Contestant Graham Cairn Gallery view

True tale, personal tale, funny stories all together: work. Link to Speaker view.

Here is an example, from todays Witty Storytellers Online club international speech contest. Graham won second place and also one E.Humor Project achieved. The video I published earlier somehow did not work, I hope, this one will. 

A lot of near miss today in our club, Witty Storytellers Online Contest! And Graham also speaks of things happened forty years ago at the first radio station he worked. He got the second place in the contest with this wonderful speech. 

Funny is when all does not go well!

But our contest, finally, did. 

There were a lot of near miss. 

Appointments other places, they finished. Heavy snow cut the power in Oregon. Back last hour. Chief Judge still did not have power and used that of her car, all around big snow and she in heavy winter coat! Another contestant from Uzbekistan had her Internet restored in last minute, just hours before the meeting. 

So many things have to get together, but no one complained, and at the end we had a fine contest, lots of members and guests and fun and great stories. 

Sometimes, I do not understand, why in the Pathways Discussion Forum, I see so many complaining, instead of doing whatever possible to go on? To enjoy? To continue through all obstacles and prevail?

Comedy books to chose from

After printing the Level 2 and then the Level 3 Special E.Humor projects, lots of pages with images, that costs lots of money for ink, I realized I can copy and paste only the TEXT of Project pages and printed it : only 2 pages recto verso for each! 

I also reread them again. They have great advices, of storytelling, flexibility and need of adopting each time for the audience. Having prepared a few different ending and ending with the best, funniest story. How to pace and pause, and so on.

They do not have inside, so far, techniques of humor writing. This three books, I read again - this time on Kindle, as on book format too small for my recent eyeglasses, give a lots of different techniques, examples and exercises. 

There are other books also, I have about ten in all about Humor but I would advice, read one of these, study, do exercises. Lists, reversals, and so on, and be aware "one of ten" will be great. Do not expect all ideas, all jokes, all anecdotes to succeed. Do not let yourself discouraged if at first you do not succeed. 

Each audience and each place and time is different. As the projects say, try to orient yourself, feeling the audience and creating with them, even if you learned well the set. A set has bits (smaller stories, of one line or many lines) that can be combined in many ways. 

This blog is not a Comedy 101 or 102 etc so I will not go in detail about the methods I learned through books and workshops, exercises and writing and rewriting. Writing in "flow" whatever comes, free and then rewriting for best impact. Trying out then again. Recording, listening, learning from it. Daring. Leaving impact. 

Want more books to choose from? The Get Started in Stand-up was my first and I also did go to Logans comedy workshop, and later, comedy writing and even to an impro workshop. Very good teacher! He got us to relax, to look around with Comedian Eyes. Found the funny from the situations that happen. 

Exaggerate, but departing from a truth, we see or we feel, we remember. Create a "persona" for the stage. That persona is you and is not you. Not as you would speak, behave or open up in other situations. That persona speaks with your Comic Voice. Shows always of course an Attitude for all you speak about. Your point of view. 

Her humor, personal story was for the audience

Zifana Su, winner of the 2018 contest!
Second winner of international contest. 2018. Listen look. Humor, great laugh and clapping too. Moving with purpose. Her personal story, told with DOWN then Fun then ups and aplomb.
https://youtu.be/IlvLgknrYQs
Let us study the personal story and the humor of it. And then, my father come to my room, I have to ask you a question. (Suspense. Surprise) “How to clean the tomatoes sauce from the wall?” Study all the time the audience laughs and why.

I could not paste the video in my blog, only link to it.

Learned again humility

Those of you who got to the Level 3 of any path, or even finished one, may find the Level 3 Electives and find a new Project in it. It comes from the Level 2 of Embracing Humor. 

Here are the question it offers you, most of them are about Storytelling and only slightly about Humor.

Both explaining the huge importance of telling Personal Stories with a Message. Include Humor in it. If the humor works, wonderful, if not, we can continue without feeling and most important, letting the audience feel, we fell on our face. We make a pause, before and after the "punchline" where we expect a laugh. It comes or not. Next time, we adjust something, or... the different audience reacts to us.

If it works, a single sentence may be enough. In all case, we have to make sure it is a shared experience with the audience. And we can "pivot in different direction" as needed.

