The Difference Between Mediocre and Excellent Jokes in a Funny Speech: Why Proven Comedy Writers Matter

Delivering a funny speech is not just about tossing out a few jokes and hoping for a laugh. The difference between a mediocre joke and an excellent one can define the entire tone and success of your speech. Many people believe that simply being humorous in everyday life translates to writing great jokes, but there's a vast gap between casual humor and crafting well-timed, polished material for a live audience. This is where the expertise of professional, proven comedy writers becomes invaluable.

Timing and Structure: The Backbone of a Great Joke

One of the primary differences between a mediocre joke and an excellent one is its structure and timing. Great jokes have a precise rhythm—like the punchline in a well-crafted story. A mediocre joke might have a funny idea behind it, but without the right pacing, buildup, and execution, it can fall flat.

Professional comedy writers understand how to engineer a joke, shaping it with the same care and precision as an architect designing a building. They know how to set up expectations in the audience’s mind, only to subvert them with a punchline that feels both surprising and inevitable. It’s not just about the words; it’s about understanding comedic beats and knowing how to manipulate tension and release. Someone who casually "thinks they're funny" often lacks this deep understanding of comedic architecture, resulting in humor that’s awkward or unrefined.

The Importance of Audience Awareness

Another critical factor in crafting excellent jokes is knowing your audience. A joke that kills at a comedy club may not work in a corporate speech, and what’s funny to one demographic might alienate another. Mediocre jokes often fail because the writer hasn’t considered who will be listening, which can result in humor that misses the mark entirely.

Proven comedy writers have spent years honing their ability to read the room. They can adapt their humor to fit different audiences, fine-tuning their jokes for the specific context in which they’ll be delivered. This audience awareness is not something you can easily learn overnight; it’s a skill acquired from years of experience and countless hours of testing material. Amateur joke writers may rely on their personal sense of humor, without fully considering the diverse tastes and expectations of a broader audience.

Layered Humor: Depth and Complexity

Mediocre jokes often aim for the low-hanging fruit—easy, surface-level humor that might get a chuckle but leaves no lasting impression. Excellent jokes, however, often have layers. They may be funny on the surface but also contain subtle wit, social commentary, or a clever observation that resonates long after the laugh. Great jokes invite the audience to think, and they work on multiple levels simultaneously.

Proven comedy writers understand the nuance of layered humor. They know how to use wordplay, irony, and satire to craft jokes that offer more than just a cheap laugh. These jokes often have greater staying power because they reward the audience for paying attention and thinking critically. By contrast, a person who casually writes jokes might deliver humor that’s one-dimensional, offering a quick laugh but little substance.

Testing and Refining Material

Professional comedy writers don’t just throw out jokes and hope they work. They test them, over and over again. Jokes are rewritten, restructured, and reworked until they’re airtight. This rigorous process of refining material makes a huge difference in the final product. A mediocre joke often feels raw or unfinished, while an excellent joke is a polished gem.

Amateurs who "think they’re funny" may not go through this process of revision. They might assume their first draft is good enough, missing the crucial element of fine-tuning that can make or break a joke. Professional writers, on the other hand, understand that good comedy is crafted, not simply written.

Conclusion

In a funny speech, the difference between mediocre and excellent jokes is not just about whether or not they’re funny; it’s about precision, timing, depth, and refinement. Proven comedy writers bring years of experience, an understanding of structure, and the ability to read the room—all qualities that ensure their jokes are not just funny, but memorable. While many people believe they can write jokes, the truth is that great comedy is a craft, and it’s one best left to those who have truly mastered it.

The Power of Humor: Why a Funny Wedding Speech Enhances the Celebration

Weddings are a celebration of love, commitment, and the beginning of a new chapter in a couple's life. While the ceremony itself is often formal and solemn, the reception provides a perfect opportunity to lighten the mood and create lasting memories. One of the most anticipated moments during the reception is the wedding speeches. Traditionally, these speeches are heartfelt and sincere, but incorporating humor can elevate the experience, making the wedding much more enjoyable and memorable for everyone involved.

