Office Humor

[Snickers]

Snickers here, FYI - I'm a gal, old gal of 64. Some of the ideas were great, files, fryers, you guys are so clever. My main problem, I'm nervous as all get out and rather shy for some reason when in clown, I think I have a concept in my head I need to be hilariously funny but I know I'm not, does that make any sense? So when doing one on one I feel like I'm bombing. If you tell me how you all got over the jitters and went on to be whatever clown you are, that would be interesting to hear. I only need to be there for about 1/2 hour. It's a group in a section, but they do all have their own cubies, yet when you walk into these sections, you see everyone, everyone sees you. My other issue, I'm stiff, have some slight paralysis in my left leg, so I would love to do greatly exgerated moves but can manipulate that well, probably where some of my shyness is coming from. So anything you care to share about having a less than agile body would also be of interest to me. Would it be offensive to ask if they've gotten their morning paper yet? Then whip out the toilet paper? Suggest break time, give out the brown E's? Dust them off but I'm searching for a reason to do that. I might bring a can with laughter written on it, if they don't laugh resort to my can laughter? Other suggestions I've heard is to find a large pencil, for my calculator. A bottle of white out, that's how I delete stuff. When I come in I'm going to say I'm here to work, I heard this group needed another clown. This is a company that does relocation of employees for large corporations across the US. Can you tell I'm anxious, look how long the note is, I can babble a lot when nervous. Thanks for listening and suggestions.

[ibimus]

Would it be offensive to ask if they've gotten their morning paper yet? Then whip out the toilet paper?

I've heard of this one being done before, and it's more of a funny "duh" moment than offensive.

Big fan of Brown-Es.

The best I can tell you in not to worry, and don't be nervous. (I am an actor, I know that nevers come easily and stay long past their welcome.) Before you walk in, take a few deep breaths (be sure to exhale too!), and just tell yourself how wonderful and funny you are. The one thing I've learned in theatre is that the people who seem confidant to the audience (even if they're sweating bullets and shaking at the knees) are the ones who do the best. Just relax! You're a clown...you get to make mistakes.

Oh, and if you have leg troubles, can you borrow a wheely office chair, decorate it up so it's clown-y, and then wheel around in it. Maybe put a steering wheel on the chair, and "drive" it around the office.

[saphireSue]

snickers, I'm 44, bad knee so I have to becare with the physical stuff myself, as far as being shy. Shyness can be part of your clown, I've seen some use it in there character and it works well. If you can get on Chat tonight around 9:00 est. I'm sure we can all brain storm, I do better when I can start bouncing idea around.

[SME]

Don't forget to bring an "Apple" for your computer! Or a notebook with pictures of apples on the cover for your Apple Notebook computer.

• Maybe have a can of "chips" for a pun on computer chips - a big bag of chips, and then a snack size can of Pringles= Micro-Chips. When you're done with the props, you can take a "Mega-byte" ---- Mmmmm .

Of course, these puns will go over better if the office is technically oriented in nature.

• Ask them if they know what Ethernet is. If they give you an answer, tell them that all this time you thought it was something used to catch the EtherBunny.

• You could bring your own Net, so that you can connect to the net.

For more ideas, you might try reading Dilbert comic strips. Not that I'm suggesting stealing someone else's joke, but I never understood Dilbert until I started working in a cube farm in corporate America. So, Dilbert will put you in a good mindset for the Truer-than-you-know comedy.

As far as your stiffness goes, play it out. Accentuate it. Over play it. "Yeah, i used to work in a cube farm like this, ... until that bizarre copier accident..." (then exaggerating your limp, or whatever).

Shyness? Same thing. A shy clown may get more response out of any quick quip they do because it is unexpected. But don't be so shy that you don't get involved. It's a fine line.

SME is usually all over the board - Shy when needed, Compassionate when required , but usually playfully obnoxious.

Good luck and have fun with it!

8)

[SME]

Ooo - here's a couple more....

Go get a standard mouse trap and get a cheap computer mouse from a second hand store and stick it in the trap, so you can show the cube workers that you caught a mouse.

You could get one of those key holder thingys (that you hang your keys on at home) - Your Key-board

Keep in mind, you won't want to take ALL of these suggestions, becuase you'll need a truck and movers to haul them all in!