All projects in the Humor path does not have to have funny speeches at the end, even if it is good to try to incorporate in them for some anecdotes. I begun by telling the story why for 70 years I believed I do NOT have funny bones. Only the Mentoring Project, the first I used in Level 2 was to be "funny" and it did got laugh online. The next, again not specially funny project about Linking with the audience, got also laugh in London. Then, with the special Level 2 I fall on my face in Philippines. 

I told three stories I love and that in rehearsal got laugh, none was at my audience taste. First "I heard", second "so?", third they got really bored instead of entertained. I did get a laugher at the meeting end, when I told that in London I got laugh with a story that was not supposed to be a funny Project, and here none, with a Project asking some Laugh. 

Sign, how Low moments in our life can make laugh. 

I would conclude, with something I heard yesterday. We are climbing, but the interesting moments happen in the valley, not on the peak when we enjoy the view. 

Humor is a skill on which we have to work, work work to develop, a craft that needs time.

I needed to read this again! To go through the project and repeat looking at the slides.

Here is from a comedy book too, I believe each of us got to read at least one: `

Online club: Firebirds Collective, today

Lots of adventures and happy to be again in a Firebirds Collective meeting. I was asked to evaluate, and did. At the same time admired how at last minute all jumped in when needed. Mathilde not only TTM but become also TM, Samir "no role today" become, a great evaluation and even, at the end closed instead of the President interrogating all guests. Loved Assyl's background who not only was Time Keeper, but TT Speaker and TT Evaluator. And so on. I will jump in, as difficult it seems, and get back, have with them one more online club membership. 

And try to tell them one of my humorous speeches that I project to tell. 

This last days, did not go "online" only Monday and Tuesday (Got a Bouquet, Got Chocolate, Got Ill: chocolate older them me). Wednesday, made them laugh in London, Thursday, Judge in Bromley, Friday did not succeed to make laugh in Manila, Philippines, Saturday, Table Topic Master and today Evaluator. Yes, I speak and advance, but I also do my duty and roles as needed everywhere I go. So, it does not seem to me "rushing". 

Wake up sometimes at night, with ideas how to speak and what to tell next.

'Work It out" and stand up for Contests

Winner 2017 Toastmasters International Video Contest

Lorraine Tylor won with this 3rd Place 

I thought her storytelling skills online could give a good example now for all who are competing these days. She perfected this speech telling us in meeting, again and again. Each time adding something that improved it. 

Lorraine started regular shows Published for us to learn, called after her book Be Brand You. BeBrandYOU to IMPACToday Show' on YouTube from January 2019. 

"I will put it on iTunes and Spotify as a podcast. Each week I share thoughts and strategies to live the best version of ourself. The last week of each month is an Interview with someone who is Impacting their world" she wrote.

You can find them here:  http://www.youtube.com/c/LorraineTaylorBeBrandYOU

Julie at Lewisham Speakers "connects with the audience"

Level 2 in E Humor asks for "Connect to the Audience" and suggest, as we do know the audience of our club, tell them about something they do not know. What? I take them inside the first Comedy Workshop I did.

So much to tell! But times goes so fast. I told just a bit of all.

Notice that I did not show anything when at least three times at expected laugh, I got nothing. When they did laugh, I paused till it passed, let the waive go down. And learned, after my speech, at the feedback, that there was still one who did not understand what "Pardon my French" means. Use with care expressions! I was so proud: I learned it myself recently...

And I was told "if you tell your audience you'll speak French, you should." Aie! And you, do you know what that expression means? A new comedy bit I can do around that, or use it in the Cultural Diversity Project from another path.

Connect with the audience!

I did connect with the audience today, and in plus, they laughed and laughed. I did take them where only one in the audience ever was, to a Standup Comedy Workshop. The first, I was in winter 2011.

Only had time to tell half what I had but even like that it was enough, and they could not know all that I did not tell. So much more to tell. Material for other times, other projects. 

Now I have only the most interesting, the new project to deliver : Know your sense of humor

I told things I did not expect, to link all together and be on the theme of the meeting, witch was Challenge. Majority of those present, Toastmasters and Guests loved it. And I had strong long laughter. Feels good, again to make people erupt in laughing.