Breaking the Ice and Engaging the Audience

A funny wedding speech serves as an excellent icebreaker, especially when guests come from different backgrounds and may not know each other well. Humor has a unique way of bridging gaps and bringing people together. A well-placed joke or a humorous anecdote can relax the audience, making them more receptive and engaged. According to a study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, laughter can foster social bonds and create a sense of community, which is essential at a wedding where diverse groups converge.

Creating Lasting Memories

Humorous speeches are often the highlights of wedding receptions, remembered long after the event. While heartfelt words are meaningful, laughter creates a shared experience that resonates with everyone present. According to Psychology Today, laughter triggers the release of endorphins, creating a sense of well-being and happiness. When guests look back on the wedding, they are likely to remember the moments that made them laugh, thus associating the event with joy and positive emotions.

Reflecting Personality and Relationships

A funny wedding speech allows the speaker to showcase their personality and their unique relationship with the bride or groom. This personal touch makes the speech more relatable and enjoyable for the audience. Comedians like Kevin Hart and Ellen DeGeneres excel in using humor to reflect personal stories and relationships, making their content more engaging and memorable. A wedding speech that includes light-hearted teasing and funny stories about the couple can provide insight into their personalities and the dynamics of their relationship, making the moment more intimate and special.

Balancing Humor and Sentiment

While humor is a powerful tool, balancing it with sincere sentiments is crucial. A speech that is all jokes might come off as insincere, while one that is too serious can become monotonous. The best speeches strike a balance, blending humor with heartfelt messages. This approach ensures that the speech is entertaining yet respectful of the occasion's significance. As noted by The Knot, the most memorable wedding speeches often make people laugh and cry, creating a rollercoaster of emotions that captivates the audience.

Enhancing the Celebration Atmosphere

A funny wedding speech can set a joyful tone for the rest of the evening. It helps to create a lively, celebratory atmosphere where guests feel relaxed and ready to enjoy the festivities. According to Brides.com, a good laugh can alleviate any lingering tension from the day's formalities, allowing everyone to let loose and have fun. The positive energy generated by a humorous speech can be contagious, encouraging guests to mingle, dance, and fully participate in the celebration.

Conclusion

Incorporating humor into a wedding speech transforms it from a simple tradition into a memorable highlight of the reception. Funny speeches break the ice, engage the audience, create lasting memories, and reflect the personalities and relationships involved. By balancing humor with sentiment, speakers can enhance the celebratory atmosphere, making the wedding a more enjoyable and unforgettable experience for everyone. As couples and their loved ones look back on the day, it will be the laughter and joy shared that stand out the most, proving that a funny wedding speech truly makes the wedding better and more memorable.

The Art & Craft of the Professional Comedic Speech Writer: Crafting Sharp, Standout Humor

 

When it comes to delivering a memorable speech, humor is a crucial element that can engage the audience, create a lasting impression, and make the occasion truly special. However, an excellent professional comedic speech writer does far more than just sprinkle lightly amusing content throughout the speech. They craft sharp, strong jokes with the precision and wit found in top-tier standup comedy and televised roasts, ensuring the speech is both hilarious and impactful.

Understanding the Craft of Comedy

Writing comedy is an art that requires a deep understanding of timing, delivery, and audience engagement. Successful comedians like Jerry Seinfeld, Dave Chappelle, and Ricky Gervais demonstrate this mastery. Their jokes are not merely funny; they are meticulously crafted to provoke thought and laughter. A professional comedic speech writer draws inspiration from these comedians, incorporating elements such as observational humor, satire, and irony to elevate their material.

For instance, Seinfeld's comedy often revolves around everyday observations. He finds humor in the mundane, turning trivial experiences into comedic gold. A professional speech writer might use this technique to connect with the audience on a personal level, finding humor in common experiences related to the event.

