Lesson 11 · Joke mechanics · 5 min · Timing
Timing and the pause
Silence is part of the joke
The big ideaThe half-second before the punch lets tension build; the silence after it gives the laugh room. Rushing through either kills good material.
Watch the pro do it
Watch forBargatze is slow on purpose. He lets sentences hang, looks at the audience, and waits. Notice the tiny pause before almost every punchline. Then try talking along with him at your normal speed. The jokes die.
Via Netflix Is A Joke on YouTube
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More pros doing it
Podcast Burr: a rant, a pause, then one blunt line. Listen to the rhythm more than the words. The funniest line almost always comes right after a short silence.