I was having a chat with a Professional Speaker recently who said something that startled me a bit.  She said “I’ve been trying to do a Stand Up Comedy Course for years, but I’ve never been able to do it because I haven’t been in town for 8 weeks in a row to get to all the classes”.

he number 1 rule if you want to be funny is DON’T TELL JOKES.

Now I get this may seem completely contradictory, so let me explain.  Jokes are a real problem for Speakers because it puts you on the radar.  As a Speaker, you have the huge advantage that your humour is able to fly under the radar because nobody expects you to be funny.  

The first rule if you want to get a laugh from your audience is don’t tell jokes.  Jokes are a real problem for Speakers because it puts you on the radar and people know that you are trying to be funny.  If the joke doesn’t work, you’ve left it all hanging out, looking like a bit of a dill. #awkward