Peter Francis is President of South Ashby Consulting, an  Advanced Toastmaster - Silver (ATM-S) and a member of National Speakers Association (NSA) Toastmasters Club.  Don't let these serious credentials fool you because Peter Francis is a very funny guy. 

On Saturday morning October 21, 2000, Peter Francis demonstrated his gift of humor by leading the first
educational session at the District 3 Fall Conference in Tucson, Arizona.

At the very beginning of the session, Peter made his purpose crystal clear by saying, "I'm not here to make you laugh.  I'm here to make you funny." But make us laugh he did and as a bonus Peter gave us tips on how to use
humor effectively.   Before telling us the tools and tricks of the trade, Peter helped us to see the benefits of humor and why it is so important to incorporate humor into all rpesentations.  Humor makes people feel good.
Humor builds people up.  Humor includes others and thus is a community builder.  Humor breaks down walls and barriers and thus facilitates communication.  Humor helps to release tension and make people feel comfortable.

Peter shared with us his Do's and Don'ts of Humor.

DON'Ts of Humor
     1. Respect your audience. 
         Don't force your humor on them.
     2. Respect your audience. 
         Don't step on your their laughter.
     3. Respect your audience.  Don't do long jokes.
     4. Respect your audience. 
         Don't do dialects if you don't do them well.
     5. Respect your audience. 
         Don't use sarcasm, put downs, or off color
or offensive language.
     6. Respect yourself.  Don't step on your own lines.

DOs of Humor
     1. Carefully structure the humor of your speech.  Humor is both and art
and a craft.
     2. Practice, practice, pray.  Practice you timing.  Humor is prepared impromptu communication.
     3. Interact with the audience before your presentation.  Meet the people beforehand, listen to their stories.  Include your audience in your presentation but don't embarrass anyone.
     4. Look for opportunities to stack you humor.  Remember the Rule of 3.
     5. Facial expression are important.  Let the audience know you care for them through your face, your eyes, your smile.
     6. Strive for richness in communication.  Use descriptive words,
colorful phrases, and vocal variety.
     7. Use self-effacing humor.  Laugh at something you are comfortable with about yourself.
     8. Tell your own stories.

Peter's Hot List
     1. Record every speech you give.  Then listen/watch the tape and give yourself a good evaluation.  Look for what worked well and for what can be improved.
     2. Find out what type of humor works best for you by practicing humor in all aspects of your life.  Start small and work you way up.  Start in your Toastmasters meeting.  Put humor into your functionary descriptions, into your Table Topics, into your speeches.
     3. Never give a speech that doesn't include some humor or a story.
     4. Humor is planned spontaneity.  Look for humor everywhere.  Be a student of humor.
     5. Always try to engage you audience by meeting the people before your presentation and try to include them in your presentation.  Remember - respect your audience.
     6. Tell stories that you like.  Use humor that fits your personality. Remember - respect yourself.
     7. Humor is a risk, but a risk worth taking.
     8. Rehearse it until you own it.
     9. Customize and revitalize old material.
   10. Find a humor filter, someone whose opinion you respect.  Try your humor out on them.  Get honest feedback and act on the feedback.
   11. Help people find a place of enjoyment and comfort.
   12. End your presentation with a personal note.  Put the audience first. Respect your audience.

Throughout the session, Peter demonstrated his DOs and DON'Ts by including the audience in his presentation, stacking his humor, taking audience responses and creating funny twists, telling humorous stories about 
himself, his family, and his many Toastmaster friends.  Peter definitely did make us laugh, but I can't say nobody got hurt.  My sides are still aching from laughing so hard.  Peter's educational session seemed much too short,
because we were having so much fun.

You can contact Peter Francis at peter@southashby.com.