So what makes a Laughter Therapist?

Qualifications?

Experience of fringe theatre/the stand up scene/radio/tv appearances?

The ability to tell jokes to your mates down the pub or at work?

Well all of the above and many more examples could be given... but to me, a Laughter Therapist is best defined as:

Someone who can help you to laugh!

Straightforward and unbelievably simplistic I know... but is it? How many people are able to do that?

If you can think of anyone who you think is a potential laughter therapist (including yourself) and would like to see 'em get a mention here, send an email to me and let me know.

humourtherapist@hotmail.com

If I were to mention fingerless gloves, hat and wellies and say to you - "C'mere..." and "There's more"... surely you'd soon know the Irish Comedian I was referring to!

If not - you've either not got a television or are still in your pram!

And if you want more on Mr. J. Cricket before I share the email he sent to me - click the link below:

http://www.jimmycricket.co.uk/JCNew/default.htm

Seen it? Great stuff - now you're back, read on...

Dear Neil,

Its me Jimmy, myself, come closer to this e-mail!

Great to hear from you and I was fascinated to hear that you are a laughter therapist. I applaud it profusely and it's just what we need in the world.

I get such a buzz from going around the country entertaining people and in fact when I look out before I go on and zoom in on some people, I think how I could be making their day.

I get heart warming letters from people on how recently they may have had a bereavement and this is the first time they've been out in months and how I've cheered them up; and I tell you that is a better feeling then all the money in the world. My wife May said I was zapped to become a comedian -Only the other morning she brought tea and toast up to my bed, I jerked up my knee and knocked the toast all over the bedclothes! She said you cannot help being funny.

Of course, starting off can be a serious business. You need qualities like enthusiasm, perseverance - like any other job to get you through the initial hard time. Once you break through and get a bit of know how you get to love it for what it is and the job satisfaction.

No matter what job you do brining laughter will enrich it. The doctor who has a joke will help his patients get better, likewise the dentist. Even the Newsagents and his customers, and the salesmen with his clients.

Of course, the golden thread of Christianity runs through my comedy, so its all family orientated and clean and wholesome. Although I might send up my Irish roots and where I come from, I am careful not to have a go at any other race; needless to say that blue comedy and swearing near the knuckle are just not in my curriculum.

I think kids at a primary school level should have a bit of comedy time and I think if the teachers dressed up and showed snippets of a 'Laurel and Hardy' film, or a bit of Charlie Chaplin I think it would help them get through the day. Moreover, teachers should laugh more. Alright correct them and give them discipline, but its not the end of the world if a mistake is made, but a teacher who laughs with his class will still will retain respect but a warmth with his pupils.

I think a lot of good comedy comes from sympathy too. Norman Wisdom is someone I love and who was a great clown. Also, the Americans Jerry Lewis, Danny Kaye and Burt Lahr (he was the cowardly lion in the wizard of Oz). The audience warmed to them and, of course, when Charlie Chaplin gave a flower to a girl you felt sorry for the little tramp - Whatever scrapes the little tramp got into he just waddled off into the future in resignation and stoicism. Charlie was saying it all and if the underdog can get through life why cannot all of us minimise our problems. I do a routine in my act when I say there is no point worrying about life and I get bills coming through my door - last week I got a letter and it said, 'dear sir, you've had our double glazing for over a year and you haven't paid one instalment?' Well, I got straight on the phone and I said, 'you distinctly said it would pay for itself after twelve months!'.....You see I'm getting laughs because everyone gets bills and although the audience members have troubles and problems there is a guy who is even worse then us

Oh and count your blessings last thing at night. Thank God for all the good things and if you're an atheist concentrate on the positives: health, strength of mind and body, good friends and living in a country not under dictatorial rule, which reminds me of the story of the dyslexic atheist insomniac - he was up all night wondering if there really was a dog!

Good luck with everything and keep spreading laughter.