The Influence of Televised Roasts

Televised roasts, such as those featured on Comedy Central, offer a masterclass in sharp, biting humor. Comedians like Jeff Ross, known as the “Roastmaster General,” excel at delivering incisive jokes that push boundaries while remaining entertaining. These roasts are characterized by their boldness and precision, attributes that a skilled comedic speech writer harnesses to enhance their speeches.

In a wedding speech, for example, a professional writer might adopt the roast format to gently poke fun at the groom’s quirks, much like how comedians at a roast tease the guest of honor. The key is to balance humor with affection, ensuring that the jokes are received in the spirit of fun rather than offense. This approach can turn an ordinary speech into a memorable performance, much like the best moments from a televised roast.

Balancing Humor and Respect

While sharp, strong jokes are crucial, maintaining a balance between humor and respect is essential. A professional comedic speech writer knows how to toe this line, ensuring that their material is both hilarious and appropriate for the occasion. This skill is evident in the work of comedians like Ellen DeGeneres and Jim Gaffigan, who excel at clean, family-friendly humor that resonates with diverse audiences.

Incorporating this balance, a speech might include a clever analogy that humorously exaggerates the groom’s dedication to his hobbies, akin to Gaffigan’s jokes about food and parenting. The humor remains sharp but never crosses into mean-spirited territory, making it suitable for a wide audience.

Conclusion

An excellent professional comedic speech writer does much more than craft lightly amusing content. They draw on the techniques of top comedians, the boldness of televised roasts, and the relatability of pop culture references to create speeches that are sharp, strong, and genuinely funny. By balancing humor with respect, they ensure that their material not only entertains but also leaves a lasting impression. Whether it’s a wedding, corporate event, or any other occasion, the right blend of humor can transform a speech into a standout performance that everyone will remember.

Business & Comedy DO Mix! (Hire a funny writer)

 

The Power of Humor and Comedy in Business and Corporate Speeches, Events, and Meetings

In the often serious world of business and corporate environments, humor and comedy can serve as powerful tools to enhance communication, foster relationships, and create a more enjoyable and productive atmosphere. Incorporating humor into speeches, events, and meetings can lead to numerous benefits, ranging from breaking the ice to improving employee morale and engagement. Here’s why humor is such a potent force in the corporate world.

Breaking the Ice and Building Rapport

Humor is an excellent icebreaker, particularly in settings where people might not know each other well. A well-timed joke or humorous anecdote can lighten the mood, making people feel more at ease and open to communication. According to a study published in the Journal of Applied Psychology, humor can reduce social distance, making individuals more approachable and fostering a sense of camaraderie and teamwork among employees.

Enhancing Engagement and Retention

Corporate speeches and meetings can often be long and monotonous, leading to disengagement and a lack of focus. Integrating humor can capture the audience's attention and keep them engaged. When people laugh, they become more attentive and are better able to absorb and retain information. The Harvard Business Review notes that humor can enhance learning and memory, making it an effective tool for training sessions and presentations where information retention is crucial.

Promoting a Positive Work Environment

A workplace that embraces humor tends to have a more positive and supportive culture. Humor can act as a stress-reliever, reducing tension and promoting a sense of well-being among employees. This positive environment can lead to increased job satisfaction and reduced turnover rates. A study by Gallup found that employees who work in a fun and positive environment are more engaged and productive. By encouraging humor, companies can foster a culture where employees feel valued and motivated.

Strengthening Leadership and Influence

Leaders who use humor effectively can enhance their influence and likability. A leader who can laugh at themselves and share a joke is often seen as more relatable and human. This relatability can build trust and loyalty among employees. The Academy of Management Journal highlights that leaders who use humor can inspire greater creativity and collaboration within their teams. By incorporating humor into their communication style, leaders can create an environment where employees feel safe to share ideas and take risks.

Facilitating Difficult Conversations

Humor can also be a valuable tool in navigating difficult conversations and managing conflicts. When used appropriately, humor can diffuse tension and create a more open and constructive dialogue. For instance, during performance reviews or discussions about challenging topics, a light-hearted comment can make the conversation less intimidating and more productive. According to Forbes, humor can help manage and resolve conflicts by allowing people to express their feelings in a less confrontational way.