[SME]

ok - I'm feeling rather energetic today in the brain storming area... I hope I'm helping...

Here's a couple ideas that I wanted to share with you just to give you an idea what the cube farm is like in my area...

We once decided to to put tape on the bottom of a colleague's mouse so that the ball wouldn't roll - also works with optical mice!

Currently, there is a cube that has the foam-formed packing material from 270 computers lining the cube wall to the ceiling so that the cube is now an "office" complete with the cardboard keyboard boxes taped together as a door and foam packing furniture.

We once got an 18" roll of shrink wrap and wrapped up a colleague's cube.

I've seen pictures of another colleague's cube in a different center where his counterparts tin-foiled EVERYTHING in his cube. It was pretty cool.

So, take these stories to help get you in the mindset of anyone who would ask a clown to come into there cube system!

8)

[SME]

Originally Posted by SME

ok - I'm feeling rather energetic today in the brain storming area... I hope I'm helping...

Here's a couple ideas that I wanted to share with you just to give you an idea what the cube farm is like in my area...

We once decided to to put tape on the bottom of a colleague's mouse so that the ball wouldn't roll - also works with optical mice!

Currently, there is a cube that has the foam-formed packing material from 270 computers lining the cube wall to the ceiling so that the cube is now an "office" complete with the cardboard keyboard boxes taped together as a door and foam packing furniture.

We once got an 18" roll of shrink wrap and wrapped up a colleague's cube.

I've seen pictures of another colleague's cube in a different center where his counterparts tin-foiled EVERYTHING in his cube. It was pretty cool.

So, take these stories to help get you in the mindset of anyone who would ask a clown to come into there cube system!

8)

Hmmm.... after reading that, I wonder how we ever get anything done around here.... Well, keep in mind that those pranks were many years apart

8)

[tim]

Originally Posted by SME

Here's a couple ideas that I wanted to share with you just to give you an idea what the cube farm is like in my area...

There was a business, had a farm, E-I-E-I-O!

And on his farm he had some cubes, E-I-E-I-O!

With a cube right here (point) and a cube right there (point), here a cube, there a cube, everywhere? A Cube, cube, cube, cube, cube, cube..... what's up with this place? BOOOOOOOOORIIIIIIIING!

Well, at least you're not squares.

At that business with the cubes, E-I-E-I-O!

And in these cubes they had a phone. Ring, ring, ring, ring, ring (around the rosey).

And on that phone there was a nuisance. Whine, whine, whine, whine, whine (gee, some wine sounds good about now - I never drink before noon, though).

With a gripe bout this, and then they ask bout that, how do I - get him off - the line - LEAVE ME ALONE!

Cuz in these cubes they had a phone, E-I-E-I-O.

Now, at your desk there are memos, E-I-E-I-O.

That say absolutely nothing (worthwhile), E-I-E-I-O.

To the trash, they go. To get burned, you know. Gee I need, a smoke or, some coffee, after this (it's SOOOOOOOOO stressful!)

Going to go take a break, E-I-E-I-OOOOOOOOOooooooooooooOOOOOOOO!

[SME]

Originally Posted by tim

There was a business, had a farm, E-I-E-I-O!

And on his farm he had some cubes, E-I-E-I-O!

With a cube right here (point) and a cube right there (point), here a cube, there a cube, everywhere? A Cube, cube, cube, cube, cube, cube..... what's up with this place? BOOOOOOOOORIIIIIIIING!

Well, at least you're not squares.

At that business with the cubes, E-I-E-I-O!

And in these cubes they had a phone. Ring, ring, ring, ring, ring (around the rosey).

And on that phone there was a nuisance. Whine, whine, whine, whine, whine (gee, some wine sounds good about now - I never drink before noon, though).

With a gripe bout this, and then they ask bout that, how do I - get him off - the line - LEAVE ME ALONE!

Cuz in these cubes they had a phone, E-I-E-I-O.

Now, at your desk there are memos, E-I-E-I-O.

That say absolutely nothing (worthwhile), E-I-E-I-O.

To the trash, they go. To get burned, you know. Gee I need, a smoke or, some coffee, after this (it's SOOOOOOOOO stressful!)

Going to go take a break, E-I-E-I-OOOOOOOOOooooooooooooOOOOOOOO!

nice one Tim!