Of course, I put away everything
between me and the audience

What I found that one expression, I learned lately but loved it "Pardon my French" was misunderstood: my evaluator expected me to speak a bit in French after that. And not to use two four letter words instead, also he did like how I used them. But he enjoyed, even if he was expecting me to speak French. He was not of English origin, as I am not either. True, even I had to google what "pardon my French" means last week! (Excuse the crude language that will follow.) 

And I did bring my audience to a place they seldom went and only a few of them. So that part was also a success. 

Know your sense of Humor is also written already, I even rehearsed it telling a few times to people who come : they laughed, liked. Will have to find now a proper club to tell.

Naked backside, as last memory of my workshop "pals"

Here is the link to an old speech, my first Communication Stye true story told at Witty Birds in May 2017. This is the story I want to tell again: does it need to be told again? How would I do it?  So many memories from that first workshop!

It was very difficult for me as the young boys, who did think they were men, behaved like misbehaving boys around me, got so many wrong ideas what is a woman and specially an old one! To the end, we had difficult communication. Even, after I begun to use, from time to time, their language.

It was them. And me. Here, I am taking the picture

My last memory of them is our showcase: I was the only one not very scared. In the middle we went out and made some pictures. 

With my small camera, I made of them and then went between them and one of the "man" took a picture with me between the others. 

What was my surprise when I got home to look at the picture! 

Guess which one shows his naked backside in the original photo

One of the boys showed in it his naked bum. Naked backside in the group photo the other one had taken! 

The one all in right with his black coat.

What to do? I had to cut it in half in vertical, cut out all of us from middle down. But I did it! Finished the 8 week afternoon workshop and learned.

Survived. 

What a memory indeed! I got my certificate and looking back, I realize how much I learned. Not only communicating with a Standup Audience but with anyone different then me. Between all of them, only the one near me went to continue Standup and once he was competing when I was too. As I was more authentic, the public choose me as the winner. 

Let me finish with my best teacher giving me the certificate at the end of our showcase.

Yes, I was tired but so satisfied. I survived. I gigged and all the audience did laugh. My first showcase was a success. More: I learned from it! Even learned that some last minute improvisations added work very well. Suddenly I am transported at Pirate Castle, hear the noise the laughter, see the public. It was wonderful.

Roadblocks Video, take 1

I am not sure if it is better or worse, but I try to tell what I wrote and showed yesterday.

Of course, before all, we have to stop the Popup Blocker as all projects do open up in a popup. And before telling the Basecamp "I finished" we have to go through all the tasks and give the speech too.

If I do this day after day, I may get better and better, more fluent on telling, explaining all. Perhaps even better of taking some of my old posts and making a video, and in some case, a podcast from them.

Newcomers roadblocks

Now what? Even when clicking on the Beginning of the Project, he did not see how to go farther. No navigating seen in the small rectangle that opened!

One has to stretch the small rectangle not opened enough, in vertical and horizontal, or click to open it whole window, till the arrows right and left appear, and the go to selection on the bottom. 

All the pictures and explications from this post, are there already in my blog, but in different posts and indeed, I have many posts now. Even if the search box is there, not easy to find. 

Yesterday, I had to half hour zoom meetings with two wonderful people, toastmasters who are presidents of their club and want to help to introduce Pathways "more", but themselves, even after a year of "on pathways" had too many things not clear to them. So it did become clear to me, I have to write this post, and list what I observed to our interactions. Sincerely, in the 22 month of using it and finding ways to solve them, I forgot how many roadblock there are on the way who begins. How many things one have yet to change on the user interface to make it easier to use.

I do tell often, that the Tutorial and Resources has many videos explaining different, sometimes strange features but how to access it? Even when the grey title appears, it is Not Clear or Apparent, that we have to choose the GREY TITLE to arrive there, instead of click on the Title bar.

For any explication do not hesitate to go UNDER the Tutorials and Resources clicking on the gray. So many Tutorials as videos or as texts and Fillable Evaluations there!

See bellow how the project window should look when you open a project in order to navigate easy through it and where and how it has to be stretched.

I did tell my browser to open the windows that popup in a new tab and whole window, so all this trouble is behind me. He at some time, clicked near the small window and it disappeared behind the other one showing his levels. Happy, he knew how to bring it back, see all the open windows. Not everyone knew! And in plus, finally understanding, he opened up with a click on the upper right corner rectangle the project big. 

