The best way to remember and deliver an anecdote or humor line is to follow this strategy:

• Print out each humor line or story.  Make multiple copies when necessary.
• Title each humor line or story.  Number them when  necessary.
• Write the lead-in above and the lead-out below the humor line or story.
•  Mark up the humor line or story with different colored pens to aid in delivery.  Blue for the pause.  Red (underline) for emphasis.
• Tape record all the lines and stories in their order.

THEN:

• In the morning, read each one out loud.
• In the shower, rehearse each one out loud.
• When exercising, listen to the tape one time.
• When driving to and from work, listen to the tape one time.
• Before bedtime, read each one out loud.

When it comes to joke-telling, practice makes perfect. 

MEMORY HELPERS --  REMEMBER THE CUES.  One of the best ways to remember an anecdote or humor line is to internalize them.  VISUALIZE an anecdote by relating to it.

Relate to the anecdote by:

• Can you see persons in your congregation as the characters in the anecdote?  Do so.
• Can you picture the setting of the anecdote?  It could be a local bar, jail, or cemetery.
• Can you see the type of action?  It could be a misunderstanding, a fight, or other conflict.

VISUALIZING will not only help you remember the anecdote but help you deliver it properly too.

THE HUMOR DELIVERY RULES

• Be conversational.  Good humor delivery comes across as natural.
• Use little or no body gestures.
• Have eye contact with your congregation.  This usually happens by practicing the comic material.
• Be IN THE MOMENT.  Focus. 
• DO NOT make funny faces.
• DO NOT use accents.
• DO NOT BE A CLOWN.
• KNOW THAT YOU CAN BE FUNNY.

NEVER

• Repeat a twist line.
• Explain a joke.
• Tell your congregation that was a joke.
• Tell your congregation that it is time for them to laugh.  Believe-it-or-not, it has been done.

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