Here’s the SparkNotes version of our conversation. I called my college friend Adrian Hernandez to get some third-party input on the word “funny.” Adrian had replied to my request for improv-related fears, saying that he worries about the pressure to be funny. (If you don’t believe me, watch an episode of South Park with your mom.) People’s perception of their own funniness differs sharply along gender lines, and we all know something that’s hilarious to one person might fall completely flat for the next. It means something different to everyone, and there are no rules about how it can be applied. So where does that leave those of us who are just…not funny?īefore we answer that, let’s zero in on the language we’re using here. Talented comedians get treated like rock stars.īeing funny (or being perceived as funny) undoubtedly can give you a leg up personally, romantically and professionally. Friends on social media get hundreds of “likes” for witty captions and comments. We use satire to discuss politics, religion and even tragedy. Socially, there’s a premium on being funny. It makes sense that this is the most common response. This week, we’ll look at the statement we heard the most: “I’m not funny.”
We asked our friends and family what keeps them from trying improv so that we can examine their answers and hopefully learn from them. Welcome back to our six-part blog series, eloquently titled, “Why is improv so scary?”
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