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Audience Gags
My public speaking
book teaches about the use of audience
gags. Audience gags are simply fun offbeat jokes that occur
during your speaking engagement. Dr. Joel
Goodman, from the Humor Project, does an
audience gag where a telephone rings during
his speech. When he answers the phone hidden
behind the podium, he pretends to talk to his
mother. The same joke would be called a
running gag if the phone rang at several other
times during the program.
Here are some audience gags that I have
used throughout my presentations.
Stone the
Speaker
When I really want to focus attention
on a certain point, I use this gag. Either
before the program or at a break, I recruit
audience members who are sitting near the
front. I give each one a piece of crumpled
paper and instruct them to throw it at me when
they hear a certain word. You can read about unique ways of
getting and keeping the audiences attention in my public
speaking book.
Ten Wanted
Men
I staged a gag at a seminar one time that was
loads of fun and took less than one minute to
complete. Concentrating on having a good
effect and not on the amount of time spent
creating is taught in my
public speaking book.
Before the program, I picked out about 10
fun-loving audience members to help me. I gave
them secret instructions that were to be
carried out on a certain cue during the
program. To start the gag, I had my assistant
interrupt the seminar to give me an important
note. The note read (I used a serious
expression):
"It appears that someone is in attendance
today with another man's wife. There is a
large and irate man on his way here right now.
If you want out, there is a backstage door you
can use to escape quickly."
At this point, 10 men jumped up out of their
seats and hauled themselves out the door. Once
they realized what was happening, several
women jumped up and ran out too. It was great
fun and the gag sure woke up everyone who had
a heavy lunch.
Some professional speakers tell me that's the
dumbest thing they ever heard and they would
never do it in their presentations. They say
that until they understand the purpose behind
it. I use this gag when I want to focus
attention on an important point. All of the
recruits will be riveted on what I say until
they hear the key word. Then, after they throw
the paper and I make a big reaction, the rest
of the crowd is totally focused in their
effort to see what is going on. That is when I
make my key point.
I have virtually guaranteed the attention
of each audience member. And keeping the
attention of the audience is extremely
important when using the skills learned in my
public speaking book.
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