Well, howdy there! You wanna know how to get them folks entertained and laughing, huh? Let me tell ya, it ain’t rocket science. You just gotta be yourself, be real, and talk like you’re chattin’ with your neighbor over the fence.
First off, you gotta make sense. Don’t go ramblin’ like a lost goose. Keep your story straight. If you’re talkin’ ‘bout chickens, stick to chickens. Don’t jump to cows then back to the weather. Folks get confused easy, ya know? Like when you’re makin’ a stew, you gotta put the carrots and potatoes in first, then the meat. You can’t just throw everything in at once, or it’ll be a mess.
And pictures! Lordy, folks love pictures. If you got a story about that big ol’ pumpkin you grew, show ‘em a picture! It’s like when you’re showin’ off your grandkids – you don’t just talk about ‘em, you pull out them photos! You can use that computer thingy, whatchamacallit, a PowerPoint, yeah, that’s it. Put some pictures up there so they can see what you’re jabberin’ about. It keeps their eyes busy and their minds from wanderin’ off to what’s for supper.
- Show, don’t just tell!
- Pictures keep folks interested.
- PowerPoints ain’t just for fancy city folk.
Now, you gotta tell ‘em where you’re at in your story. Don’t leave ‘em hangin’ like clothes on a line. You gotta say things like, “Now, the next thing that happened was…” or “So, after that…” It’s like givin’ directions. You can’t just say “go that way.” You gotta say, “Go down this road, turn left at the big oak tree, and then it’s the second house on the right.”
And for goodness sake, don’t beat around the bush! If you’re sellin’ somethin’, just say it! Don’t pussyfoot around. If you got the best darn tomatoes in the county, tell ‘em! Don’t go on and on about the sunshine and the rain. Folks ain’t got all day. They wanna know if your tomatoes are worth buyin’. It’s like when you’re at the market. You don’t want the fella to talk your ear off about how he grew the apples. You want to know if they’re sweet and juicy.
Be straight up. Tell ‘em what you want, what you’re sellin’, or what you’re talkin’ about. Don’t be shy like a scared cat. Folks respect honesty, even if they don’t agree with ya. It’s like when you’re borrowin’ sugar from your neighbor. You don’t go in there and talk about the weather for an hour. You ask for the sugar, say thank you, and go on your way.
And now, the most important part: make ‘em laugh. Life’s too short to be serious all the time. Find the funny in everyday things. Like that time the rooster got stuck in the rain barrel, or when your husband tried to fix the leaky faucet and ended up flooding the kitchen. Them kinda stories make folks chuckle. You don’t have to be a comedian, just tell it like it is. Everyone loves a good laugh.
Remember that TV show, somethin’ about nothin’? That Seinfeld fella? He made a whole show about regular stuff! Like waitin’ in line at the store, or eatin’ cereal. And people loved it! ‘Cause it’s real! It’s the stuff that happens to all of us. So don’t try to be fancy. Just talk about what ya know.
Be yourself. That’s the most important thing. Don’t try to be some fancy pants from the city. Folks can see right through that. Just be you, be real, and tell your story like you’re tellin’ it to a friend over a cup of coffee. And don’t forget to smile! A smile goes a long way.
So, there ya have it. That’s my two cents on how to entertain folks and make ‘em laugh. It ain’t hard. Just be yourself, keep it simple, and have a little fun. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I gotta go check on them chickens.
Tags: [entertain, audience, laugh, speech, presentation, funny, humor, storytelling, engage, communication]
