Comments on: Humour and Presentations: Yes or No?

By: Nicholas Oulton

Nicholas Oulton — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 19:35:58 +0000

Thanks Curtis,

I think these are great and along the lines I’ve been thinking. I’d add one at least – the audience have to be ready for a joke. Sometimes you know as soon as you stand up they aren’t going to laugh and its going to go flat. Have you ever had this situation?

I think the plan has to include a get-out clause, i.e. if at the last minute it doesn’t feel right, don¹t do it. I also think this may be different for visual humour i.e. a cartoon or a funny photograph which has less negative impact if it falls flat since it can be ignored and doesn’t reflect the audience-presenter rapport quite as much, what do you think?

By: Curtis

Curtis — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 22:43:52 +0000

Jokes can be wonderful or hideous, it truly depends on the nature of the subject matter being presented and the audience. I use comic relief whenever I can, but I have three guidelines when choosing an item such as a joke.
1. I must be able to effortlessly mesh the subject matter of the joke into the subject I am teaching on; so, same or similar subject is a must.
2. The joke must be tasteful, and never under any circumstances off color, offensive, or left to any form of misinterpretation.
3. TACT!!! Sticking to rules number 1 & 2, and planning the timing of the joke.
I have spent hours searching for just the right joke for a presentation, refusing to compromise and force the wrong joke.