giving a roast speech

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How to Give a Roast

Are you tasked with the honor of roasting a friend or colleague and unsure where to start? The art of roasting someone, while maintaining respect, is a skill that many desire but few master.

This guide unpacks the secrets to crafting an unforgettable roast, from understanding your audience and creating humor without crossing boundaries to dealing with potential hiccups along the way.

Dive in and discover how to command laughter, entertain your crowd, and leave them wanting more!

Key Takeaways

• Understand the art of roasting: A roast is a speech that humorously honors someone while playfully teasing their quirks and accomplishments. It is important to maintain a respectful tone and strike a balance between humor and genuine admiration.
• Gather material that is both humorous and respectful: When crafting a roast speech, gather funny stories, embarrassing moments, or endearing quirks about the person being roasted. Avoid derogatory comments or insults, and focus on light-hearted teasing and playful jabs.
• Deliver with humor and respect: Set the right tone and delivery style by adopting an informal approach, incorporating witty anecdotes, jokes, and punchlines. Remember to avoid crossing sensitive boundaries or offending anyone present.
• End on a positive note: To leave a lasting impression, end your roast speech with a positive remark that shows appreciation for the individual being honored.

Understanding the Art of Roasting

A roast is a speech that humorously honors someone, highlighting their quirks and accomplishments while poking fun at them in a lighthearted manner.

What is a roast?

A roast, in essence, is a unique form of public address that straddles the line between tribute and teasing. It’s an opportunity to honor someone – perhaps a close friend or colleague – with humor and good-natured ribbing making it different from conventional speeches.

The art of roasting lies not just in delivering clever jibes but also in celebrating the individual’s quirks and achievements. This playful blend of jesting alongside genuine admiration guides the composition of your speech into something memorable and entertaining for all present at the occasion.

In this context, your role as a speaker is akin to a coffee roaster; like how mastering coffee roasting involves understanding bean characteristics and roasting process effects on flavor profiles, giving a successful roast speech requires knowing your subject well enough to strike that balance between humorous anecdotes and respectful tributes.

The purpose and tone of a roast

The art of roasting is an entertaining display that serves a dual purpose of humor and tribute. This form of comedy offers light-hearted jabs at a close friend or colleague to commend their qualities through laughter.

In essence, it makes fun out of admiration while maintaining respect for the individual being roasted.

The tone sets the atmosphere for a roast, usually adorned with wit and playfulness. It’s essential to remember that while roasts might be rib-tickling funny, they are not designed to offend or ridicule unfairly.

Therefore, balance is key – combining humor with genuine affection creates an engaging ambiance where everyone enjoys the event without crossing any sensitive boundaries. Roasts should always drive towards an aroma of fun and amusement rather than discomfort or harm.

Different types of roast

Roasting is a versatile comedic art with various styles to suit every occasion and personality. A light roast, much like its coffee counterpart, tends to be lighter in content, teasing surface traits without delving too deep into personal matters.

This roast type suits public speakers looking for humor with minimal embarrassment – imagine a gentle ribbing among friends rather than an all-out comedy assault! On the other hand, medium roasts balance between humorous jabs and genuine compliments – they are the equivalent of our ‘medium-dark’ coffee where acidity gets lower but more body develops in flavor profiles.

Shifting towards darker territory, we find savage roasts that leave no stone unturned. Sharp-tongued comedians often execute these with masterful precision and quick comebacks for anyone brave enough to interject during their set.

Despite this fiery execution though, even the most powerful shots fired should be underpinned by respect for the person being roasted.

When delivering smart roast speeches or tributes filled with roast jokes at non-celebrity events especially, it’s crucial not just knowing how to give a humorous tribute but also understanding these  different types of roast s and identifying which style best fits your target audience.

The perfect blend of humor and respect can help create an unforgettable roast; let’s call it brewing the perfect cup from perfectly roasted beans!

Crafting a Memorable Roast Speech

Craft a roast speech that is both humorous and respectful by gathering material and anecdotes about the individual being roasted.

Know your audience and the individual being roasted

Crafting a memorable roast speech starts with understanding your audience and the individual being roasted. This is crucial because knowing who you are speaking to allows you to tailor your jokes and anecdotes to their tastes and preferences.

