Nancy Duarte Explains Presentation Structure

At Funnier Speeches, we believe that humor is one of the most valuable assets to a presentation.  However, this is predicated on the idea that the presentation structure and content are already good.  A great presentation, just like a blockbuster movie or a can’t-put-it-down novel, has a texture, a flow, and a logical formula that moves the ideas and information forward in a way that engages the audience to buy in.

Nancy Duarte has studied this structure and has outlined a fantastic visual sequence for a compelling presentation.  She demonstrates this formula by showing how Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Steve Jobs both used it during their most famous speeches.  Take a look at her Tedx talk and pay particular attention to the mentions of humor in Steve Jobs speech.

At Least Obama Tried to be Funny

During last night’s State of the Union speech, President Obama told a very bad joke.  Personally, I like very bad jokes but I am always prepared with a recovery line if my audience agrees that it’s a very bad joke.  Here’s Obama’s line:

“I’ve ordered every federal agency to eliminate rules that don’t make sense. … We got rid of one rule from 40 years ago that could have forced some dairy farmers to spend $10,000 a year proving that they could contain a spill — because milk was somehow classified as an oil. With a rule like that, I guess it was worth crying over spilled milk.”

OK, not great.  But, better than if he had not used any humor.

There is a nice analysis of this joke with some funny ad libs from Jon Lovett here:  Obama’s Milk Joke 2 Percent Funny

I’m a fan of bad jokes used on very rare occasions.  Mainly because we all love to groan at a bad joke.  Even famous comedians use them.  The key to a successful bad joke is to be funny after it bombs.  We call that a saver line.

Once, Johnny Carson told a joke about the Lincoln assassination.  The audience didn’t laugh.  So, Johnny turned to Ed McMahon and said, “Still too soon.”

The audience roared.

Bad jokes are not inherently bad unless you use them too much or you don’t prepare for the fallout.  I’d much rather see the President use a joke that bombs rather than not use one at all.  But, what I’d really like to see is the President using a great saver line.  In other words, if he had just milked his failure a little bit, it might have worked out better!

Martin Luther King, Jr. Set the Standard for Speeches

While this article does not discuss the value of humor in a speech, it is a great overview of what made the “I Have a Dream” speech so effective.  Thanks to Ragan.com for a great article.

“I Have a Dream” Holds 5 Lessons for Speechwriters

The O’Sheas – Brilliant Example of a Humor Concept

Our friends, Tim and Kris O’Shea, specialize in taking routine business experiences and making them funny. They are a treat to watch as they add their own personal touch to a conference or meeting. Recently, I had the opportunity to watch them display their humor expertise in a parody of conference calls.

Watch how they take the routine, every day experiences of participating on this type of call and turn it into comedy brilliance.

This is a great example of how to add humor to a presentation. You address a concept or idea and then make the delivery of it funny.

Are you humor challenged?

We’d love to know what your greatest humor challenge is when it comes to presentations.

Humor Lies in The Congruent Incongruity

When I teach people about writing or finding humor, I use a term called Congruent Incongruity. Humor, in my opinion, is a connection that is also a disconnection.

For instance, Jumbo Shrimp is a disconnect because it’s different but is connected because it ties the two incongruent ideas together in a common culinary phrase.

Recently I read that there is a Facebook group called, “I Hate Reading.”

The humor, or the congruent incongruity is this: The members of this group keep up with other members by reading what they write.

Duh.

Hurricane Humor

Using the most current of events in your speech is always a great way to find fodder for humor. I had an after-lunch program this past Sunday, August 28, the day that Hurricane Irene was making its landfall in the New York area. My opening line for the program was this: “I’m thrilled to be here with you today. I must tell you that I have been trying to get booked to speak to this group for many years. The last time I called your leadership team was a few years ago, and they guy I spoke to said, ‘Yeah, the day they shut down the New York subway system is the day you speak
here.’ And so here I am!” The line got a huge laugh!

Important point: Before going on stage, I checked to make sure that the hurricane was not reeking massive amounts of death & destruction. Had it been doing so would have made the line seem insensitive. Because the damage was considered mild, and people were relieved, the line was able to work.

One other note: You can use this kind of line whenever something momentous happens in the news. I remember introducing Jack Canfield to an audience the morning after Saddam Hussein had been captured. My opening line was, “I know you’ve been trying to get Jack Canfield to speak to your group for a long time. As a matter of fact, his office manager even said, “Yeah, they day they pull Saddam Hussein out of a hole in Tikrit is the day Jack speaks to the group. So, ladies & gentlemen, please welcome Jack Canfield.”
Again, a huge laugh. Keep tuned to the news for opportunities like this for humor.

Don McMillan Uses PowerPoint for Humor

Comedian Don McMillan uses PowerPoint slides as part of his act.  While not your typical comedian prop, he illustrates how to incorporate humor into a presentation.  Watch his video and think about the ways you could turn your boring PowerPoint slides into a funny, more engaging illustration.

Know Your Audience

One of the important considerations in any presentation is to use the right material for your audience. The same is true for humor. The right humor for the right audience is Nirvana. The wrong humor can result in a penetrating silence that cuts right through the funny bone.

As a lesson in what not to do, please take a look at this Australian newscaster who tried to tell a Dalai Lama joke to the, well, Dalai Lama.

Reagan Had a System that Made Him a Good and Funny Speaker

An article in USA Today reported that Ronald Reagan’s collection of note cards, on which he kept jokes, facts, and quotes, will be published in a book edited by historian Douglas Brinkley. The book is called, The Notes: Ronald Reagan’s Private Collection of Stories and Wisdom.

Reagan was one of the most articulate presidents and according to several sources, used humor more effectively than any other president. Most likely, it was because he kept these notes close to him just in case he needed them.

My favorite Reagan response to a reporter who asked if he was too old to run for his second term was this: “I like what Thomas Jefferson said – that you should judge a president by his work and not by his age. And when he told me that…” You can read the entire article here: Reagan Notes Being Published

Ron