As the speech was given, all tasks accomplished, we have to go back to the Assess Your Skills After (or even why not the before first if we did not yet answer it before). We can also use the Go to Selection, jumping to the self assessment after, which is the last in every project.

And  then, there is a grey more or less transparent rectangle, that hides the Assess your Skills-After (and the same for before). Now What? We have to click on that grey rectangle to make it disappear. Why? Why should the questions and self-assessment points be covered with grey? 

Then, it is not clear why suddenly, instead of the arrow right to progress, we have to progress with NEXT to answer the "next question". Nor it is clear that if we miss to answer one of the questions, but not clicking on one of the numbers 1 to 5, we will not have done all to close a project! 

It did happen yesterday! My President missed one answer as he wanted to go fast and the SUBMIT did not appear! How could he knew (other then I was there to tell him) that unless the Submit appears and the comparaison, the Base Camp will not understand that the project was done.

This time, I learned something else. He missed not the last question but the one before it. I looked very careful, and proposed to click on BACK, and answer that question before it. What happened? The SUBMIT appeared there, not at the last question. 

We got the small X that the project was closed. Now, we did the same with the last project from the level 1 which was also done but not declared closed. It went faster, and better as now become clearer what has to be done. 

Now that all projects from the level where declared "done", he answered even to the Evaluate the project to tell his opinion about to Toastmasters, and the projects transformed again to Launch, but with the small x near them. 

And now? Yes, then it is only then we can access the last item, which is not a Project, just in order to tell, again! that the LEVEL IS DONE. That also has to be first Activated, then Launched. Then a page appears as a popup again, why? and after reading we do what? just close it! It took me some time to realize that I have to close that page, get rid of it, before I arrive back, and finally, one can click on the button that now shows, Mark the Level finished. Only then, the message is send to the Base Camp and Base camp Managers to approve the Level. 

At this point, we changed the Show Screen in Zoom, and I did show him, how I entered as Base Camp Manager, opened the Approve where his his finished Level was now waiting for approval. As Secretary, I had the right, and clicked on the green v (alas very near the red x) and did approve. I even showed him how did I exit, through the small wheel, and got to TMI Leadership/Club Central/Club Name/Education Awards, and added the award that he wanted to see between his other Awards from now on.

Once the Level Completion was approved, not only it gets also a small x but also we may view and print or save the certificate.

As to me, I finished Level 1 of EC, the 12 February, here is my certificate.

And begun the Level 2 with the third Project, the one I knew what to tell. The others two projects I work still on. As you know, we can do them inside the Level in any order.

Probably, there are more Roadblocks on the way of working with Pathways, but I believe those are the most annoying if we do not know what to do and how to do it. 

What Path to choose if you do not have yet or as your next one? Choose Engaging Humor! And you can do in almost same time as another we do not have to wait till we finish all five Levels of what we already have!

Prepared for online meetings

If you enter my living room, at first you can be surprised. 

I am so used to it that I do not even see it any more. Most of one of my wall is occupied by a green tissue.

Do you know what it is for?

To be the backdrop where the pictures I want to project behind me when I am online in zoom to be projected. 

On a round table, I have my laptop on three big books so the video is right at my eye distance, that make me look as if I looked straight to my audience, wherever they are. A small overturned basked it there too. When I want to stand, I put my laptop on the top of it. Sitting always in the armchair otherwise, at some distance from the wall.

Daytime, the light comes from my window on my left side, evenings from the special "daylight lamp" that is 45 degree at my right and turned away from my eyes. The one you see in profile at the right end of this picture.

Most of the time, nowadays, I put my blue tee-shirt on myself, my "online tee-shirt" and a dark blue background so all one can see, is my hair, face and arms. At the beginning, I tried out different backgrounds that I use still from time to time, when I do not tell anything important. When I do, I do not want the audience eyes distracted. I have borrowed this one from the French president, Macron speaking a day. Took out from it the two flags and have a few different darker and lighter versions of it to use. 

When I want to show off, of course, other backgrounds come up suddenly behind me.

Here is one of the possible backgrounds, but as I am photographer, I have a lots I tried out already. 

This one is a borrowed one. That one can use, is it from book Johnathan Livingston the Seagull. Who loves to learn, to exercise new skills, not only work for eating like many of his family and group does.

It was at my first ever visit to America, that my landlord, hosting me for two weeks gifted me with the book, telling me "you are like him, always ready to learn more". So many things I learned since I begun online clubs and even more through Pathways. 

