Public Speaking Course:

Humor Delivery Tips

(if you don't use the skills from my public speaking course you might as well start passing out the pillows and blankets as soon as you begin, cause your audience will need them)

* Don't EVER repeat a punch line! Once the surprise is revealed, the joke is history. I'll repeat this one more time, don't repeat your punch lines. Don't EVER repeat a punch line. You'll be shot by the comedy firing squad if you repeat a punch line. OK.
I'll let you repeat one punch line, but only under certain circumstances. Here's an exception to this rule. At a later time in your speech, if you had a joke or punch line that bombed miserably, you can call it back to make fun of yourself. Being able to laugh at yourself is also part of knowing what you learned in your public speaking course.

* Try not to signal the audience of your upcoming punch line. If the humor in your punch line
depends upon the words "ruptured camel", don't say the following: Did you hear the one about the ruptured camel?

* Knowing how to properly tell a joke is part of what you will learn in my public speaking course. It is imperative that you memorize your punch line and joke completely. You should be able to awaken out of a deep sleep in an earthquake and, without hesitation, deliver your punch line accurately. Give all the
facts necessary for the joke to make sense. The humor is lost if you leave out the necessary details.

* Use as few words as possible to get to your punch line. Brevity
is truly the soul of wit (never use a worn out cliché either). The
longer the joke, the funnier it has to be.

* NEVER, EVER explain your joke. If the audience doesn't understand it, it's
your fault for not telling the joke right.

* Don't walk around a whole lot when telling a joke or story either. I walk,
but I stop when important points are being made and when I'm delivering
a punch line.

* If you use notes, highlight or mark upcoming jokes or stories so
they don't sneak up on you. They will need special emphasis.

* Practice! Practice! Practice! I tell a joke or story at least 30 times before I ever use it in a presentation. Using the skills learned in my public speaking course involves hours and hours of practice before you "Go Live" in front of an audience. Always give the audience your best.