John Mulaney’s Bold Performance at Salesforce’s Dreamforce Conference
Last week, comedian John Mulaney surprised a group of Salesforce employees with a bold statement: they could be “replaced very quickly.” Speaking at Salesforce’s annual Dreamforce conference in San Francisco, Mulaney didn’t hold back, saying, “You all look like a bunch of people who saw a CVS self-checkout counter and thought, ‘This is the future.'”
Mulaney’s remarks reflected a growing conversation around automation and artificial intelligence (AI), adding a comedic twist by implying that even tech-savvy employees are not immune to the rapid rise of AI. “If AI is smarter than us and says we deserve to die, maybe we do,” he added, driving home his point with biting humor. He went on to say that many of the employees seemed as though they could be easily replaced.
Salesforce’s Unique Position in the Tech World
Salesforce, a leading cloud-based AI customer relationship platform, often finds itself at the center of jokes due to its eccentric CEO and the confusion surrounding its actual services. Yet, no one at Salesforce likely expected Mulaney to mock its employees so directly at Dreamforce.
According to the San Francisco Standard, Mulaney’s jokes left the audience groaning. He poked fun at corporate jargon and tech stereotypes, quipping, “There are 45,000 ‘trailblazers’ here, but that doesn’t make the title any less ridiculous.” He even teased the idea that AI could replace human tasks like hanging out at the bar or attending corporate events in fleece vests.
John Mulaney’s Appearance Goes Viral
Mulaney’s Dreamforce performance quickly made waves on social media. Users praised his outspokenness, with one social media user commenting, “We should bully geeks more often.” Another tech commentator, Dare Obasanjo, noted, “Every time I log on to LinkedIn, I feel like I’m John Mulaney at Dreamforce.”
This isn’t the first time a comedian has poked fun at Salesforce. Last year, Seth Meyers made similar jokes at the same event, mocking the company’s use of terms like “trailblazer” and “architect,” suggesting that even real architects don’t use the word in the way Salesforce does.
Why Companies Like Salesforce Hire Comedians
Corporate events like Dreamforce often feature big-name comedians for entertainment, but there’s always a risk involved. John Mulaney, a former Saturday Night Live writer, is known for his sharp humor and doesn’t shy away from controversial statements. Companies like Salesforce hire celebrities for the publicity and the chance to post post-event photos on social media, even if the comedy takes jabs at the company itself.
Greg Schwem, a corporate comedian, explains that when celebrities are invited to these events, companies have to accept whatever they deliver on stage. In contrast, comedians who specialize in corporate gigs, like those from The Comedy Company, tend to avoid controversial jokes to ensure they don’t jeopardize future bookings.
Navigating Corporate Comedy
To ensure things run smoothly, corporate comedians typically work closely with event organizers to gauge the “tone” of the event and avoid sensitive topics. Comedian Simon Mandel shared a story about performing at a festival where half the audience knew they were about to be laid off. “No one told me that beforehand,” he recalled, emphasizing the importance of understanding the audience’s mood.
Experienced event planners like Gianna Gaudini, who has organized events for companies like Google and Amazon Web Services, often brief comedians on company protocols and include clauses in contracts outlining off-limits topics.
Mulaney’s Payoff: Was It Worth the Risk?
A few days after his Dreamforce performance, Mulaney performed at the Golden Gate Theater in San Francisco, where he joked about how much money Salesforce paid him. Though he didn’t disclose the exact amount, he admitted, “They gave me a lot of money, and it made me happy the whole time I was there.”
While Salesforce didn’t comment on Mulaney’s performance, Jason Douglas, founder of The Comedy Company, believes the company likely didn’t mind the light roasting. After all, the real goal of hiring a celebrity comedian is often about the publicity and the post-event buzz, not the jokes themselves.
The Importance of Comedy in Corporate Culture
Corporate comedy offers a unique opportunity for companies to lighten the mood and connect with their employees. However, as Greg Schwem points out, there’s a fine line between making fun of a company and outright demeaning it. For comedians, the goal is to leave the audience feeling good about where they work, not to undermine the company’s values.
Mulaney’s Dreamforce appearance may have raised eyebrows, but it also highlighted an important truth: comedy can reflect the underlying sentiments of an audience. By pushing boundaries, Mulaney turned a standard corporate gig into a viral moment that got people talking about the relationship between AI, automation, and human jobs.