The last three books on design and user interface I begun to study. They can be applied to many things, also to a blog and arrangement inside a post. 

Some toastmasters in the Pathways Discussion Forum complain that the new program makes them use too much of their time online. I wonder, if they read at all? I read nowadays mostly online and when I do not, I listen. To audiobooks. But if instead, they spend their time with family, wonderful. I hope, not with the television. 

We do not have to spend a lot of time online to use pathways! All projects can be downloaded, read through computer or printed and taken far away from it. We have more work to do with our projects then before the manuals? Yes. We also learn a lot more! How much and what, mostly depend on us. We are all different, can apply task different ways.

Standing up, first laughs and preparing Humor project

Humor path, humor projects? 

The first special Humor project speaks of Telling and Collecting Personal Stories. 

"As possible, some stories and anecdotes, longer or one liners, where there is a message, an attitude we have, and could make laugh."

It seems, I had a good beginning at Witty Birds online. I tried again, after two years, to stand up (my computer put on a basket farther) in an online meeting. And as you see, I did caught my audience laughing. 

I cut from this picture the last row where they were only names, TM not showing faces.

Behind me the blue is projected on my green screen, I just put blue so my hair, face and arms stand up clear and the added background does not disturb the audience. Of course, in "Gallery view" you see here, I am small. For me the important was to see not myself, but the audience reactions. They did enjoy what I said at the moment. And this above was not even yet my first required Humor Project, just my story as Protégée.

Now, preparing my first Humor Project, after having begun to collect my stories, humorous or less humorous. A sad personal story well told can also make laugh. 

Here are three images that I may or not show, that resume the three short stories I intend to tell for that project. Not yet determined a place, a club to tell it, I have to find the best audience to react and the best club to record it for me. When I am the one that tell, always forget to record...

(1) Hammering on my window, is a true personal story, picture by myself. (2) The fancy car stuck on a dirty village road, is a story my father liked to tell, it also has a small hummer in it, that has to be put in the mind as I did not find a proper image for it. (3) The last story found and adapted from internet, is happening in modern times, one I told again and again as Pathways Ambassador to make Toastmasters Relax: it worked. 

Are you curious, how they link together? 

Should I show this picture or each one after other? Should I begin with the oldest, my father story first? Finally, it is not the chronology what is most important, but in which way the surprise will be more effective. Does the last picture kill or help the whole? How can dust show when the car is stuck? That will be my next speech.

It is a wonderful process when a story is cooking, parts can be moved around, words changed, decisions made. I told the story, without the middle one, the car stuck, many times as I was going around as Pathways Ambassador from club to club. Showing only the repairman with his small hammer at my window, that was in fact my misdirection, without any words attached to it. I did succeed to make laugh and by that also lower the tension. 

Valentine? Went out with... my iPhone. What I learned

First, I added an old picture, taken when I went back first time after 50 years in my hometown. I was looking from the bridge to my old house and apartment windows a bit sad. Then I suddenly see this two pigeons kissing and kissing. 

The daffodils were taken yesterday afternoon, when I finally went out in the garden between the buildings. When I had seen they are already out and blooming, I could not resist. Dressed, put on my shoes, went down the 3 floor steps and behind my building, on the uneven grass, slowly. Took about 30 photos, at the end, some of myself, very happy to be out. Arrived back, without falling down.

In my different pictures taken, some where to show that we could look at different things. It depends on us! Here is an example of the pictures I have taken after the many flowers taken through different angles.

Instead of the beautiful flowers taken before, I show that I could have concentrated on the trees that are still bare. Also not all are as you see in the second picture. Or the bench I did not sit down, or those daffodils that were not, yet blooming. But I did not! Tried to look at what was enchanting me, and was happy, I succeeded to go out.

First I went from flowers to flowers, some bigger, some tiny blue. Then I sit down in a chair, near the table you can see and tried to take the profile of some flowers. I have to admit, that I had difficulty to get out and up from that armchair. But it was worth.

Do you see any analogy of those complaining about Pathways? They see all bare and bad. I would say, refuse to look to anything else, to enjoy what they could if just looked around. 

Even my not yet opened tiny daffodils, near the back entrance looked different, when taken from another angle. There is so much to enjoy in the pathways projects! Why stop and complain and complain about it as alas some do in the Pathways discussion forum, again and again. 

