To be honest, I think that most presenters should avoid telling
jokes. But on the other hand, telling jokes around the
water cooler or on the porch while sippin' lemonade is
a time-honored tradition. If it was good enough for
Gramps, why ain't it good enough for us? But if you
are going to tell jokes, you should do it right.
1. Make sure you actually know the joke. Practice
it! Tell it to your kids, your spouse, and your dog.
Trust me, you want to tell the joke a few times
before you do it for real. Nothing will make you
look like a bigger idiot than telling a joke wrong.
2. Scan the internet for jokes to AVOID. Don't
tell jokes that everybody has heard... if your
joke is all over the internet, then this is a great
joke to AVOID.
3. Shorter jokes are better. I know, I know. You think
you're a great story teller. But trust me, your audience
will appreciate you for NOT adding all of the colorful
details and fluff. Just tell the joke. Shorten it if you can.
4. The punch line comes last. And I mean last!
Nothing should come after the punch-line. Consider
this joke done well.
Why Did the chicken cross the road? To get to the
other side.
Now, the same joke when the punch-line is not last.
This is much worse. (I know, that joke is pretty bad on
it's own, but... you get the idea.)
Why did the chicken cross the road? To get to the other
side of the road which was on a long block because he
wanted to get to his chicken coop.
See? Punch-lines should be last. Period. NOTHING
comes after the punch. (Except for your silence and their laughter.)
5. Keep it clean. And I mean crystal clean. If you wouldn't
tell it to the Queen of England (who probably doesn't like
jokes much anyway) then leave it out. Seriously. If you
have any doubt whether you are "crossing the line," then
don't tell it. Think of it this way: if you tell a joke to 10 people
and 9 of them laugh, then you've still alienated a friend. Don't do it.
6. If you are telling a joke as part of a presentation,
don't take credit for the joke. You can do that before
the joke with something like, "Here's one I read on
the internet." Or after the joke with something like,
"That old joke was on the internet, but it reminds us
to.... (follow with a point.)" If you don't let people know
that his joke is from the internet, you risk looking like a
fool. I guarantee that at least a couple of people in every
audience already know your joke, and if you want to earn
and keep THEIR respect you need to make sure you don't (tacitly) claim that joke to be yours.
7. Don't steal jokes from stand up comics. Unless they are
dead. Jokes are material, and it is how they earn a living.
If you tell it, copy it, email it.... whatever... you devalue the
joke for them. Besides, it's bad karma. :)
Brad Montgomery CSP is hilarious motivational speaker and corporate comedian who reminds his audiences to take themselves less seriously in his laugh-out-loud keynote presentations. He is an also the author of three books and a humor-in-the-workplace consultant. Get a free audio recording at http://www.HumorJumpStart.com
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