Comments on: Should I tell a joke to start my presentation? http://www.inter-activ.co.uk/presentation-skills/should-i-tell-a-joke-to-start-my-presentation/ ideas & techniques for for improving your speaking, presenting and influencing skills Fri, 03 Feb 2012 14:34:07 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Harley Giltner http://www.inter-activ.co.uk/presentation-skills/should-i-tell-a-joke-to-start-my-presentation/#comment-2938 Harley Giltner Sun, 27 Jun 2010 06:39:59 +0000 http://www.inter-activ.co.uk/blog/2008/02/29/should-i-tell-a-joke-to-start-my-presentation/#comment-2938 I love doing stand up!! Learning to do stand up comedy is tough to do, but very cool. I love doing stand up!! Learning to do stand up comedy is tough to do, but very cool.

]]> By: Terry Gault http://www.inter-activ.co.uk/presentation-skills/should-i-tell-a-joke-to-start-my-presentation/#comment-824 Terry Gault Wed, 16 Apr 2008 21:16:23 +0000 http://www.inter-activ.co.uk/blog/2008/02/29/should-i-tell-a-joke-to-start-my-presentation/#comment-824 While I like your three categories of jokes, I'm going to have to disagree with your advice to shy away from humor during presentations; humor always makes the presenter seem more approachable and human. Now, while jokes do sometimes fall flat, this is another opportunity to connect with your audience! Instead, of letting the awkward silence throw you off, turn it on its head by noting that your joke was a flop with a smile. Talk about the audiences reaction and note the atmosphere. Handling the situation like this if the joke bombs will often make the presenter seem cool, collected and approachable, and if the joke doesn't bomb, this will lighten up the room and once again make the presenter seem approachable. It is a win-win as long as the situation is handled correctly. While I like your three categories of jokes, I’m going to have to disagree with your advice to shy away from humor during presentations; humor always makes the presenter seem more approachable and human.

Now, while jokes do sometimes fall flat, this is another opportunity to connect with your audience! Instead, of letting the awkward silence throw you off, turn it on its head by noting that your joke was a flop with a smile. Talk about the audiences reaction and note the atmosphere. Handling the situation like this if the joke bombs will often make the presenter seem cool, collected and approachable, and if the joke doesn’t bomb, this will lighten up the room and once again make the presenter seem approachable. It is a win-win as long as the situation is handled correctly.

]]> By: Blog / Site of the Week XI « Pedro Caramez .com http://www.inter-activ.co.uk/presentation-skills/should-i-tell-a-joke-to-start-my-presentation/#comment-792 Blog / Site of the Week XI « Pedro Caramez .com Wed, 02 Apr 2008 10:45:17 +0000 http://www.inter-activ.co.uk/blog/2008/02/29/should-i-tell-a-joke-to-start-my-presentation/#comment-792 [...] The posts give great tips on many of public speaking’s  subjects, special events in presentation skills among others. Come and discuss this issues with Gavin. Check one of their last post (click here)  [...] [...] The posts give great tips on many of public speaking’s  subjects, special events in presentation skills among others. Come and discuss this issues with Gavin. Check one of their last post (click here)  [...]

]]> By: Nigel Heath http://www.inter-activ.co.uk/presentation-skills/should-i-tell-a-joke-to-start-my-presentation/#comment-598 Nigel Heath Mon, 03 Mar 2008 13:53:22 +0000 http://www.inter-activ.co.uk/blog/2008/02/29/should-i-tell-a-joke-to-start-my-presentation/#comment-598 Reading this reminded me of an embarrasing 'joke' I used to start a talk, hoping to engage the audience, but which definitely backfired and put my credibility with them at rock bottom. Newly elevated to Chair of my children's PTA I was given the chance to talk to the teachers at one of their weekly end of day meetings. My objective was to acknowledge their needs and offer support through parents for their programmes. I could sense a slight antipathy in the room before I began and to acknowledge and share my nervousness told a slightly risque joke. All about having a nervous tick and what happens when you go into the chemist and ask for an aspirin. (Heard that one?) One of them laughed! My learning from this? Unless you are billed as a stand up comedian and the audience is primed for jokes, avoid them and follow Gavin's ideas about laughter from the heart. The joke is, I don't think I've told that one since then! Reading this reminded me of an embarrasing ‘joke’ I used to start a talk, hoping to engage the audience, but which definitely backfired and put my credibility with them at rock bottom.
Newly elevated to Chair of my children’s PTA I was given the chance to talk to the teachers at one of their weekly end of day meetings. My objective was to acknowledge their needs and offer support through parents for their programmes. I could sense a slight antipathy in the room before I began and to acknowledge and share my nervousness told a slightly risque joke. All about having a nervous tick and what happens when you go into the chemist and ask for an aspirin. (Heard that one?)
One of them laughed!
My learning from this?
Unless you are billed as a stand up comedian and the audience is primed for jokes, avoid them and follow Gavin’s ideas about laughter from the heart.
The joke is, I don’t think I’ve told that one since then!

]]> By: Public Speaking Blogs: Week in Review [2008-03-01] http://www.inter-activ.co.uk/presentation-skills/should-i-tell-a-joke-to-start-my-presentation/#comment-593 Public Speaking Blogs: Week in Review [2008-03-01] Sat, 01 Mar 2008 11:13:40 +0000 http://www.inter-activ.co.uk/blog/2008/02/29/should-i-tell-a-joke-to-start-my-presentation/#comment-593 [...] Gavin Meikle questions whether humor is a good way to start a speech. [...] [...] Gavin Meikle questions whether humor is a good way to start a speech. [...]

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