{"id":7700,"date":"2022-04-20T08:00:54","date_gmt":"2022-04-20T08:00:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/adamchristing.com\/?p=7700"},"modified":"2022-11-28T15:20:05","modified_gmt":"2022-11-28T15:20:05","slug":"how-to-make-a-speech-funny","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adamchristing.com\/blog\/how-to-make-a-speech-funny\/","title":{"rendered":"6 Ways to Guarantee Laughs During Your Next Speech"},"content":{"rendered":"

We’ve all been there. The spotlight is on you, you’ve set up the perfect joke, you <\/span>nail<\/span><\/i> the punchline, and… <\/span>crickets<\/span><\/i>.<\/span><\/p>\n

It’s never fun to feel like your humor isn’t reading as funny to the audience. That’s why I’m here to teach you my six greatest tips and tricks on how to make a speech funny, or your (metaphorical) money back.<\/span><\/p>\n

See Related:\u00a0Best MC Jokes For A Conference<\/a><\/p>\n

#1: Tell Relatable Stories<\/b><\/h2>\n

If there’s one thing we learned from <\/span>Seinfeld<\/span><\/i><\/a>, it’s that <\/span>the everyday is funny<\/b>. Use this to your advantage in your speech!<\/span><\/p>\n

Audiences laugh when they see <\/span>their <\/b>own<\/i><\/b> experience<\/b> reflected onstage. Add relatable humor to your speech with these ideas:<\/span><\/p>\n

Turn Frustration Into Comedy<\/b><\/h3>\n

What got on your nerves this morning? It was something. I know it was. You know it was. We all know it was.<\/span><\/p>\n

And you know what? I bet it was funny and would be great for your master of ceremonies speech<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Let me guess…<\/b><\/h4>\n

Did your family member turn on a bright light while you were still asleep? Speech material.<\/span><\/p>\n

Did one of your friends cut you off on the way to work, causing your chai latte to spill on your brand-new pants? Speech material.<\/span><\/p>\n

Were you (yet again) <\/span>not<\/span><\/i> Caller #5 and didn’t win your radio station’s giveaway for tickets to <\/span>John Mayer’s<\/span><\/a> Sob Rock Tour? (I’m terribly sorry – but speech material.)<\/span><\/p>\n

Good news!<\/b><\/h4>\n

These sorts of situations may get on your nerves in the moment, but I promise that, when transformed into a joke told with the right spirit, they will be funny and make the audience laugh.<\/span><\/p>\n

The main idea when writing your funny speech is to <\/span>shift your own perspective from frustrated to amused.<\/b><\/p>\n

#2: Use Your Physicality to Communicate<\/b><\/h2>\n

Humor isn’t just about the words you say. A major part of making a good joke and creating a funny speech<\/a> is using your body language to tell the story.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Host<\/span>What do I mean? Well<\/b>, <\/span>think about your favorite comedians<\/b>.<\/span><\/h4>\n

From Ali Wong to John Mulaney, comedians each have their own way of using their bodies to add humor to the funny stories they tell. It’s like a secret, other skill that is so ingrained in their performances, you may not notice it at first.<\/span><\/p>\n

Every great comic uses gestures and physicality to deliver their material and engage audiences.<\/span><\/p>\n

Act as characters<\/b><\/h4>\n

In your speech, maybe you’re telling a funny anecdote about a parent-teacher conference you had with your son’s kindergarten teacher. Instead of just speaking<\/a> about the event, make people laugh by playing it out for the audience!<\/span><\/p>\n

Go ahead, embody the teacher and her proper, stiff posture. Show guests how utterly ridiculous it looked when you sat down in a tiny chair made to fit a five year-old because the teacher didn’t have an adult-sized chair for you to use.<\/span><\/p>\n

I can hear the laughter already!<\/span><\/p>\n

No need to overdo it<\/b><\/h4>\n

Remember, your shifts in body language don’t need to be hyperbolic. During speeches, even the slightest, most intentional changes will go a long way in <\/span>helping the audience understand your story audibly <\/b>and <\/i><\/b>visually.<\/b><\/p>\n

#3: Deliver Originality<\/b><\/h2>\n

Humorous speeches are based in <\/span>truth<\/b>. The best way to ground your speeches in truth is to use your own material!<\/span><\/p>\n

This may seem simple, but it cannot be overstated: <\/span>if <\/b>you’ve<\/i><\/b> heard the joke before, I promise your audience has too.<\/b><\/p>\n

\"Attendees<\/span>Personalize Your Funny Speech to the Event<\/b><\/h3>\n

It can be tough to create a humorous message that will pull lots of laughter out of your audience! But with practice, I promise you’ll become a pro – just like a regular ol’ event emcee<\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The best way to stay funny, original, and on-task is to <\/span>remember the primary goal of the event<\/b>:<\/span><\/p>\n

What is the goal of the event?<\/b><\/h4>\n

Is it to help new students feel comfortable at a large university? To raise money for a local grassroots nonprofit?<\/span><\/p>\n

Once you understand what the client hopes to achieve through these events (and, therefore, your speeches), you can begin adding humor that focuses on those particular subjects.<\/span><\/p>\n

Here’s an example<\/b>:<\/span><\/p>\n

If I’m making a humorous speech with the goal of exciting the crowd before a 5K Fun Run begins, I might make a self-deprecating joke about the utter irony of putting the words “fun” and “run” next to each other – lighthearted, relatable for many, and sure to ease some runners’ nerves when they hear it.<\/span><\/p>\n

Got Writer’s Block?<\/b><\/h3>\n

It happens to the best of us!<\/span><\/p>\n

Here are some writing prompts to get your creativity, word play, and humor flowing:<\/b><\/p>\n