Shocking Goal (update)

For new readers to this blog you'll have to read the last entry to get a full idea of what I mean when I talk about 'shocking goals'.

However, to give the quickest of recaps; a shocking goal is when you set yourself a target that when you tell other people about they either laugh or tell you not to be so silly, or even better - you tell yourself not to be so silly!

A few of weeks ago I began a shocking goal to learn the art of stand-up comedy with the wonderful Stand-Up & Deliver group in London.

Whilst enjoying more laughs doing the silliest things during the first 5 meetings, a few surprising lessons have occurred to me;

1. I didn't realize how different stand-up comedy is as opposed to making people laugh at various points during another kind of performance, such as training, or singing. In stand-up there's just the comedian, the microphone and the audience - no power point slide show, exercises, music or song to back you up - just you and your joke.
2. Whilst I expected and looked forward to being challenged and working in my stretch zone, I've become aware how 'stretch' can mean different things at different times. Reading aloud lines-in-progress not yet finished or particularly funny is a challenge in itself.
3. Meeting 20 like minded people also doing the course, and finding that whilst we are different comedy is a great thing to have in common. The support and fun we share, having a drink afterwards, and meeting up from time to time to discover other new comedy is brilliant.

The showcase is coming up in early December and I'm now at the point where I need to get serious about writing good comedy. The others are already coming up with more and more really funny material, and that in itself is challenging me to do the same.

Onwards!

Setting Shocking Goals

Attended Johnny Apple's Sales & Marketing Group Monday afternoon where we talked about the need to have some 'shocking goals' - you know, the one's where people either laugh at us or tell us not to be so silly, but by achieving them we would move a huge step forward towards whatever goal we've set.

So, after week's of waiting and getting nervous and excited in equal measure I finally attended the first of what will be a 12 week stand-up comedy course 'Stand Up & Deliver' on Monday night - my 'becoming a more accomplished trainer' shocking goal!

As someone who loves to train and generally be in front of people I've always been intrigued by what makes an audience laugh, or to be more precise what makes a performer funny.

I've never had a problem with audiences laughing at me - sometimes even when I've wanted them too!

However, to be able to take ownership of this skill and know how I can develop it, whether training a group of coaches or business people, singing (I was professional for over 15 years), and also (am I really saying this?!) in stand-up comedy (writing and performing...).

Right now I'm reading 'Stand Up Comedy' from the 'Teach Me...' series, written by the course tutor Logan Murray.

Two more sessions next week in which I may be a talking tree, a party political dog wanting to spill the beans on what really happened at conference, or an actor performing Macbeth in less than 50 words - who knows!

Finally, how do I really know this a shocking goal? Because I'm still quite shocked I'm doing it!!What would your shocking goal be?