How to To Tell A Joke Before A Public Speech

Here's how to find and tell a joke before an important speech. You'll need to tell a joke that is both funny and appropriate for the occasion.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

1. Find a book of "clean jokes" at a bookstore. If pressed for time, look on the internet, although internet jokes tend to be well known and of lower quality.

2. Find several jokes that are appropriate for the occasion. Now adapt them to the situation at hand. Change the plot or names, and just rework the jokes in general so it's customized for the situation.

3. Use trusted friends and colleagues to give you feedback. Tell the jokes to them after explaining the context of the event and speech.

4. Ask them if the jokes are appropriate, and use their feedback to settle on your best joke.

5. Casually deliver the joke before your speech. The best deliveries are perfectly natural. The listener doesn't know it's a joke until it's half over, which makes the punch line even funnier.

6. Use clean humor and only poke fun of yourself or the situation. Never demean or belittle other people with humor. People might awkwardly laugh, but they won't really think it's funny.