Boosting Innovation and Creativity

Humor encourages a more relaxed and open-minded atmosphere, which can be conducive to creativity and innovation. When employees feel free to express themselves without fear of judgment, they are more likely to contribute creative ideas and solutions. Fast Company reports that workplaces that foster humor and playfulness often see higher levels of innovation. This is because humor helps to break down hierarchical barriers and promotes a culture of inclusivity and collaboration.

How You WIN the Big Meeting or Event! 

Incorporating humor and comedy into business and corporate settings can transform the work environment, making it more engaging, positive, and productive. From breaking the ice and building rapport to enhancing leadership influence and promoting creativity, humor is a versatile and powerful tool. As companies strive to create more dynamic and enjoyable workplaces, the strategic use of humor can play a significant role in achieving these goals. Embracing humor not only enriches the corporate experience but also contributes to the overall success and well-being of both employees and organizations.

Be The Best (Funniest) Best Man You Can Be At the Wedding!

 

The Power of Humor in a Best Man Wedding Speech

A wedding is a celebration of love, commitment, and the joining of two lives. While the ceremony itself is often formal and solemn, the reception is a time for joy and celebration. One of the key moments at a wedding reception is the Best Man's speech. Traditionally, this speech includes anecdotes about the groom, heartfelt sentiments, and well-wishes for the newlyweds. However, adding jokes and humor to the Best Man’s speech can transform it from a simple formality into a memorable highlight of the wedding, creating a far superior experience for everyone involved.

Breaking the Ice

Weddings bring together people from various parts of the couple's lives—family, friends, colleagues—many of whom may not know each other well. Humor is a universal connector that can break the ice and help create a relaxed, convivial atmosphere. A well-placed joke at the beginning of the speech can ease any tension and set a light-hearted tone for the rest of the evening. According to an article on Brides.com, humor in wedding speeches can help guests feel more at ease and engaged, paving the way for a more enjoyable event.

Engaging the Audience

A Best Man’s speech filled with humor captures the audience’s attention and keeps them entertained. Unlike a dry, overly sentimental speech, humor can make the speech more dynamic and engaging. This engagement is crucial, as it ensures that guests are attentive and involved, rather than checking their watches or drifting off into conversation. WeddingWire suggests that funny wedding speeches are often the most memorable, as they stand out from the more predictable, sentimental ones.

Reflecting Personality and Relationship

Humor is a fantastic way to showcase the unique personality of the Best Man and his relationship with the groom. Funny stories and inside jokes not only entertain but also offer glimpses into the groom’s character and the bond shared with the Best Man. These personal touches make the speech more relatable and meaningful for the guests, who get to see a different side of the groom. As noted by The Knot, personalized anecdotes infused with humor can make the speech more impactful and memorable.

Balancing Sentiment and Laughter

While humor is important, it should be balanced with genuine emotion. A speech that is all jokes might come off as insincere. The key is to intersperse humorous anecdotes with heartfelt messages. This balance ensures that the speech is entertaining yet respectful of the occasion's significance. A well-crafted Best Man speech can make people laugh one moment and bring tears to their eyes the next. This emotional rollercoaster makes for a captivating and memorable speech.

Making Memories

Humorous speeches are often the ones guests talk about long after the wedding is over. They create lasting memories not just for the bride and groom but for everyone in attendance. A funny Best Man speech can become part of the wedding lore, shared and laughed about in future family gatherings and anniversaries. This lasting impact is a testament to the power of humor in creating memorable experiences.

Conclusion

Incorporating jokes and humor into a Best Man wedding speech elevates the experience for everyone involved. It breaks the ice, engages the audience, reflects the unique relationship between the Best Man and the groom, balances sentiment with laughter, and creates lasting memories. When done tastefully and thoughtfully, a humorous speech can become one of the most cherished parts of a wedding celebration. So, aspiring Best Men should not shy away from adding a touch of humor to their speeches, making the occasion not only special but also wonderfully unforgettable.

