The Entertaining Speech
There was no respect for youth when I was young,
and now that I am old there is no respect for age.
I missed it coming and going.
– J. B. Priestley
Unlike the Persuasive Speech, which changes mindsets, and the Informative Speech, which transfers knowledge, an Entertaining Speech makes the speaker and the listener feel good about life and themselves. An Entertaining Speech is light, fun, and gracious. Speeches in the form of toasts, roasts, stand-ups, and after-dinner chats are examples of entertaining speeches. An Entertaining Speech sells or promotes happiness and gratitude. Still, as speeches go, the Entertaining Speech needs a good opening, a good closing, and a fun-filled reflective middle. The closing need not be a summary or a call for action, but it needs to end on a high and happy note.
The elements of an entertaining speech are:
• Several humorous anecdotes about the characters involved
• Dialogues between characters
• A “flip” look at serious things
• Preferably spoken in the first person and told in the present tense
• Ideas and suggestions in the speech should be quick on the set-up and quicker on the
punch
• Several voice modulations should be part of the delivery style
• It should not be very long
The speaker also needs to open up and get close to the audience mentally, physically, and emotionally.