How to Use Humor in a Speech Opening
How to you use humor in a speech or presentation opening (Part 2 of 5). Many options exist to grab your audience's attention when public speaking but I do not recommend telling punchline jokes.
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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.
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Пікірлер: 117
Timestamps: 1:40 Jokes are high risk 1:57 However, humor is good 2:11 1. Quote somebody funny 3:37 2. Tell a lighthearted story 4:42 3. Show a funny visual 5:14 100% against telling your own jokes
@coolbeans1578
2 жыл бұрын
tysm
Professional demeanor, personable & the voice of experience - Mr. Lyon is a wonderful guru. Thank you, sir. Bravo!
Hey I’m running for student council!!! Thanks so much
@buttcrack6297
4 жыл бұрын
Princess Fuzzy sameeeee 😭... did u get it 😂
@zunairaaamir8020
4 жыл бұрын
Ria Habib Yaaaaaaaas😁😁😁😁
@buttcrack6297
4 жыл бұрын
Princess Fuzzy ayyyyyy congrats, wish me luck 😭🤞🏽
@zunairaaamir8020
4 жыл бұрын
Ria Habib Good luck Ria!!!😁😁😁😁😉😉😉😎😎😎
@joeyao
3 жыл бұрын
me too
my speech was great, got a great grade, thanks for the help
Thank you so much! I had to do a speech about comedy to my ENTIRE SCHOOL and I won first prize! Thx sm!😁
@alexanderlyon
3 жыл бұрын
That's great, Cassie. Well done!
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.
@OneDoseExtraa
3 жыл бұрын
Facts confidence and not caring outweighs everything
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.
@babss2285
Жыл бұрын
How did your presentation go?
This helps me A bunch! Thank you! You said it so politely too.
School leader speech TOMZ! EXICTED IM NOT NERVOUS 😂
Sir thank you so much for your help ❤
Valuable knowledge .thank you .
Absolutely love this - I think the wisest people in the world are good-natured comedians
@jadenlee7158
4 жыл бұрын
Hey thanks for the like! I'm trying to work on my humor so I can connect with students across the world for a school project - was wondering if you'd be willing to connect on LinkedIn?
How i start my presentation: Me: Hi i’m your hope Everybody votes for me
@gabrielamorales9771
3 жыл бұрын
Winner of a video, been searching for "wedding ceremony speech ideas" for a while now, and I think this has helped. You ever tried - Heyonnor Speechless Eradicator - (should be on google have a look ) ? Ive heard some decent things about it and my neighbour got amazing success with it.
@artsybabee7607
3 жыл бұрын
Hey I'm your hope, you're my hope, I'm j-hope
@akshayabala4742
3 жыл бұрын
@@artsybabee7607 yeahhhh💜army
@12thhahsy
3 жыл бұрын
Army
@beidou9344
2 жыл бұрын
J-HOPEEEEE
thank you so much, Alex. You help me so much in my speech.
@alexanderlyon
3 жыл бұрын
Awesome, elvis. I'm glad the video helped!
Great advice.
Thank you for sharing indeed telling a joke that is not appealing to the audience is very risky its better not to try.
I clicked thinking its Benedict cumberbatch
@alexanderlyon
5 жыл бұрын
First time I've heard that. I usually hear Jason Bateman. But, I like Cumberbatch. Solid actor.
@marielahinojoza2361
4 жыл бұрын
We cfg uh bio
@georgejowell6003
2 жыл бұрын
This is not a gloune sutstue.
@bhavaznauhtrap3851
2 жыл бұрын
🤣🤣indeed
Its amazing.....love it😍😍
loved it my school speech is going to be great
@alexanderlyon
5 жыл бұрын
Hi, Hobo Krang. I hope you crush it. Let me know how it goes.
@ConcealedWeaponry
4 жыл бұрын
Did you do good?
@bonesgaming6229
4 жыл бұрын
How was it?
The beginning of this video had no humour in it so I stopped watching.
@alexanderlyon
4 жыл бұрын
I hear you but I'm just a teacher, a college professor. This isn't a comedy or entertainment channel, it's an education channel. But, I agree that the video would be even better had it been comedic, though.
@shevstick1162
3 жыл бұрын
Communication Coach Alex Lyon I’m pretty this was a joke
@narenkarthik3246
3 жыл бұрын
@@alexanderlyon well I am sure he just did it for a joke. That was only a joke. it wasn't a compliment.
EXCELLENT VIDEO!!
Love the video 😂😂😂
can i ask a que I'm having a persuasive essay about food delivery to school but my problem is i don't know how to make an excellent attention grabber to it can you tell the steps to do it
@spookycrossaint5519
3 жыл бұрын
How was the food presentation ?
