Audiences have become conditioned to receiving information with a dose of entertainment, and that makes humor a critical tool for any professional communicator. We want our data with a punchline these days– witness the success of The Daily Show or the stickiness of many of President Obama’s speeches for example.

It’s not just about getting some laughs to make yourself feel good; it’s about using humor to grab and hold your audience’s interest, making your message stickier and ultimately more persuasive. In a world full of bland, dull speakers, if you stand out, you win!

The good news is that humor is a skill, which means that it can be learned by anyone. The notion that we’re “born funny” couldn’t be more false: “being funny” is just a set of easily-replicated techniques (for example, the setup followed by the punchline) that anyone can pick up with a little practice.

Whether you are preparing for a business presentation, giving a wedding toast, defending your thesis, raising money from investors, this class will take you from nervous and sweaty to stage-ready.

Bestselling author, storyteller, occasional comedian, and Irishman, David Nihill will teach you:

How top business speakers are using humor
One Sure Fire Way to Add Funny to any content
How To Replicate Top TED Talks
Basic Comedy Writing Techniques
Quick ways to get funny fast
How To Make Boring Things Funny (with guest Sarah Cooper)
Storytelling Tips that everyone can use
Advanced Comedy Writing Techniques
How to critique your own stories
Never go blank on stage with the memory palace technique
Content delivery tips for all levels
Manage stage fright