Your Sincerely,


Jimmy Cricket
(Wellie Boot Productions)

Highly acclaimed film director and screenwriter Shane Meadows who brought us "A Room For Romeo Brass", "Dead Man's Shoes" and more recently, the excellent "This Is England" sent me the following re: 'laughter':

Laughter.

Without Laughter I know I would do myself in. It would be like having a billion pounds and no shops.

hope this helps,

Shane.

Let's hope that Shane keeps laughing then, as the world would lose a very talented man otherwise - his films although not 'comedies' as such are certainly blessed with many funny moments and are highly recommended!

Also - check out Shane's website: http://www.shanemeadows.co.uk/

On more than a few occasions people came up to me after a show and said that was the first time they had laughed in years. In every case they had been suffering from acute / clinical depression. Some of them even went on to write and say that was the first step towards their getting back to something like a normal life.
I don’t know if it depends on the type of comedy, whether the more gentle observational stuff helps people to laugh at themselves. I suppose that savage racist comedy or comedy that demeans women and people generally might not be so helpful.
Again I often wonder if a severely depressed comedian can still be funny. Spike Milligan managed it but perhaps that was in his more manic phases.

Hope this helps

Mike H

Click the link below to see Mike Harding’s official website.

http://www.mikeharding.co.uk/

Don't tell me you don't know who Jim Bowen is... the next thing you'll say you've never seen 'The Comedians' or heard of a 'Bendy Bully'.

If that's confused you even more - check out Jim's site here to learn more about this super smashing gent!

http://www.jimbowen.tv/

Right... now that's sorted for the very few of you who haven't heard of this Living Legend - you can now read on - here's an email Jim kindly sent to me:

Hi Neil
There is no doubt that laughter improves quality of life but only on a temporary basis. Laughter is instant, for the moment, and is not a permanent feature of our daily grind. Reality is permanent, that's what we have to unavoidably come to terms with and laughter can only temporarily ease the pain!
As a performer it's as well not to intellectually dissect your efforts but just to hope that, if only for a short time, you can help the audience to 'forget their troubles and just get happy' to quote the Fred Astaire song.
Laughter/humour is an outlook on life. I'm not sure I could turn a 'grumpy old man' into the life and soul of the party however much I counselled him, be it as a comedian or psychiatrist.
Carry on with your research, treat it as therapy not as a science 'cos once you get theorising about it the soul and heart of it dissolves into academia.
Tommy Cooper was a great example of true comedy. How could you possibly analyse Tommy's act. Believe me I've worked alongside him and his whole performance beggared any logical investigation.
Bob Monkhouse was a great studier of the comedic art and all he could come up with at the end of the day was this:- "There are two types of comedian; a man who tells funny stories and a funny man who tells stories".
If you can decide which of those two categories Tommy Cooper was in then you've a chance of getting a great deal of satisfaction from your studies.
You won't affect the world in the long or short term but it will you out of trouble for a while, and you could feel happier!
I hope this small contribution will help a little.

"As I go to work every day I realize from the volume of feedback that making people laugh is not only honourable career but a much needed profession.

I am proud to be a Humour Therapist and to enrich people's lives every day. It's truly the best job on earth. Young and old alike can benefit from Humour Therapy.

You know what I love the most about Humour Therapy....I just have to walk in the room and people smile"

Soupy the Clown is a premiere children's performer and a Laughter Therapist in his own right. Soupy's performance includes music - songs and circle games; balloon sculptures: animals and hats; "hands-on magic" featuring the birthday child or a guest or his/her choice; truly wonderful face painting, and clown gags. Of course! He is best known for his characteristic laugh, keen sense of humour, and amazing patience.

Visit his website here to learn more:

http://www.soupytheclown.com/

My Learnéd Colleague (it always sound impressive that phrase) and co-presenter of the excellent 'Shaft Of Wit' Comedy Forum Vicky Coupe was the person who 'set the ball rolling' in writing to famous people... which naturally as a 'notion recycler' (or 'idea thief') I followed suit.

What am I talking about?

Click the link below to find out:

http://com4.runboard.com/bashaftofwit.fhumourtherapy.t31