Improvising - Riffing - Working Off The Cuff

 Here is a piece I wrote for a prominent publication about an expert improvisational comedian in Los Angeles. It gives an idea of how improvising, or "riffing" can fit in as an excellent tool in the comedian's tool belt, and on occasion can even be used at celebratory or other special events even when working from a written out script. - Funny Biz Writers Head Writer Adam Groppman

It's around 11 a.m. on a Wednesday as Cash Levy enters a banquet room within the pleasant, faux-sylvan Etiwanda Gardens event center near Rancho Cucamonga. Sixty employees of a major Southern California utility mingle, kick back at round banquet tables or head over to the steaming buffet line.

After the crowd has eaten and settled in, Levy centers himself on the floor and addresses the group, microphone in hand.

“After this I'm actually doing the Johnson family brunch next door,” he says. “And then I'll be doing the early bird special at the Golden Corral.” Referring to the company's in-house magazine, he quips, “I'm being paid for this in a lifetime subscription to The Buzz.”

A minute in and the crowd has erupted in laughter several times. Which is exactly the point: The 40-year-old Levy is a stand-up comedian — one who specializes in the sort of gigs that would make many of his peers run for cover. It's barely noon on a weekday, there's no stage or special lighting, much less a drop of alcohol to be had, and the company that brought him here has mandated various restrictions on content: nothing even lightly sexual or religious, and no profanity. Not even “crap.” Even worse, this group is expecting restructuring and/or layoffs in the coming months. Not exactly a guaranteed giggle fest.

Yet Levy strongly connects. One of the keys: jokes tailor-made for the crowd.

“You're a black belt?” Levy queries a hefty man in front, having been informed of the employee's martial arts ranking. “Are they just giving those out now? I feel, like, if we fought, I could just kinda dodge you.”

Levy's delivery is droll and gentle. He sounds a bit like Mike Myers as Dr. Evil, with a shot of California surfer lilt. He uses his face — smirking lips and playful, expressive eyes — to excellent effect.

The corporate side of the stand-up industry contains many unorthodox gigs, and Levy takes the toughest. He's a sort of comedy commando, able to negotiate awkward situations and even thrive by using inspired improvisation.

Levy has employed this knack for creative contingency on a larger scale, carving out a career as a comedian, even as many conventional doors of the entertainment machine have remained closed to him. While he hasn't achieved the colossal payoffs that come with TV stardom, he has for years made a solid living.

Of his early touring years, he says, “You're going to Alaska or the Deep South, and you don't have a set that's going to work with all these different groups. So I talked to the crowd a lot. I didn't want to recite the same jokes, in the same order, every evening. I wanted each night to be its own story and unique experience for the audience.”

On the road, people sometimes come to see his act twice in a week, curious as to how Friday's content differs from Wednesday's.

Levy's predilection for onstage spontaneity reached its ultimate expression a couple years ago, when he taped a seven-camera, one-hour comedy special at a historic theater in Bend, Ore. Levy did the whole thing on spec, spending a large chunk of his yearly income on it with no television outlet lined up.

“ 'You can't market improvisation,' ” he says, repeating the industry's mantra. “ 'They'll see it live, but you can't sell it on TV.' I wanted to prove them wrong.”

For his comedy CD, Extemporaneous, he taped four different club shows and edited together an album's worth of hilarious, razor-sharp crowd riffing. But this was a risk of a different magnitude — both financially and artistically.

“I knew that AXS TV, formerly HD Net, had an emphasis on live programming,” Levy says. (The growing network, which reaches 35 million homes, is found at channel 340 on DirecTV.) “And their owner, Mark Cuban, is a risk-taking visionary. So I approached them personally, through their website. Within a week we had a deal.”

As of Oct. 25, Cash Levy: Crowd Control has been a featured part of AXS programming — the channel's first stand-up comedy special.

