You will often hear people say that anyone can be funny. If that were so, the world would be full of Jerry Seinfeld and everyone would be laughing out loud. You can learn to be funny, but it’s not something that comes naturally to everyone. There are some tricks to the trade.

To be fun, you have to have a captive audience that wants to be entertained. For example, you’re not going to tell a joke or joke around with your boss after you’ve dropped the ball on a million dollar account. This is not a wise time. However, a properly executed unexpected prank can set the stage in other situations that will have your friends calling you the life of the party.

Real life situations are usually the most fun things you can offer. Check out some of the world’s most successful comedians. Bill Cosby, Richard Prior, Eddie Murphy and Kris Rock, all they really do is tell stories about their lives that make us fall out of our chairs. Granted, they have a way of doing it, but our lives provide us with your humor every day.

Another thing that causes laughter is a little pain and suffering. This is a time-honored tradition and is the root of slapstick humor. What was more fun than the Three Stooges when you were a kid? Someone getting slapped on the head or shot in the nose can make you fall out of your chair holding your guts from laughing so hard. Work on a few of these things and you’ll be surprised how much fun it becomes for your friends.

Quick wit is also something that you will find very useful when you are trying to be funny. Making a statement about the obvious with a statement to the contrary is always a wise move. Think Chandler Bing on Friends. His sarcasm would have fans in stitches on every show.

Does it take work to be fun? Hell yeah, but it’s so much better than being boring!