By Luciana Rosa, VP Education Toastmasters Fonske Leuven
04.02.2024
I would like to share here my impressions and what I learned from this event.The workshop took place on 29th January 2024 at Café Sport Leuven. Or did it?
Philippe van Gucht, President Toastmasters Fonske Leuven, opening the night.
PIVOTING: THE GREAT IMPROV LESSON
The challenge started the day before the workshop. Our officers’ team got the news that our workshop master, Dennis Vansant, a professional comedian with years of experience in stand-up, couldn’t be present due to a health issue (Dennis, get well soon, we can’t wait for your insights next time).
Disappointment loomed, but not for long. Our team wouldn’t let 50 eager participants down. We decided to take on the challenge: how to run a stand-up workshop without our experienced comedian?
Our fellow Toastmaster Frank Turley jumped in and saved the night! He invited our member Alexander Pattyn to the stage and together they guided us through the comedy basics, thanks to what they learned from previous workshops and years of experience as members of our Toastmaster club.
OPEN MIC TIME: LAUGH AND FEEDBACK
It was time for members and guests to bravely take the stage to share their jokes and stories. And they were well prepared! The participants received “homework” beforehand: the assignment was to prepare a 1-minute narrative, with or without jokes, about things that make them belly-laugh, or that they deeply care about.
The result was a diverse source of laughter – character impersonations, funny props, playful jokes at spouses (even when present), nostalgia,dating, and workplace mishaps.
It was amazing to see people of all experience levels embrace their inner comedian and have fun with it.
After each routine, experienced Toastmasters and first time guests offered constructive and positive feedback. This approach created a supportive environment where everyone could learn a thing or two.
MY TURN TO BREAK A LEG
It was my turn. I took a deep breath and hopped to the stage – I had a cast on my left leg due to a broken bone. The expression “break a leg” was not a joke for me.
I’ve shared a funny personal story about how, for years in my childhood, I was mistaken about who my godparents were, and the unnecessary jealousy that I had harnessed watching my brother’s interaction with his (no, my!) godparents. Sharing it unlocked a wave of stories from others.
Turns out that many participants had a hidden funny bone, and by sharing a personal anecdote, it all came to the surface. This is the magic of just showing up.
Stand-up comedy isn’t just about perfecting punchlines and timing (although those are important too), but about tapping into the raw, funny moments that make us all human. Because it is relatable – relatability is one of the fundamentals of comedy. I’ve just learned that.
Frank Turley, our spontaneous workshop master of the evening.
For me this workshop was all about teamwork. From Frank stepping in to lead the session to the audience providing feedback, and, above all, to all who dared to be funny!
This teamwork spirit is what makes Toastmasters so special, and it was on full display during our own alternative to the stand-up workshop.