Funny You Should Ask?

Have you ever wondered if animals laugh?

If humour and humor are different words?

How a comic creates a routine?

If you have a question about laughter or have a problem or issue you would like to deal with in humour, I would love to hear from you. Send an email to derek@cheersproject.com

All questions will be answered and that's no joke!

Dear Derek,

I am recently divorced and have heard that humour is a very attractive quality in a person. Does this mean I have to learn how to tell jokes to get a date?

Signed Single and Struggling

Dear Single

I know having a good sense of humour gets you dates. It even gives you the chance to marry someone way out of your league (right honey?). Having a sense of humour is important, especially if you have a small bank account. Kidding...sorta…! Humour isn’t just about telling jokes, it is a state of mind. Do you smile when meet people? Do you laugh easily and often? Do you let the other person amuse you and not dominate the conversation? This is what a sense of humour is all about and will help you find someone that you can share fun with. But if all else fails, try a Knock Knock joke.

Dear Derek

I have a desire to become a professional comic. Could you give me some advice?

Signed Rising Star

Dear Rising

To have a career in the Arts you will have to pay your dues. Every comic I have met has performed hundreds of times before they even got paid. Mind you, I know terrible comics, but that is another kettle of shtick. The only way to get better is to take courses (yes they are available), read everything you can and learn by watching the pros. In Canada we have very limited opportunity to work, as we have few Clubs. You will find yourself getting booked in the strangest places, so have an open mind. Practice every chance you get.

If you really want to be famous, do yourself a favour and start out by working “clean”. It is easy to make people laugh by swearing, but it wears thin and limits who would book you. Good Luck! The World needs more funny people, and not just politicians.

Dear Derek Are there times when humour should not be a part of a situation? How do you know when you've gone too far? How do you back out of it gracefully if you do go too far?

Signed Cautious

Dear Cautious, There is never a bad time for humour, just bad humour for the time. If you are trying to lesson a tense situation, diffuse conflict or "cheer" someone up, humour is the best way. The problem is sometimes we use the wrong humour at the time and end up upsetting someone. In that case, the simple and best way out is "I'm sorry". If you really had a good intention then you will be forgiven and understood. If you are trying to cause pain you won't be forgiven. It is all a matter of intent. So go ahead…don't make my day!

Dear Derek

How will comics be affected by the signing of the Kyoto Accord?

Signed Ralph

Dear Ralph

I'm afraid we will pay much more for laughing gas.

Dear Derek How come people have different senses of humour? Is it a matter of intelligence or is it simply like being gay or left handed?

Signed Curious in Calgary

Dear Curious Yes intelligence, like size, does matter. Your level of education does play a big part in your type of humour. There is no research that connects your sense of humour with your genes. Jeans, yes, genes no. Men and women have distinctly different types of humour. The biggest factor of all in determining your sense of humour is where you live. The society around you will often set the tone as to what is considered funny. So if you want to be hilarious, try to be born in Saskatchewan, we are the funniest...

Dear Derek If a train left Vancouver heading east at 80 kilometers an hour, and another train left Toronto heading west going 80 kilometers an hour, where should the comedian get off?

Signed Comic Genius

Dear Genius If a train is anything like a stage, the comic will never know when to get off!

Dear Derek How do you challenge humour that is sexist, racist, homophobic, etc and not be a stick in the mud? Why do we laugh at this kind of joke?

Signed Fed Up with Fat Heads

Dear Fed Up I have agonized over how to give you a short answer to your question. I can only tell you what I would do and why. If someone tells a joke that offends me I use a joke to question their intelligence. "Wow, so that's what a Grade 3 education gives you!".

I can say that because I know what a person that tells this kind of joke wants. They want you to get angry or upset. I won't give them the pleasure; I want them to feel small, like the joke. That being said, we all are not as comfortable confronting someone. The next best thing is to give no acknowledgement whatsoever. Not anger, not laughter (nervous no doubt) nothing. The silence will be golden. The reason we laugh at offensive material is to defend ourselves. The same reason we laugh at funerals or in times of severe stress. It is not a laugh of joy, it is a laugh of "Get away from me!"

By Derek Wilken