Comedy & Motivational Speaking

The following chapter is from Tough Love: 101 Short Stories, Essays, and Insights to Improve Communication Skills

Do you know what I noticed?

‘What?’

I’ve noticed more comedians dabbling with motivational speaking.

2 people who stick out are Steve Harvey & Kevin Hart.

Why are these comedians entering a different territory in the speaking field?

They are going from humor -> motivation.

In my opinion, a lot of comedians can successfully pull off a motivational speaking career down the line.

I’m pretty sure we will see plenty of hybrids in the future.

Comedy & motivational speaking requires 2 elements, energy & words.

Comedians are aiming to make the audience feel a sense of joy through words.

Motivational speakers are aiming to make the audience feel a sense of hope through words.

Plenty of comedians had to go through hell and back to have a career.

It’s not easy to rise up the ranks in the world of comedy.

Very few public speakers get booed like we see in sitcom shows.

However, comedians are an exception.

They often need to perform in hostile territories.

A lot of the places where comedians perform have audience members who are drinking, tipsy or fucked up.

Therefore, as these comedians were rising, many had to deal with heckling.

They had to learn the art of falling down…

Then getting back up.

This is the rhythm for a lot of motivational talks.

The life scenario of people falling down…

Then getting back up.

Steve Harvey & Kevin Hart, whether you find them funny or not, have had tough upbringings to rise in their fields.

They are both byproducts of hard work & having faith in oneself.

Also, this keeps a comedian unpredictable.

The masses often like someone for a while.

Then lose interest.

Fall back in love with them.

Then lose interest.

That’s why it’s always good to remain unpredictable.

To have a bag of tricks.

The world thinks:

‘Whoa, I didn’t know he could do that too. Heck, he’s really good at that!’

It’s like when Drake first started singing.

Plenty felt iffy at first.

‘I thought he was a rapper. He should be rapping, not singing,’ they thought.

There was some pushback from hardcore hip-hop fans.

However, Drake pushed through.

Nowadays, singing is a skill set he is known for.

I’m sure more comedians are going to get into motivational speaking down the line.

Comedians are already great storytellers.

It’s not too much of a stretch to give others hope.

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– ArmaniTalks