You’re not funny. There, I said it. Sure you love watching stand-up comedy, and you think you’ve written some awesome jokes, but really you’re not funny.
The good news is that stand-up comedy can be learnt. That’s right. You don’t have to be born funny. Even Jimmy Carr thinks so!
But first things first, let’s figure out the reasons why you’re not funny. It’s likely to be one of the following:
1. Not Getting to the Funny Fast
Forget the backstory. Comedy legend Brad Oakes compares writing a joke to a cartoon strip. If Garfield is sitting in the living room, all that needs to be drawn is the sofa. No need for a coffee table, lamp, TV, and rug. The sofa will provide enough context.
Likewise, if you’re telling a story about waking up, getting out of bed, making breakfast, walking out of your apartment, walking down to the bus stop, getting on the bus, and greeting the bus driver, then your joke really only started when you greeted the bus driver. You don’t need anything before that. We know you’re on a bus.
A joke that takes too long to arrive at the punchline is like a story with no climax. Audiences have short attention spans, and if you’re meandering through unnecessary details or backstory, they’ll lose interest long before the laugh.
Fix it: Jump to when the action starts, that is, greeting the bus driver. British comedian Jeff Green says “10% of comedy is writing. The rest is re-writing.”
2. Using Shock Instead of Punchlines
Shock value might get a reaction, but it’s rarely laughter—and often it’s discomfort. Throwing in crude, offensive, or overly graphic content without a clever punchline is a sign you’re relying on surprise rather than wit.
Fix it: Focus on crafting a strong setup and payoff. A good joke surprises the audience with cleverness, not cheap tricks. At the Hard Knock Knocks, we refer to this as ‘Normal-Normal-Twist‘, where the audience expects a ‘zig’ but instead gets a ‘zag’. Shock can amplify a punchline, but it shouldn’t replace it.
3. Not Finishing on the Keystone
The keystone is the word where the punchline lives. It’s typically the last word, or last two words of the joke. Chances are, if your joke didn’t land it’s because the keystone was buried in the joke, and you continued to talk over the laugh.
Ending your joke on this key moment is crucial to timing and delivery. If you bury the funny part in the middle of your sentence or ramble after delivering it, you destroy the impact.
Fix it: Make sure the last word, or words, is the keystone. For example:
- Original: I am a child of divorce. My wife left me when I was 6.
- Improvement: I am a child of divorce. I was only 6 when I was left by my wife.
4. Sticking 100% to the Truth
The truth is just the departure point. Comedy often comes from exaggeration, absurdity, and bending reality. If you’re clinging too tightly to what actually happened, you’re limiting your comedic potential. Real life might be funny, but it’s rarely funny enough on its own.
Fix it: Don’t be afraid to embellish. If your friend’s dog ate your lunch, maybe it was a three-course meal, AND they left a tip! Push boundaries. Don’t get limited by what actually happened.
5. You’re forgetting about the audience
Comedy is about connection, not perfection. If you’re overanalysing every line or trying too hard to be clever, your delivery will feel stiff and unnatural. Top comedians build ‘connection, connection, connection‘ between themselves and the audience quickly with stories that are relatable.
Fix it: Relax. Don’t be afraid to test material and let go of what doesn’t work. The funniest people aren’t always the smartest—they’re the ones willing to fail, learn, and try again.