about Ivor Tymchak who uses stand up comedy to teach about assumptions and creative thinking

When I did my first few comedy appearances, I realised how the term ‘dying on stage’ came about. But I persevered and eventually I killed (in the business this means to wow the audience).
That was a great feeling but far more satisfying was a discovery.
I made on the journey. You see I had to write my own jokes and to write a joke you have to understand what jokes are and how they work. And do you know what I discovered? It was that assumptions play a huge part in the execution of jokes. I was fascinated by this and investigated further. And do you know what else I discovered? It was that assumptions rule the world.
Think about it. You drive on the left hand side of the road.
because we have all agreed to do that in the UK and you assume everyone will follow that agreement. Banks lend money that is not theirs on the assumption that not everyone will want to draw their savings out at the same time. Markets go boom and bust because of the assumptions we make about the sustainability of current trends.

On a more subtle level, the use of certain words can dictate our train of thought. Which would you choose; fresh farm eggs or stale factory eggs? In fact they’re identical according to current legislation (just ask a lawyer to define ‘fresh’ or ‘farm’).
Where do our assumptions come from? Going back to the assumptions about an audience at a comedy show, the reality, I discovered, is this; the audience actually want the comic to succeed because everyone has a better time. They don’t want anybody to ‘die.’
Here’s something else I learnt. By challenging even the most.
basic assumptions I could open a whole new world of opportunities for myself whilst still using the same set of circumstances. I’m going to repeat that because it is so important. By challenging even the most basic assumptions I could open a whole new world of opportunities for myself whilst still using the same set of circumstances.
So like Archemedes I had an incredible insight and I wanted to.
tell the world about it.
Allow me to introduce myself; I am Ivor Tymchak..

ABOUT

Forget the triathalon, or scaling a sheer glass wall three miles high or paragliding over an active volcano whilst wresting a shark; stand up comedy is the number one challenge.

You’re on stage absolutely exposed to a ruthless audience who defy you to make them laugh.
“Looks like fun” I thought to myself and decided
to have a go. I did this because I needed a new
challenge. I had been doing on-the-spot caricatures
for a living for a decade or so and I was getting a
little stale.