watch Police Squad! Police Squad! Was genius and it deserved more episodes than the makers were allowed.