There are a number of reasons why you should consider putting humor to your speech. Your audience will be more interested in what you have to say. Humor can also help ease the tension in a non-threatening way especially if you are trying stress a sensitive idea to those with rather conservative minds. Careful use of humor throughout your speech can keep your audience’s level of interest going from start to finish. When used properly, humor can strengthen arguments and ideas as well as entertain in an uplifting way.

Keep in mind that the environment and your personal speaking style determine the type of humor you will use. For instance, if you are speaking at an awards ceremony, it may not be a good idea to add humor as this type of event comes with a serious purpose of recognizing outstanding people for their accomplishments. You may consider injecting appropriate humor in a technical paper presentation, for instance, given its potential to induce sleep in the audience.

Depending on your own style, you can go subtle wit, understated humor, long and entertaining jokes or humor for belly laughs. If you are not certain which type of humor best suits your style, go for one that you think you would be very comfortable in. However, if you think you are still not ripe for the picking when making humorous speeches, it would be best not to pull it off until you can do it well. Instead, focus on developing, practicing and perfecting the skill first, so as to avoid speech disaster.

Delivering humor in your speech can be greatly improved with constant practice. An important consideration for using humor effectively is timing. Timing can spell the difference between a joke that works and one that doesn’t. If your timing is short, the impact of your joke is more likely lessened by its abrupt end. Pace, pauses and tone are also important to make your humor work. Effective use of humor requires constant practice until you reach perfection.

Moreover, when using humor in your speech, it is very important to know your audience first. This can help you get a good foundation for drawing your materials. Also, this can keep you from committing humor boo-boos, in which you may be putting your foot in your mouth accidentally. Using a type of humor that your audience may not find entertaining would mean trouble.

Find out about their interests, political leanings, religious beliefs, demographics, etc.. Remember that as a speaker, you need to be well aware of not just the topic but the psychology of your audience as well. By being sensitive to their beliefs, leanings, backgrounds and interests, your humor can work and entertain them. The more you know about your listeners, the better you will be able to relate to them and address their needs, thus establishing a good connection with them.

Reading joke books, printed sources as well as on the Internet can help feed you with the appropriate humor material. A trick here is not to go for current jokes, as this may already have been heard by your audience. Being observant by listening to people around you can also help you draw the right material as well.

So add humor to your speech and be the speaker your audience will adore and remember!