FREE 7 Instant Tips for Confident & Composed Public Speaking: www.alexanderlyon.com/free-resources
Bring it on!!! ... Lmao
How you know that i have presentation after two weeks thanks watcing you from Oman
@alexanderlyon
7 жыл бұрын
Great. I hope it goes really well for you!
@yahyakamran07
6 жыл бұрын
yea me to
I have a speech about the benefits of laughter and smiling and I would like to start with something related to humour can you help me please ✨
Can you tell me if you take classes or something like that?
I have to make a funny presentation for class and I can't even talk to people. So I'm watching this type of stuff to help me understand how to be funnier because I'm not funny.
How to use humour in the academic talks like conferences seminar of PHD, some people tell me you have to be so official. I really can't decide how to use them specially that I love humour? Please I need advise Dr. ALEX.
@alexanderlyon
4 жыл бұрын
I use humor all of the time in academic talks and settings. But, I just use light humor. I don't tell jokes and try to get a big laugh. I just have a little fun and keep it natural and fitting to the topic.
@Marwa-826
4 жыл бұрын
@@alexanderlyon Thank you so much🙂
@Marwa-826
4 жыл бұрын
I work on scientific project to solve a medical problem, I made my photo as a superhero to solve this problem "to the rescue" and everybody loved it.
My method isn’t to add a funny intro, for example using your ideas and text in the star wars ccrawl to get a quick laugh.
Steps one have Damon Salvatore's attitude 😂
Thnq sir this vedio help me vry well...i got 2 prize
Plz tell a speech about auto correct has ruined my life(humorous)
WONK WONK!!!
i have to go give a speech to 3 5th grade classes to get them to join my class
I have a school board presentation and I'm trying to add some humor to it, can anyone help me with this?
@natg7832
3 жыл бұрын
yes
@ConcealedWeaponry
3 жыл бұрын
@@natg7832 Aight how we gonna do this? XD
@natg7832
3 жыл бұрын
make a joke I hope u get in lol
@natg7832
3 жыл бұрын
good luck hope u get in
This is funny
Way to go HAHAHA
que bueno vid bro, ahora ya no tengo problemas para conquistar morras mi bro. te mereces un like :v XDD
🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏Sir u r a good speaker so can you give me a speech on topic "entire world is a stage and we are merely actor's"for my school elocution competition which should be a little funny ...(pls answer as early as possible sir)
@alexanderlyon
4 жыл бұрын
Ha! No. I don't give topics like that. Sorry. Good luck, though. Sounds interesting.
@flacconbird1250
4 жыл бұрын
Ok sir thank you for answering 👍😊
@FJDamitTV
4 жыл бұрын
😅
@FJDamitTV
4 жыл бұрын
😅
So you're telling me I shouldn't start my presentations with sweeping yo mamma jokes? 🙃
@alexanderlyon
2 жыл бұрын
Correct! You might be surprised how many weird "jokes" I've seen people open with over the years.
@dennzelkek2932
2 жыл бұрын
yo
What if its a serious topic like mental health?
@alexanderlyon
4 жыл бұрын
Clearly, the opening has to fit the topic. It would not likely be a helpful opening to approach serious topic in a humorous way, at least I personally wouldn't take that risk.
I just started the truth,facts,and keep going. The rest is whatever.
A shocking way of opening a speech in a dating profile of the single mom's presentation : " .......... I'm just so perfect the way I am and it's now still so soon from early beginning of the year , I'll stop for a while being someone's baby until I'll give birth to another one by the end of the year ..... "
I’m running for SC president and I’m scared help
👏👏👏👏
25.2.22 watched
I'm trying to get faction captain
@elkerobi8737
3 жыл бұрын
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Does anyone have jokes about Mahatma Gandhi? I am doing a presentation about him, and I want to make it funny. It is on Wednesday.
@NS-pu5bd
4 жыл бұрын
use his funny quote he once said,''First i do the drum,then i do your mum''
@ishan4691
4 жыл бұрын
@@NS-pu5bd wtf 😂😂
@pinkblush3774
4 жыл бұрын
Wtf Hahahaha
@bjwkusgxjdks
4 жыл бұрын
N S mehh, you’re little too late..
gesund gesund gesund.
Why to start with a joke when you are joke yourself
all you really gotta do is... "GOOD DAY GOOD DAY YOU BLOODY LEGENDS"
Skip to 2:04🗿
@henrylifts8506
3 жыл бұрын
Dear winter I hope u like your name 😂
💯% against telling your own jokes?! How are you suppose to learn? Get pointers thou..just don't agree with this last one ...
@alexanderlyon
4 жыл бұрын
Try it. Tell a joke and see how it goes. If it works, then you're funny enough to pull it off. But, I've seen it fail +90% of the time. So, I'm going by looking at thousands of speeches for what works and what doesn't work. I'm not giving my simple opinion. I'm going by all of the presentations I've seen over the past 20 years.
Find urself talking another's jokes
Who is in here in 2024 👇🌋
terrible advice