Entertainment is any activity that holds a person’s

attention and interest or that provides amusement or

enjoyment to occupy spare time. There are different
forms of entertainment. You can entertain yourself by
reading a book, watching TV, listening to music,
playing a musical instrument, solving a puzzle,
drawing an artwork, going to the movies, chatting
online with your friends, and surfing the Internet,
among others. Often, amusement comes from
storytelling or watching others give a performance
(e.g., dance, music, drama).
You have probably listened to people give an
entertaining talk at various social occasions. These
include casual dinners, parties, graduations, and
weddings. An entertainment speech aims to amuse
audience members and put them in a jovial mood.
Although it can also inform or persuade, its primary
focus is to entertain an audience or create a pleasant or
interesting diversion.
There are various ways to make a speech
entertaining. Here are some of these ways:
• Tell a funny or a scary story.
• Use a humorous story or an anecdote.
• Relate a personal experience.
• Incorporate drama by using narration and dialogue.
• Use sarcasm, exaggeration, or pun (play on words which suggests two or
more meanings, such as “A bicycle can't stand on its own because it is two-
tired”).
It is important to note, however, that an entertainment speech does not
need to be funny all the time and all throughout. It should be interesting
enough to hold the attention of the audience members, and it should create
an enjoyable experience for them.
Tips on Making and Delivering an Entertainment Speech
Giving an entertainment speech can be difficult since you need to
ensure that your speech will create a pleasant atmosphere and that the
audience will have an enjoyable experience. The following are some
pointers on how to successfully entertain an audience:
• Know your audience. As for any type of speech, it is important to
know and assess your audience. Since the audience members usually
gather to have a good time, find out what interests them. Think about
how you can give them what they came for. Remember that you are
there to entertain the audience, not yourself.
• Decide on a topic or theme. Choose a significant topic that is
appropriate to the audience and the occasion. Talk about things
familiar to the audience. Although an entertaining speech is meant to
be amusing, it should still convey an essential point. Use entertaining
strategies to impart a serious message.
• Start with an attention-grabber. Have an engaging opening in your
introduction. You can open with a joke, an incident, or a striking fact
that is related to your topic.
 Tips on Making and Delivering an Entertainment Speech

• Use simple language and vivid descriptions. Since your main purpose is to
entertain, this is not the time to use technical or complex words. Use
simple words so it will be easy for the audience to follow your speech. Also,
bring a strong image into the minds of the audience members through
vivid descriptions. Use sensory words that appeal to their senses.
• Use humor effectively. The ability to make people laugh is not an easy
task. Humor is subjective, so what may be humorous to you may not be
humorous to another or to other cultures. Nonetheless, humor is a great
way to make the audience feel relaxed. You can add a little humor, but you
should make sure that it does not offend or insult others.
• Use appropriate nonverbal cues. To add flair to your speech, use
appropriate facial expressions (e.g., flashing a big smile), body movements
(e.g., moving around the stage), and large gestures (e.g., spreading hands
apart to indicate length, distance, or size).