"If you ain’t funny, you better get funny!" Workshop & Standup Show

"If you ain’t funny, you better get funny!" Workshop

Humour is one of the greatest assets a speaker can have, and most professional speakers will tell you “if you ain’t funny, you better get funny”. But if you ain’t funny, don’t worry, because the ability to make an audience laugh is a learnt skill.

On Friday 26 June, We have a session from professional stand-up Daphna Baram then David Jones will present workshops on how to use humour in your public speaking. David performs stand-up comedy and runs stand-up comedy courses, and is the five-time UK & Ireland Table Topics champion. He was my workshop leader in 2011 and through me out on the circuit "at least 20" he told me! I've done more then 77 now.

Come and learn from London’s most experienced Toastmasters.

After the workshops there will be a comedy show, starring Toastmasters who have been performing stand-up on the London circuit.

Chris Boden and I will be the MCs for the show. The running order (there will be no break in the show):

Caterina Kostoula

Gary Ogin

Tony Winyard

Karthik Venugopal

Monica Liljeroth

Warren Sheng

Julie Kertesz

Mark Pratt

Justine Bornstein

Where: Concert Artistes' Association, 20 Bedford Street, London WC2E 9HP

When: 7:00 PM -- Arrive 7:30 PM -- Workshops. 

9:00 PM -- Stand-up show. 10:30 PM -- Show ends.

Not only promised to be a fantastic evening, it was indeed.  

From Lyn Roseaman, Area 45 Governor

Fill the well, refresh the soul

Monday in Riga, first photos in an album on flickr.

In Artist's Way, Judith Cameron says, we have to do "morning pages" to take out whatever is heavy to us and also get new inspiration by doing weekly "fill the well" diverse outings and discoveries.

I am not travelling week by week, but once or twice a year, I like to go out for a week and discover a new country, city, place.

This week, I am in Riga. With my stick, yes, need it in the centre's "only walking" cobblestones, alone - not alone, with my camera. And now, even my iPhone camera.

Lots to discover, lots to absorb, new inspiration to find.

Whatever creation we do, from time to time, getting new horizons, seeing new places, colours, people, we need to refill!

Story telling workshop : "the first time I..."

Tell each other one of many "The first time I..."
So many first times we have.

The first times are scary.
The first times are joy.
The first times are funny.

We have many interesting first time to reveal to each other and at the same time we forget to fear to speak in public and show some from ourselves. My experience tells me that either prepared in advance, or challenged add hoc, that makes a great experience.

And, at the end, each is convinced: personal stories work!

"Argenteuil en fête" but not this year

Some economies are dumb and bad and really not worth it.

1st may in Argenteuil France near the river Seine where the impressionist painters went to paint and relax near the river was always a great popular event of the town and its surrounding people.

Eating, preparing it, dancing and singing, comedy and photography, meeting and admiring each other's costume, selling painting or painting on place, boating, canoeing, so many activities each year! 

It is difficult to me to believe that this year the Townhall decided "economising" and not offer it. In fact there were mostly the work of so many in it who enjoyed it a lot as much as those who went. This year, I did not know they suspended it but I feel it is really a shame.

Wind, rain, problems

We all like quiet times.

Nothing disturbing our usual life.

I do too.

But with time, I realised, when the wind begins to blow and eventually the rain pours down our neck also, when the problems come on us - and we went them to go fast away...

Those are the best times, the most interesting times, the times about which we can show a picture, tell a tale, make a joke.

Story Telling Workshop, 23 March 2015 In English

Bits from my Personal Storytelling workshop
"Experience French Toastmasters club"
with participation of Toastmasters from many London clubs

Practically all those present spoke and told a "The first time I..." story and very well too, giving each other courage to stand up and tell us their stories. I have given a feedback with small bits of tips added outlining why each was good and what they used from which we can learn. (Tips not recorded)

Thanks a lot to Annelise and Odile for organising the meeting, inviting guests and participants. and for Odile (and his son Patrick too) for taping and editing this video. And all those wonderful storyteller participants of the workshop featured in it.

Another time will add some tips in a note, but I am preparing a book with 12 chapters in it about it.

Comedian's eye on getting old

Self portraits with comedian's eyes