When you’re crafting an authentic performance, you’re riding your character’s varying waves of emotions moment by moment. When your character is called to chuckle, giggle, or produce a belly laugh, genuine laughter will be available to you.

But what if you’re just not feeling the laughter during some performances? 

Maybe you’re on an audition and you’re having some trouble understanding your character, or perhaps you just received bad news in your personal life. It’s also
possible that your scene partner’s humor isn’t very funny, but sometimes there are moments where it’s just hard to be “on.”

Here are a few techniques to enhance your ability to laugh on command.

Find Your Genuine Laugh With Improv

In the uncomfortable cases when an acting partner’s jokes are coming off as stale and all you can muster is a fake laugh, it’s best to use your acquired improvisational skills and respond to what you’re given. 

In these instances, it can be appropriate to only laugh if you feel the urge to laugh – especially if the scene is being filmed and you have several takes. However, if you or the director are expecting a genuine laugh from your character, consider working with your partner to do some action, sound or expression that rings funny to you.

Another appropriate response might be to tame the size and power of your laugh. For example, a tee-hee could be a better response rather than bursting out laughing, especially when you’re not feeling it.

Consider the scene and what type of laugh is appropriate for your character in the moment, as laughing at an inappropriate time can change the context of a scene drastically. That being said, overthinking things can lead to a fake laugh, so take a step back and revisit the scene if you need to.

Inspire Laughter by Recalling Funny Moments

Another technique to laugh instantly is to draw funny moments in your life from memory and try laughing as you did in those instances. Think about what makes these everyday situations funny.

Recalling a familiar moment from a favorite book, comedy routine or funny pet memory might be the trick to spontaneous laughter. If using this technique, be sure to rotate your inspirations so they don’t lose their effectiveness. By going to the same well too often, these funny moments will trigger less laughter over time.

If you’re not feeling the humor, try digging deeper for the funny nuggets within the scene, or consider the sense of humor an audience member has about the interaction or situation. Then decide what type of comedic approach is appropriate for that moment.

For example, some people respond to slapstick while others are repelled by it. Giving people the laughter they long to hear can motivate spontaneous laughter. The generosity of the actor’s spirit is a rich and bountiful resource.

Use Your Body to Create Laughter

Another tactic is to use your body mechanically to produce a laugh. You know what laughing feels like, so think about the movements your body makes when going through motions of laughter. 

For example, start your laughter exercises by raising your eyebrows, then move on to a smile to get the facial expressions right. When you start making sound, try using your diaphragm deep in your belly to increase the breathiness of your “fake” laugh. Laughing this way might even trigger a bout of actual laughter. Practice this in front of a mirror so that you can see the results and adjust to get it right.

The Power of Laughter

To keep laughter close to the surface of your performances, you can practice the habit of laughing more in your daily life to reap the benefits of laughter. Visit comedy clubs, watch comedy films, tell funny jokes with friends, share funny stories with your peers or even watch funny videos on YouTube, TikTok or Instagram.

Laughing is contagious. Immersing yourself in humor will rub onto you and come in handy on stage or during auditions. Being around funny people might also help you refine your comedic skills. Laughter can help us get through difficult situations. Plus, it’s good for your mental health and emotional health.

Being in the practice of relaxing, smiling and doing activities you enjoy can help you access humor in your everyday life. Consider watching or reading less news, or at least reserve these stress-inducing practices until after your performances that require you to laugh on command.

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