Something good come about it, this morning. 

I got Toastmaster from Malaysia who invited me to hold a web meeting with those who need encouragement around her. And another, who needed encouragement from Philippines. And a wonderful email from Taipei. Another from the President of a chartering club in a village, in North England. 

We advance all together. 

As for me, so much joy with my new E. Humor path! Got now my first "humorous speech" written down, first version of course so far. Title, "A small hummer". Psst!

Julie Standing "The Nose" (protégée)

Visit at Witty Birds, Tuesday early morning. Beginning to answer two minutes Table Topics, then obeying Carole suggestion, standing up online perhaps the first time.

Still not as confident standing, but I will get there. And I have to put my baskets where I added my computer farther. Did I need to show more of me? Will try different ways. But the sound goes well without special mic. At least, when I speak. It was recorded Gallery view with all around me. 

Julie First Eval/Feedback story delivered at Global Trainers Online

This was supposed to be an Instructive tale, not a Funny story. Next time, I will have to make it clear before I begin. It is good to make the audience laugh (they did laugh at the end when I told that I am alas obliged to stop), but the project Know your sense of Humor, tells that first we have to establish the contact with the audience. 

In fact, in the video Mistaken identity, one can see that I have waited 2 minutes and half, before taking out my tee-shirt, and the audience begun to laugh from then on. Later, I learned to go for laugh a lot faster. But this storytelling even was not a Standup, it was made me go and learn about "how to make laugh when I WANT It, where I want it". 

I have to learn how to present, we all have. I believed they gave a total 15 minutes I requested in the agenda, they did not understood the same. A lot more communication is always required. 

Why do I go back to that event of 8 years ago? That was the decisive moment for me! For the first time after 70 years believing myself unfunny, I begin to believe "perhaps?" It is the beginning of my story with Humour or Humor? My Comedy journey begins there. 

Level 2 will tell about the discovery of Standup Comedy by me, I took one after other many workshops, till went alone out to gig. 

Story Collection begins at Engaging Humor L2

I arrived this morning to the "real" first project in the Engaging Humor path and with it comes another gift, I did not see in the level 3 electives of the same project. But from then on, as it is aside from any path, can be used any time. It is also linked to all projects in the Engaging Humor path!

Here it is, opened but not yet added to it. After reading about it, I had to leave the Project of level 2 and open my Collection. 

There can be more collections with different titles each, and containing more then one topics

We add our emails, and once it has a title, a synopsis, we can begin writing. Then, send to our email, print, and of course, do not forget, Save it.
In the Project Discover your Comedy Style, we have to write at least the first story in it. Done! I did it! I did it! Very happy to have a new and elegant tool, easy to use.

Let’s hope, it will work as it should. It does have some growing problems, yet. I could open and add to it or change. Did not yet to print or email. But could be my problem here. My printer complains about ink, and some how my email seems not connected to BC

Be aware! When the Story Collection link is selected, the Project closes. But... the Story Collection is present and can be used during any time. 

In plus, at the beginning, there are screens explaining how to use, not sure needed, as it is clear and easy. Here is one of the screens, they come a bit fast for my taste.

And yes, here is the Assignment for the Project. Screen taken before I got to my Story Collection, gave title to three first stories, and wrote one in whole. Printed, saved, send through email too. Hurrah! A new tool and a new discovery.

It was so worth finish the first Level and arrive here to have great surprises! This morning begun with me STANDING to deliver a rather humorous story about me as mentee at the Witty Birds with great audiences and a great feedback. Then, Base camp was "on" again, and I could get into it, and read with attention the first new great Project. 

I am sure, it will help all, and even me, used to humor to learn to practice, to reflect.

Books about Humor, research and present

There are so many books about Humor, Comedy writing and using! But I had to choose some to tell about in my Research and Presenting Project. This one I showed on screen.

Why is the Obstacle is the way between them? Obstacles make up the bones and meat of stories and comedy too, providing the problems and the humor of them also. 

The Comedy Writing Secrets is one of newest, the Comic Toolbox one of the most popular. 

Get Started in Stand-Up Comedy, from Logan Murray is the first I read as well the comedian / workshop leader with whom I studied the summer of 2011. In fact, I have taken with him, after his 6 x 4 hour workshop and showcase, a Comedy writing workshop, shorter this time, later, when I found myself out of inspiration and to add to my set.

