✔ Full workshop participation
✔ Group exercises
✔ Observe live coaching
✔ Bonus resource kit
FINDING THE FUNNY | Global Edition 2026
March 17, 2026 | Pullman Cairns International
17 Abbott Street, Cairns QLD 4870 Australia
A Half-Day Immersive Workshop
With Tim Gard, CSP, CPAE – Hall of Fame Speaker & Workplace Humor Expert
It's time to stop being “good” and start being remembered, get higher fees and get greater respect.
You already know your content works.
You have stories that have earned laughs.
Openings that usually engage.
Moments that feel solid and familiar.
And yet, the response is not always consistent.
Some rooms lean in immediately.
Others stay polite.
Some laughs strengthen the message.
Others quietly pull attention away from it.
As expectations rise and audiences become more diverse, instinct alone becomes unreliable. The difference between a good reaction and a great one is no longer chance. It is structure.
View ticket options below
Stop Guessing. Start Designing the Response.
Finding the Funny is built around a simple idea:
Connection is not accidental. It is intentional.
This workshop focuses on how humor, story, and structure actually function in professional environments, so every moment works with your message instead of competing against it.
You will refine how you:
Identify humor already present in your material
Shape stories so they reinforce meaning
Create moments that are remembered and repeated
Navigate boundaries without losing edge or warmth
Adjust delivery without losing your natural voice
The goal is not to add more content.
The goal is to make what you already have work harder.
Props With a Purpose
Tim’s iconic use of visual props has made him unforgettable on stage — but this segment goes far beyond novelty.
You’ll learn how props can:
Clarify complex ideas
Reinforce key messages through visual metaphor
Increase emotional response and memory recall
Support premium experiences or product extensions
Early in his career, other keynote speakers teased Tim about his comedic use of props. Today, many of those same speakers hire him to help them become unforgettable.
The takeaway is simple: props should support the story, not distract from it.
THE WORKSHOP: What Actually Happens in the Room
This is not a lecture and it is not theoretical.
More than half of the session is built around live coaching and real-time demonstration. You will watch material evolve in the room and see exactly what changes impact and why.
Observation is deliberate. Watching real work happen sharpens awareness faster than abstract instruction ever could.
You leave with clearer instincts and stronger decisions around your content.
What We’ll Cover:
- The Myth of “Natural Funny”
- Finding Your Humor Voice (not mine)
- Story Architecture That Travels Globally
- Humor That Builds Trust (and Humor That Breaks It)
- Props, Patterns, and Permission
- Live Hot Seat Coaching (real work, not theory)
Jump to registration options
Finding the Funny – Core Concepts
We begin with the fundamentals of humor and why it matters for connection, trust, and message retention.
Tim introduces his Bell Curve of Humor, a simple, practical framework that helps you understand when humor helps — and when it quietly hurts your message.
You’ll learn how to:
- Identify natural humor already hidden inside your stories
- Create humor without forcing punchlines
- Distinguish inclusive humor from risky humor
- Use humor strategically and authentically
- Sound more like you, not like a comedian
- How NLP-based preparation helps audiences engage faster
- How to respond to unexpected moments with confidence and humor
You’ll gain tools that make humor feel intentional, aligned, and true to your personal style.
Jump to registration options
Props With a Purpose
Tim’s iconic use of visual props has made him unforgettable on stage — but this segment goes far beyond novelty.
You’ll learn how props can:
Clarify complex ideas
Reinforce key messages through visual metaphor
Increase emotional response and memory recall
Support premium experiences or product extensions
Early in his career, other keynote speakers teased Tim about his comedic use of props. Today, many of those same speakers hire him to help them become unforgettable.
The takeaway is simple: props should support the story, not distract from it.
WHO THIS IS DESIGNED FOR
This workshop is for speakers, trainers, and presenters who already have experience but know their material could land stronger. It’s ideal if you have stories that aren’t being remembered or repeated, if you’re working internationally or with multicultural audiences and worry about humor missing the mark, and if you don’t want to be “funnier” so much as more effective. This workshop is for those who want audiences to say, “I don’t just remember what they said—I remember them,” and who are looking to generate more referral and repeat bookings.
If your work requires:
Commanding attention
Establishing trust quickly
Holding energy without forcing it
Being remembered for the right reasons
Then this workshop speaks your language.
“Can I Say That?” – Humor Across Cultures
We all laugh in the same language… mostly.
In a global workplace, the wrong joke — or even the wrong word — can derail your message or your reputation.
Drawing from his popular keynote, Tim explains how to use humor responsibly and confidently across borders.
