Laugh and learn: Speaker says to humorize is to humanize

Darren LaCroix not only can make you laugh, he can teach you how to make other people laugh. It's his job.

LaCroix preaches the value of adding humor to just about everything and leads Humor Boot Camps around the globe. His audience includes presenters, writers, educators, sales professionals and anyone else looking for ways to connect with people through laughter.

"If you want to be a persuasive presenter you need three things," LaCroix said via a Skype video call from Sydney, where he had just conducted a pair of boot camps.

"You need passion, energy and a gun," he said with a laugh. "You can persuade your audience to do anything."

Since packing heat isn't acceptable in most venues, LaCroix instead advocates humor.

"It's the thought process. Getting a message across and how to tell stories," he said. "It's not telling dirty jokes just to get a laugh." LaCroix lays out comedy writing principles and uses templates and formulas to get his message across.

He gave an example of comedy writing principals he uses in the boot camp.

"Take an old comedy line like, 'Take my wife. Please,' " he said. "When Henny Youngman says the line, 'Take my wife,' what he says and how he says it insinuates 'for example.' It creates the expectation. The punch line, 'Please,' changes that expectation."

A typical boot camp lasts two days, during which LaCroix uses a series of exercises to dig into the processes of humor.

"There are 17 exercises I walk them through, then I give them 30 minutes to work on it," he said. "Then I put them in front of the audience to prove it works. I want to demystify the process of creating humor."

The Boston native speaks from experience; early in the camp he shares his first attempt at stand-up comedy.

"At the very beginning I show a video clip of my very first time on stage. It was horrible. I give them hope and inspire them," he said. "When you humorize, you humanize."

LaCroix counts Boston pal and Las Vegas comedian Vinnie Favorito as a friend and mentor.

An in-person humor camp costs $795. LaCroix and a camera crew recorded an entire boot camp on a 10-DVD, 15-CD collection. It has an introductory price of $397, until Dec. 15, LaCroix said.

It will be highlighted during a "launchinar" at 6 p.m. on Sept. 30 at The Venue, 7850 Dean Martin Drive, Suite 503. The launch will also be webcast live. You can register for the free event and learn more about the live webcast by visiting LaCroix's site, www.getmorelaughsbynextweek.com.

LaCroix said he'd someday like to have a one-man inspirational comedy show.

"Instead of people walking away saying how funny the show was, I want them thinking about what they could do in life with humor and hope."

Funny stuff is serious business.

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