You’ve felt it. That awkward, heavy silence in a room right before a speaker takes the stage. It’s thick. You can practically hear the air conditioning humming. Then, the lights dim, someone walks out, and—boom—they crack a self-deprecating line about their flight or the venue’s coffee. The tension snaps. Suddenly, you aren’t just a captive audience member; you’re a participant.
Public speakers, from CEOs at tech keynotes to comedians at the Comedy Cellar, use a specific psychological lever: they’re known to open with some jokes because it’s the fastest way to build social capital. It isn't just about being funny. Most people think it’s just filler. They’re wrong. It’s actually a sophisticated "status-leveling" maneuver that makes an expert seem approachable while simultaneously proving they have the confidence to take a risk.
If you can make someone laugh, you’ve basically bypassed their brain's natural skepticism.
The Science of the First Laugh
Why do we do this? Honestly, it's biological. When a crowd laughs together, their brains release oxytocin. This is the "bonding hormone." It signals to the group that the person on stage is part of the "in-group" and not a threat.
Researchers at the University of Warwick have actually looked into how humor affects workplace productivity and leadership perception. They found that leaders who use humor are perceived as more "human" and, interestingly, more competent. If you can handle a room with a joke, you look like you’re in control. It shows you aren't terrified, even if your palms are sweating.
Think about late-night hosts. People like Stephen Colbert or Jimmy Fallon don't start with the news. They start with the monologue. They're known to open with some jokes because it sets the "vibe" for the next hour. If the monologue kills, the rest of the show feels like a breeze. If it bombs? You can feel the energy drain out of the building. It’s high-stakes gambling with words.
The "Safe" Joke vs. The "Risk" Joke
Not all openers are created equal. You’ve got the safe ones—the "dad jokes" or the situational humor about the weather. Then you’ve got the risky stuff.
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Comedians like Bill Burr or the late George Carlin often opened with something intentionally provocative. This is a different strategy. They aren't trying to make you like them; they're trying to see if you’re "tough" enough for their set. It’s a filter. If you laugh at the dark opener, they know they have you for the next 60 minutes. If you gasp, they know they have to work harder to win you over—or they just lean into the antagonism.
Most corporate speakers stay in the "Safe Zone." They use self-deprecation. "I know I'm the only thing standing between you and the open bar," is a cliché for a reason. It works. It acknowledges the elephant in the room. It says, "I know you'd rather be somewhere else, and I'm on your side."
Why We Expect It Now
We’ve been conditioned by TED Talks and Netflix specials. We expect an "infotainment" experience. If a presenter walks up and immediately starts reading data points from a slide, our brains shut off. We go to our phones.
But if they start with a story that has a punchline? We’re locked in.
There’s this concept called the "Benign Violation Theory." Developed by Peter McGraw at the University of Colorado Boulder, it suggests that humor happens when something seems "wrong" or "threatening" but is actually safe. An expert admitting they messed up their first big project is a "violation" of their expert status, but it's "benign" because they're successful now. That’s why they’re known to open with some jokes that poke fun at their own failures. It makes the audience feel superior for a second, which makes them more willing to listen to the "lesson" later.
The Cultural Divide in Humor
Context is everything. You can't use the same joke in Tokyo that you use in New York.
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In some cultures, opening with a joke can actually undermine your authority. In high-power-distance cultures, people expect the speaker to be serious and formal. If you come out swinging with a "knock-knock" joke in a boardroom in certain parts of East Asia or Germany, you might see some confused faces. They might think you aren't taking the topic seriously.
But in the US, UK, and Australia? Humor is the lubricant of business. If you aren't funny, you're boring. And being boring is the ultimate sin in modern communication.
The Technical Art of the Opener
How do they actually do it? It’s rarely spontaneous.
Most "improvised" openers are carefully scripted. They’ve been tested in smaller rooms or on friends. A good opener follows a specific rhythm:
- The Observation: Something everyone in the room is seeing or feeling.
- The Twist: A perspective on that observation that is unexpected.
- The Release: The punchline where the audience gets to let out that built-up tension.
A speaker might look at the tiny bottled waters on the podium and say, "I appreciate the water, but I feel like I'm about to perform surgery on a hamster." It’s a tiny observation. It’s relatable. It breaks the "perfection" of the stage.
Misconceptions About Being "Funny"
You don’t have to be a stand-up comedian. In fact, being too funny can be a problem. If your jokes are better than your content, people will remember the laugh but forget the message.
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The goal is to be "light," not "hilarious." You want a chuckle, a smirk, or a collective "ha!" You don't necessarily need a standing ovation after two minutes. People who try too hard usually end up looking desperate. Desperation is the opposite of authority.
The best speakers use humor as a bridge. It’s a way to get from the "I don't know you" stage to the "I trust you" stage. Once that bridge is built, you can carry the heavy cargo of your actual speech across it.
When the Joke Fails
It happens. Even the pros bomb.
The difference is how they handle the silence. A rookie will panic, sweat, and maybe apologize. "Sorry, that was funnier in my head," is a death sentence. It highlights the failure.
A pro will acknowledge the bomb. They’ll make a joke about the joke failing. This is a "save." It shows that their ego isn't tied to the joke. If they can laugh at themselves failing, they're still in control. It’s meta-humor.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Presentation
If you want to use the "they’re known to open with some jokes" strategy effectively, you need a plan that doesn't feel like a plan.
- Audit the Room: Before you speak, stand in the back. Listen to what people are complaining about. Is the room too cold? Is the parking lot a nightmare? Use that. Real-time humor is 10x more effective than a canned joke.
- The 10-Second Rule: Your joke should be over in 10 seconds. If it takes a minute to set up the premise, you've lost the momentum. Short, punchy, and relevant.
- Test the "Vibe": If the event is somber or high-stress, use "relief humor." If it’s high-energy, use "observational humor." Match the frequency of the room before you try to change it.
- Self-Deprecate, Don't Self-Destruct: Poke fun at your height, your tie, or your inability to use the clicker. Do not poke fun at your expertise or the importance of the topic. You want them to like you, but you still want them to believe you know what you’re talking about.
- Have a "Bridge" Ready: Know exactly how you’re going to transition from the laugh back to the serious stuff. A simple "But in all seriousness..." is a classic for a reason. It signals the end of the "play" period and the beginning of the "work" period.
The reality is that they’re known to open with some jokes because human beings are social animals who crave connection. We want to know that the person talking to us is real. Humor is the shortest distance between two people. Use it wisely, and you don't just get their attention—you get their permission to lead the conversation.