Humor Techniques for the Keynote Stage
In this conversation, I sit down with Andrew Tarvin, keynote speaker, comedian, and creator of a TEDx talk with over 15 million views, to explore how humor can transform your speaking and open doors you didn't know existed. From creating laughs on purpose to structuring comedy into your content, Andrew breaks down the exact techniques that turn good speakers into unforgettable ones. (Watch full video below!)
🔸 Key Topics Covered:
🟧 Humor Is a Skill: Why being funny isn't about natural talent, it's about learning structure, testing material, and being intentional with every laugh.
🟧 The Comic Triple Formula: How a simple pattern of three (with the third being unexpected) can instantly add levity to introductions, bios, LinkedIn headlines, and keynote moments.
🟧 Where to Place Your Laughs: The data-backed sweet spot for humor in TEDx talks (5-10% laughter time), plus the three tentpole moments every talk needs: a strong open, a powerful close, and something memorable in the middle.
🟧 Humor Bragging Without the Ego: How to share impressive credentials while staying relatable, like mentioning 15 million views, then adding "only half of which were from my mom."
🟧 Tags and Layering: Why one punchline is good, but two is better, and how to extend laughter without adding much extra work.
🟧 Test Before You TEDx: Why even experienced comedians run new material past live audiences before stepping on stage, and how you can do the same with coaches, communities, or Zoom calls.
🟧 Extemporaneous vs. Scripted: When winging it works (keynotes, personality-driven speakers) and when precision matters (TEDx talks, high-stakes moments), plus how to know which style fits you best.