Yesterday evening, I went online to Royal Road toastmasters and told about the books, and some of the things I learned. I also showed some slides with citation from one of the books. Krishn who gave me feedback, told me great, lots to learn, but too much. 

Use one learning for each speech. So which learning should I add here? 

Sometimes, no need for a joke: just tell the truth. Of course, we can exaggerate it too.

And here is the short video of Krishn evaluating my presentation, which, alas was not recorded. Next time, will I or will I not speak when there is no possibility to record it? Perhaps, I could have but when I speak, I am preoccupied by other things then recording.

Julie Embracing Humor Path Icebreaker

Finally, we were only three present when I delivered my Icebreaker, the 11th Pathways Icebreaker, from the E. Humor path. My aim was to explain my path towards the Humor. 

Elizabeth offered me a feedback for it. See bellow. 

Friday with Zaldy Co listening and Toastmaster of the meeting

Elizabeth came also next day to listen to my second speech!

MY CAREER, delivered at Firebirds Collective

At age of sixty... 

The theme was "Careers"
in Firebirds Collective online meeting this morning

Here is my second speech of the Feedback and Evaluation
with applied feedback from yesterday

This is the speech that Coach Carole evaluated and I published her feedback today earlier.
I realize now, that next time I should show a full screen not on a page.
We never stop to learn...

The video of the storytelling even in Canal Café Theatre, before 60 audience,
has been seen till now more then 600 times, it is called Mistaken Identity.

Coach Carole Feedback at Firebirds to me

Today, I was Guest Speaker at Firebirds Collective and delivered my second speech from the new Humor path Level 1, Project Evaluation and Feedback. 

My Icebreaker was Friday, at Emperor's online meeting, and I will add it here another day.
 and also my first Evaluation and Feedback speech, delivered Saturday with Global Trainers Online. Now, I will have to find a place to evaluate someone, and also deliver my Research and Presenting, which will be about Comedy Books I found and learned from.

Bellow, is the wonderful feedback from today, by Coach Carole. I did succeed to take into the consideration two suggestions. The Toastmaster of the meeting was the one who asked all to unmute their mic so we can hear them not only see, and not me asking that at the beginning of the meeting. Secondly, I succeeded to incorporate only 2 minutes I have chosen from the Mistaken Identity video, that was shown to illustrate what propelled me to begin study Standup Comedy, 8 years ago. 

And now, I will have to learn, Carole is right, how to Stand up while I am presenting in an online meeting! Learning never stops. 

I begun to study also the Level 2 Know your Sense of Humor, but that Project will take longer, we have tasks to do before delivering. I do have it, as it is also part now of the Level 3 Electives of other paths where I could find it, print it. Begin to study it.

Very excited about the new path, but after this rush, will go slower. Work deeper. The new path gives me more energy. Also, I will have each time to make clear, which speech style is "humor" and which is "informative" or "persuasive". A lot of Toastmasters decided to get the new path! 

New Level 3 Elective from L2 Engaging Humor path !

Always worth, visiting Pathways Discussion Forum and its discussions. Thus is how I discovered: 

"Know Your Sense of Humor", Level 2 Project from our new Engaging Humor path is present from now on as Level 3 Elective Projects in every other path!

So, if you are already progressed so far in any path, you can go and as I did read, it study it!
As I decided to go through all the Elective Projects in the MS path, I had to go there, but just to be sure, I opened other paths too, it is the last project present in all L3 electives.

It does say, what I always believed: best to tell a story from your life. Explaining also why.

It validates my not opening my last two speeches with a joke. Telling it, eventually later. If or when we already connected with the audience, then why not? otherwise, first connect in whatever way you already know how. Even by a pause and looking at them.

Short or long, we remember better stories then "jokes", and more is personal, more easy is to commit them to our memory and play the emotion. 

Of course, we can exaggerate, use more playful body language, but still I think not forgetting passing our message. I will open now a new notebook with new (and old) stories that got potential, that could be incorporated, used, re-wrote, shortened, made sharper.

Another emphasis on personal storytelling! 

I feel more and more our online club reason: Witty Storytellers Online meetings are an ongoing workshop to learn and exercise at least twice a month, storytelling and as possible our wit. I fell all energized yet again.