“Cash is the ultimate live comic,” Cuban tells the Weekly via email. “And AXS TV is the ESPN of music and pop culture, including live comedy. He is hilarious and it's a great fit.”

Throughout the special, Levy asks various audience members what they do.

“Highway flagger!” he repeats, after querying a man. “You could get people to crash if you feel like it. You have a lot more power than people realize.” Levy then gestures errant flagging and makes a car-crash sound effect.

“Having an hour on national TV is so rare,” says Andrew Norelli, a comedian who recently appeared on Late Show with David Letterman. “And Cash's special is really groundbreaking with all the improvisation. It should create a lot of opportunities for him in Hollywood.”

Adds legendary comedy manager Barry Katz, “The greatest thing about it is you got a guy who did an amazing job on a special, produced it well and sold it when so many other people sit around and say, 'Why doesn't anyone believe in me? This town is fucked.' ”

Cash Levy: Crowd Control will be rebroadcast on AXS TV on Thursday, Dec. 20. In the six weeks the special has been offered on AXS, Levy has already seen heightened interest in his work: “It's gotten a lot of people on Twitter, and led to some different live shows around the country. I also have some meetings set up around L.A.”

He plans to pitch a sitcom script he co-wrote and is finishing a nonfiction book about his hobby of sneaking into major, high-ticket events, including multiple Super Bowls, titled No Ticket Required.

Levy also has established a successful podcast, Cashing in With T.J. Miller, on the influential Nerdist Network.

Still, corporate gigs remain the Manhattan Beach resident's bread and butter. And the most powerful experience Levy recalls is an “In Memoriam” show in the house of a military serviceman killed at 19 in Iraq.

“I wanted to be very careful about the subject matter,” Levy relates, somberly. “And I was nervous about saying the wrong thing, but it turned out to be a great release for them. They needed to laugh, and I was honored to be able to deliver it.”

Is it a Roast or a Funny Speech?

When it comes to an event speech for a wedding, birthday, anniversary, retirement or other major life event- a lot of people decide, wisely, that they want to use effective, good-natured humor in their speech. Using humor in almost any situation- whether it be a private event, a business or corporate setting, or a public service or political context- makes the listeners far more engaged, interested and sympathetic to the message and the speaker his or herself. They become more likable and charismatic when successful, effective humor- or comedy- is used. 

Some people eagerly use the word "roast" for what they'd like to deliver, in spoken words honoring the person or persons around whom the event is planned. For these folks, a roast is not a thing to be feared or dismissed as too crude or scary, but is an occasion for maximum enjoyment, laughs and celebrating the quirks and outstanding anecdotes of a friend or loved one.

For others, however, the word "roast" brings thoughts and images of a vicious, out-of-bounds, verbal attack-fest, in the style of those seen late at night on Comedy Central, with "jokes" so scandalously harsh that one is amazed they can be said on TV at all. 

In reality, however, most private event roasts are more about good-natured fun and gently poking the honoree about some of their individual traits, quirks, biographical bullet points and notable anecdotes than it is about making those in the audience gasp or fall over red-faced in utter disbelief.

Many roast jokes at a wedding, birthday, anniversary, retirement or other life event party can be about relatively benign aspects of a person's life and a lot of such jokes are actually about a person's strengths, not their weaknesses. One might make a playful joke referring to how the honoree is an amazing skier, a genius level chemistry student, or is ultra responsible about work and other obligations. Even jokes about weaknesses are more silly and absurd than they are actually mean or intended to cause harm.

There is an old saying "People roast the ones they love," which brings out the truth that to be put in the spotlight and joked about is almost always a far more inclusive and warm act than to be left alone and not commented on. While being on the receiving end of a good-natured and loving roast may be out of some people's comfort zone, for most honorees of this time honored, highly personalized and hilarious, it is understood as a sign of belonging and a testament to the fact that one is not boring and forgettable. 

And when an honoree and an audience are on board for a well written roast, the opportunity for genuine- and sometimes raucous- laughter, joy and appreciation is nearly limitless.