You’ll learn:
The Cultural Humor Filter
The difference between edgy and inappropriate humor
How to recover gracefully when humor misses
Common global humor “no-go zones”
Why funny stories travel better than funny jokes
Tim’s TIIP Framework: Timing, Intent, Impact, Parties involved
Why workplace standards apply even at conferences
This session blends real stories, personal insight, and practical frameworks — including Tim’s own successes and failures as he built his brand internationally.
LIVE COACHING — The Heart of the Workshop
More than 50% of this experience is live, praa
More than 50% of this experience is live, practical coaching.
Tim will work directly with selected participants to:
ctical coaching.
Tim will work directly with selected participants to:
Restructure stories using the Million Dollar Story framework
Clarify message and intention
Add or remove humor strategically
Strengthen emotional impact
Integrate props without distraction
Understand the difference between a story documentary and a story feature film
Even if you’re not coached directly, you’ll gain invaluable insight by watching stories evolve in real time — seeing exactly what works, what doesn’t, and why.
Choose your ticket option below
Why Work With Tim Gard?
- Trusted by top speakers worldwide — many of whom coach others
- Known for helping people find their humor voice, not imitate his
- Over 3,900–4,000 presentations delivered globally
- Deep experience navigating cultural nuance
- A rare blend of humor, heart, structure, and strategy
Tim doesn’t teach jokes.
He helps you become recognizable, relatable, and re-bookable.
Bonus Resource Kit (Included)
Priceless!! Not Available Anywhere Else
Every participant receives tools to extend learning beyond the session:
1-hour Making of a Million Dollar Story (2026 Edition)
Universal Humor vs. Cultural No-Go’s Cheat Sheet
Prop Integration Brainstorm Template
Being Memorable highlights guide
Be Memorable Video with Strong content Seriously funny material (October 2025)
20 minute session for MDRT 2023
Secrets of Choosing and Using Props
From 9-5 to Hall of fame
CSP Summit Singapore video Be Unforgettable
Bonus: There will be special appearances by Marty Wilson (world-class comedian and speaker) and Michael Arnot (Encore Speakers owner). Michael and Marty are founders of Mainstage Speakers. Both will participate, act as resources and help during the live hot seat coaching. Several other surprise guests are scheduled to appear.
Hear What People Have to Say
“Working with Tim Gard was a genuinely positive and confidence-building experience. I came to him with a clear goal: to develop a new program for a specific industry and adapt my messaging so it truly resonated and it built in some much needed humour. Tim helped me expand and explore my stories in a way that felt natural, authentic, and aligned with who I am as a speaker.
What stood out most was how collaborative the process felt. My voice was never overshadowed by his style or approach—which, frankly, had been an issue for me with other coaches in the past. Tim listened. He asked thoughtful questions. He guided without taking over. At every stage, I felt respected, supported, and fully myself in the work.
He’s attentive, insightful, and genuinely fun to work with. Most importantly, I never once felt “less than” in the process. If you’re a speaker looking to refine your message, add an element of fun and humor to your stories, and do it in a way that still sounds like you, Tim is an exceptional partner in that journey.“
— Beverly Beuermann-King, CSP Past Preaiswnr CAPS
“Tim reviewed my keynote speeches, found natural moments where I could insert humor, and validated my own comedic instincts. Before working with him, I had occasional humorous moments. After working with him, I started seeing humor everywhere—and using it intentionally.
The impact has been immediate and measurable. Audiences are laughing more, and even a meeting professional said to me, “You’ve made some changes to your keynote, right? You’re much more humorous than last year.”
What I appreciate most is that Tim didn’t try to make me funnier by turning me into someone else. He helped me see that the humor was already within me—and showed me how to bring it forward with confidence. The result has been stronger audience connection, more memorable talks, and greater impact on global stages.
— Allison Shapira
Choose Your Level of Experience
General Access
AUD $499
- Full workshop participation
- Group exercises
- Observe live coaching
- Bonus resource kit
VIP Experience
AUD $1,499
Ideal for speakers who want direct feedback and clarity.
Includes everything in General Access, plus:
- Submit your story in advance
- Live, on-stage coaching with Tim
- Personalized feedback
- Post-workshop video review
* Best for speakers ready to refine a specific story
Private Coaching
(Limited Availability)
For speakers ready to go deeper — and faster.
Includes:
- 90-minute pre-event Zoom strategy session
- Private half-day, one-on-one intensive with Tim
- Two follow-up Zoom sessions
- Story, message, brand, and positioning refinement
*Email engage@timgard.com for availability
Final Thought
This isn’t about being funnier. It’s about being:
More Clear
More human.
More memorable.
When that happens, audiences do not just respond in the moment.
They remember.
They talk.
They invite you back.
Select General, VIP, or Private Coaching above