7 ways to inject humor into your speech
Trying desperately to liven up a talk for a dull speaker? Try these tips from the co-founder and chief writer of Funnier Speeches.
David Glickman, co-founder and chief writer for Funnier Speeches, has a message for you.
“I represent a company called Amway,” he says, “and if I could talk to you for maybe 10, 15 minutes–.”
Well, not really. But Glickman does offer encouragement for speechwriters who have watched with dread as their leader shambles to the podium and drones on for an hour.
You don’t have to be Steve Martin to insert a little humor into your speech. Your audience will love you for it (really). And you can master techniques that will draw an appreciative guffaw from most audiences.
Why bother when you’ve got a serious message to sell? Because it wins over audiences and makes your speaker come across as human.
“In the first 60 seconds I was up here, I got five laughs, one of them before I ever came up on the stage,” Glickman tells his audience at a Ragan speechwriting conference. “Most of you don’t know me, but right off, most of you are in a good frame of mind to listen to what I have to say, because you’ve already laughed five times.”
Become a Ragan Insider member to read this article and all other archived content.
Sign up today
Already a member? Log in here.
Learn more about Ragan Insider.
