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President's Tip of the Week

How to Add Humor to Any Speech (Part 1)
(6/9/09)

Source: Toastmasters International

Its coming, folks! The official announcement has been made within District 3 and our next speech contest—coming up in the next couple of months—will be the Humorous Speech Contest and Evaluation Contest. To help you prepare for the former, read through this brief summary of an article written by Joe Cooke, ACB. After you’ve done that, visit the link above to read the full article!

Method #1: Canned Jokes

  • Make sure the timing is right and the delivery is supported by attitude (such as with a wink and a smile)
  • Jokes should be relevant and should present an unexpected insight

Method #2: New Material

  • I will summarize this one in next week’s Tip of the Week!

Method #3: Wry Observations:

Use the triple-A method to develop your ability to make witty statements. First, be Aware, then add Attitude and Allow yourself to grow.

  • Be aware by understanding that humor comes from understanding shared experiences, especially painful ones. In order to fully cultivate your own sense of humor, you have to stop seeing your life as completely tragic. We all have troubles. Open your eyes and your mind and watch for the irony and the contrast in life.
  • Your attitude will help you be funny. Watch any great comedian, male or female. Some are gutsy and loud, some are meek and shy. You have to develop an attitude that fits you and then you have to let it shine.
  • Finally, allow yourself to be funny. Open your mouth and try. Toastmasters is the perfect place to nurture your inner comic. Occasionally you may tell a stinker. Get over it and try again. Progress only comes with practice in front of real people.
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