How to Use Humor in a Speech Opening
Published 2017-03-20
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Unless you are a truly hilarious person, however, straight up joke will not likely work.
At the same time, I'm 100% in favor of using lighthearted humor to grab an audience's attention.
How do you make a funny speech without telling jokes?
1. Quote somebody funny. Quotations are great and you can find humorous quotations for your attention grabber. Be sure to say "As [blank] once said . . ." as you transition into the quotation. That will help to transport your listeners. Position yourself so that both you and your listeners are focusing on the quotation and the person who said it. Don't make it sound like you are the one saying it. That will help listener's hear the other person's voice in their heads and take the attention off of you as the joke teller.
2. Tell a lighthearted story. Stories don't have punchlines. They have situations people can imagine. Most funny stories have a goal that the people in the story are trying to accomplish and the obstacles in the story become a funny series of problems they have to overcome. As long as the end goal is lighthearted, each obstacle or issue the people in the story face will sound quite funny and weave a great attention getter.
3. Show a humorous visual. It can be a funny picture with a caption or just an image that is funny on its own.
Related Videos in the Series:
Best 5: • How to Draw Attention in a Presentati...
Use a Story: • How to Open a Presentation with a Story
Use Humor: • How to Use Humor in a Speech Opening
Use Questions: • How to Open a Presentation with a Que...
Use Statistics: • How to Open a Presentation with a Sta...
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Get to know Alex (video): • Get to know Alex, the Communication S...
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All Comments (21)
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Professional demeanor, personable & the voice of experience - Mr. Lyon is a wonderful guru. Thank you, sir. Bravo!
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my speech was great, got a great grade, thanks for the help
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Hey I’m running for student council!!! Thanks so much
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This helps me A bunch! Thank you! You said it so politely too.
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Try to say what ever it is you think is humorous in a way that you your audience does not think you were trying to be funny. When they hear it come from you with that innocent look on your face and you avoid leaving a long pause after your zinger it usually has a good effect. If they don’t laugh nothing is lost because you didn’t set the expectation.
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Valuable knowledge .thank you .
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Sir thank you so much for your help ❤
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Your advice helped me stop worry about my speech and get onto writing it. PS: I went for a couple funny memes I managed to link to my theme. Great advice. Thanks.
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FREE 7 Instant Tips for Confident & Composed Public Speaking: www.alexanderlyon.com/free-resources
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Great advice.
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thank you so much, Alex. You help me so much in my speech.
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Thank you so much! I had to do a speech about comedy to my ENTIRE SCHOOL and I won first prize! Thx sm!😁
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School leader speech TOMZ! EXICTED IM NOT NERVOUS 😂
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Absolutely love this - I think the wisest people in the world are good-natured comedians
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The beginning of this video had no humour in it so I stopped watching.
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Love the video 😂😂😂
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Its amazing.....love it😍😍
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EXCELLENT VIDEO!!
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How i start my presentation: Me: Hi i’m your hope Everybody votes for me
