Telling Jokes Isn't Always A Walk In Central Park

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DAVID GREENE, host:

And our last word in business today is this job is no joke.

The New York Daily News has this story of a resourceful young college grad named Jason Schneider. He makes his living selling jokes for a $1 a joke in New York's Central Park. And he even has a return policy. If you don't laugh at 'em you get your money back. And so Steve...

STEVE INSKEEP, host:

Okay.

GREENE: Here's one he tried out on tourists this weekend.

INSKEEP: Fire away.

GREENE: What do you call Chewbacca when he's working with clay?

INSKEEP: I don't know. What do you call Chewbacca when he's working with clay?

GREENE: Hairy Potter.

INSKEEP: Oh. Oh.

GREENE: I think we want our money back.

(Soundbite of laughter)

INSKEEP: Oh. Well, you did say this job is no joke.

GREENE: That's true. Yeah. Well, the audience apparently laughed. And according to the newspaper, Schneider kept the money with that one.

INSKEEP: I'm chuckling inwardly.

GREENE: I can see. I can tell. So the 26-year-old Jason Schneider came to New York about four years ago. He couldn't find a permanent job, and so earlier this year he started telling jokes in the park.

(Soundbite of laughter)

GREENE: And the first day, he claims that he made $140 in six hours.

INSKEEP: Okay. And Mr. Schneider is very serious about his career. He says he goes to Starbucks at six every morning and spends four hours writing jokes before heading out of the park and seeing which ones will bring in the money.

That's the business news on MORNING EDITION from NPR News. We're here all week. I'm Steve Inskeep.

GREENE: And I'm David Greene.

(Soundbite of music)

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