Comedic timing, in acting comedy, is a difficult thing to teach in an article. No matter how many how-to guides you read, nothing can replace stage time. For this piece, I’ll try to give you some tips on how to develop comedic timing on stage. The comic moment in writing for the purpose of being read (eg humorous essays, books, etc.) is an entirely different animal and will be covered in another article. Also, I’ll assume you already know the basic setup and structure of the ending joke.
Write it down and then read it out loud.
Write the comedy part on your computer or paper, although I really suggest using a computer to make it easier to edit. The reason you need to read it out loud is to be aware of your natural speech pattern. You want to talk the way you normally talk. Another benefit is that when you hear your words, you’ll have a better idea of whether the part is funny or how to make it funnier.
Try to minimize your words.
Once you’ve written the routine, you can edit the words you don’t really need or add to the bit. A good test is this: “Is the material still fun if you omit this word?” If you don’t lose any of the funny stuff, then get rid of it. But what if your style is to keep babbling neurotically a thousand words? Well, if you can handle that and still be fun for the most part, then you don’t need this guide. But most likely, I’m sure you can benefit from brevity. Even Robin Williams has quick jokes when he goes into rapid fire mode.
Watch and learn from the best.
Look out for comedians who are good and have a similar style to yours. Try to imitate them but don’t plagiarize their material. Sometimes reciting their routine gives you an idea of their comedic timing. It also develops its own time.
Get in front of an audience.
There is no way around this, you have to test your material in front of an audience. It doesn’t have to be at a comedy club, you can do it anywhere. You could be at a dinner, a party, or just chatting with friends. Find a way to facilitate your material without sounding like you are “interpreting” it. Just be natural, the way you would normally tell a story to your friends. However, the ultimate test is performing it in front of a real audience that doesn’t know you.
These rules are in no way a guarantee to develop comic timing. Use them as tools or guides to develop your rhythm. Once you’ve mastered them, you can break them apart and create your own.