Recently someone suggested I add comedy to my business. I’ve done stand-up comedy, with some success, and the idea was appealing.
It IS true that overthinking is dangerous. It’s easy to talk yourself out of anything.
But if you think about it, we have no comedians in the business world. I did find agencies that promised to supply a corporate comedian. And I think some corporate actions are pretty funny. For instance, I got a recording that said, “If you’re having trouble turning on your computer, just go to our online help desk.” Entrepreneurship seems more personal.
Jokes about entrepreneurs don’t seem especially funny. Things like, “Entrepreneurs work 80 hours a week to avoid working for someone else for 40 hours.” That’s partly true; some people work 20 hours a week and do pretty well.
So here are 3 reasons why we don’t have business comedy.
- You need a worthy opponent.
If you listen carefully, humor depends on making fun of someone. It’s rarely a good idea to ridicule your competitors. It’s generally taboo to ridicule your clients too.
Many comics use some form of self-deprecation. They make fun of themselves. But you have to be careful. The wrong touch and you come across as an untrustworthy buffoon. - Most humor depends on violating norms.
Comedy introduces taboo subjects. It means being unprofessional. It means talking about things you normally wouldn’t say out loud.
I don’t think I’d want my clients to hear this! - Standup comedy takes place in a dark room with a spotlight.
Most comedians are pretty demanding when it comes to settings. Somehow jokes don’t seem funny in bright light or in a conference room.
What’s your experience with business comedy?