NOT FUNNY!

You’re getting some laughs but at whose expense? Humour is important to add into your talk, but there are some things that you need to be aware of that your audience will not tell you to your face but have shared behind your back especially if you are working with young adults or older. There are 5 Things that people do to get laughs but really...THEY ARE NOT FUNNY. 

 YOU ARE NOT FUNNY WHEN...

1.     You Make Fun of Others. This includes other races, other faiths, or a specific person in your audience. Though you may get laughs it is at the expense of another. Females tend to be more empathic and concerned about the needs of others, making this kind of humour a turn off. Instead point the finger at yourself.  Self-deprecating humour is the way to go as no one involuntarily is put on the spot and you don’t have to worry about offending. Plus you help others learn to laugh at their own circumstances.

2.     You Speak With A Lisp to Mimic Gays. It’s hurtful. There are students that have questions about  their sexual identity and they are watching you wondering if they can confide in you, looking for safe places and safe people to disclose their secret or struggle. Students will not even think about inviting their gay friends to your youth group or church even if they are laughing. Why? Cause You are not SAFE! Plus... YOU ARE NOT FUNNY!

The Golden Rule of Comedy & Humour. If you are Spanish...You can make fun of Spanish people. If you have blonde hair you can make fun of blonde’s. If you have one arm, you can make jokes about people with disabilities. BUT to make jokes about Jews, people’s accents, Lesbians or Blacks when you are not one...You are treading on thin ice.

3.     You Tell Your Inside Jokes That Only Two People Get! I’ve seen people get up on stage and they thank whoever brought them there and for the next 10 minutes the front row filled with staff members are cracking themselves up, bantering back and forth. Yeah, it looks like the audience is having a good time, people are laughing, but they are not laughing with you because they can’t...They don’t get it. They’re laughing because it’s funny to see other’s laugh. But what have you really done? Excluded your audience. Keep your message inclusive so you can win all people. People are tired of cliques so don’t create a barrier between you and them in your message. If something happened that was funny, set it up to your audience and then let the jokes fly so they can join in the laughter too.

4.     You Find Yourself Adding “I Guess You Had To Be There” At The End of Your Story. Yeah, what seems funny in your head does not always translate well to your audience. Before you go public with what you are wanting to share, test it, practice it first. Check out Freytag’s Pyramid to help guide you as you tell your story. You do need and intro (setting up the characters and the setting) followed by Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action and the Dénouement which is the conclusion or the resolving of the story. Remember that in English class!

5.     You Swear. They are not real laughs. Those are awkward, nervous I-can’t-believe-you-said-that laughs especially in a faith base or professional platform. Over time your influence will dwindle as swears are withdrawals out of your credibility and respect account. Don’t Do it. It’s not worth it.

Laughter is not always an indicator that you are funny. I have often given a half hearted laugh, just because I was in the front row or I was embarrassed for the speaker or comedian. Stay away from the above as we approach 2013 and you will continue to win over your audience. Not just one but many. 

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A member of the Canadian Association of Professional Speakers (CAPS) Alison has dedicated her time to developing her gift of Public Speaking so that her listeners would believe the truth that she shares and to raise up other strong youth communicator’s in Canada. She has been speaking full time for four years and is currently enrolled in Youth Speakers University.