Did your joke bomb on stage? 4 tips to keep the laughs going

Good morning,

You know that moment when you’re standing on stage, brimming with confidence, about to drop what you believe is an absolute gem of a joke. But instead of laughter, you’re met with… crickets. Yikes, the sting can be rough!

As someone who’s spent countless hours navigating stages and audiences, here’s the good news: Every joke that flops is a GOLDEN opportunity. Yes, really.

It's universally agreed that humour is subjective. Some jokes land beautifully while others can... totally miss the mark. So here’s the key: don’t let one quiet joke throw you off your game. Because what we fear and perceive to be a "total flop" can become a glorious moment to build both connection and authenticity.

So, what do you do when your joke bombs? Here’s my go-to survival guide:

1. Embrace the silence (and totally own it)

If a joke falls flat, our instinct is to cringe and move on, but don’t go so fast! Confidence is everything here. Show your audience you’re comfortable, even when things don’t go as planned. And they’ll love you for it.

2. Acknowledge the awkwardness with humour

If there’s an elephant in the room, and everyone can see/ feel/ hear it, call it out! Don’t ignore it. If everyone is thinking about it, you must address it! And when you do, try using some self-deprecating humour or sarcasm like: “Thank you! I’ll be here all week… assuming you don’t ask me to leave right after this session.” By addressing the flop with humour, you show that you’re human and that you can laugh at yourself – and audiences appreciate that!

3. Turn it into a callback

A callback in comedy is when a comedian refers back to a previous joke, punchline, or funny moment from earlier in their set. It’s like revisiting an inside joke with the audience, and in many cases, it can get an even bigger laugh than the original reference.

So if at first you don’t succeed, try using your attempted joke (aka flop) as a callback! This can transform a poor joke into an inside joke between you and your audience, and that’s powerful! If you execute this correctly, by the end, that joke has the potential to become the biggest laugh that everyone remembers!

4. Keep moving and keep the energy high

Sometimes, the best approach is acknowledging the flop (as above) and then just moving forward. You’ll have to trust your gut to read the room to determine the exact timing; but consider moving gracefully with a tongue-in-cheek transition like “And now, moving right along before I dig myself an even bigger hole!” This keeps the pace going, brings a laugh to the room, and shows professionalism because you’re not letting any single moment derail you.

In the end, it's all about your recovery

Your ability to laugh at yourself and have fun is one of the strongest tools a speaker can have in their arsenal. It’s a game-changer and a life-saver!

Your audience won’t remember every joke (good or bad!) but they will remember how you handle a challenge. Keep your energy high, keep the momentum going, and most importantly, keep smiling. One flopped joke doesn’t define your performance; how you recover and manage the moment, does.

Sending you courage, confidence, and lots of glitter,

Jordana xx