It’s important to gauge their sense of humor, whether they appreciate lighthearted banter or more playful teasing. Equally significant is recognizing the unique qualities and quirks of the person being honored.

By incorporating inside jokes or stories that resonate with them, it ensures a heartfelt connection with both the roastee and the audience. Ultimately, a well-crafted roast speech requires careful consideration of your audience’s sensibilities and an appreciation for what makes the honoree so special.

Gather material and anecdotes that are both humorous and respectful

Crafting a memorable roast speech starts with gathering material and anecdotes that strike the perfect balance between humor and respect. Start by brainstorming funny stories, embarrassing moments, or endearing quirks about the individual being roasted.

Look for humorous moments that are relatable to the audience but won’t cross any sensitive boundaries. Additionally, take into consideration their personality and preferences to ensure your jokes land well.

While it’s important to inject humor into your speech, always remember to maintain a respectful tone. Avoid derogatory comments or insults that may offend anyone present. Instead, focus on light-hearted teasing and playful jabs that will be appreciated by all.

Create a cohesive outline that flows well

Crafting a memorable roast speech starts with creating a cohesive outline that flows seamlessly from one joke to the next. Think of it as building a roadmap for your comedic journey. Begin by organizing your material in a logical order , ensuring that each anecdote or punchline smoothly transitions into the next.

This will help maintain the audience’s attention and keep them engaged throughout your speech. Incorporate sentence structure variety and use humorously unexpected segues to add an element of surprise to your delivery.

Remember, a well-structured outline sets the stage for an unforgettable roast performance, leaving everyone laughing and applauding for more.

Set the right tone and delivery style

Crafting a memorable roast speech requires setting the right tone and delivery style. To engage your audience, it’s essential to adopt a conversational and informal approach. Avoid sounding rehearsed or stiff by using impromptu speaking skills that make your speech feel natural and spontaneous.

Incorporate humor with witty anecdotes, jokes, and punch lines that create laughter without crossing sensitive boundaries or offending anyone. Strike a balance between good-natured teasing and genuine compliments to keep the atmosphere light-hearted yet respectful.

By adopting an engaging delivery style, you can ensure your roast speech is entertaining and memorable for both the individual being roasted and the audience.

Delivering a Successful Roast

Start your roast with a captivating opening that grabs the attention of your audience and sets the tone for an entertaining speech .

Start with a captivating opening that grabs attention

One of the key elements to delivering a successful roast speech is starting with a captivating opening that grabs attention. As a public speaker, you understand the importance of capturing your audience’s interest from the very beginning.

The same principle applies when giving a roast. To do this, consider using a witty one-liner or an amusing anecdote related to the person being roasted. By starting off on a humorous note, you immediately engage your listeners and set the tone for what is to come.

For example, imagine opening your roast speech with something like this: “Ladies and gentlemen, tonight we gather here to celebrate John’s birthday. Now, I’ve known John for many years..and after all those years, he still hasn’t realized his true calling as a clown! But hey, at least he makes us laugh unintentionally.” This playful jab not only grabs attention but also introduces the humor that will be infused throughout your speech.

Remember that while it’s important to grab attention with your opening line, make sure it stays within respectful boundaries and doesn’t offend anyone in attendance. Keep in mind that roasts are meant to honor and playfully tease someone rather than humiliate them.

Incorporate humor and wit throughout the speech

Crafting a successful roast speech requires the ability to incorporate humor and wit throughout your delivery. A well-executed roast combines comedic banter, witty remarks, and humorous anecdotes to keep the audience entertained and engaged.

The key is to strike a balance between playful teasing and genuine praise, ensuring that your jokes are lighthearted and fun rather than mean-spirited. By infusing your speech with raw humor and emotion, you can create a memorable experience for both the honoree and the audience.

Remember, delivering a successful roast is all about finding that perfect blend of laughter and respect that will make your speech truly unforgettable.

Avoid crossing sensitive boundaries or offending anyone

When delivering a successful roast, it is crucial to avoid crossing sensitive boundaries or offending anyone. Roasting should be done in good fun and not at the expense of someone’s feelings or reputation.

Stick to general subjects that will not offend or hurt anyone, and steer clear of personal, sensitive, or controversial topics. It is important to remember that roasts are meant to entertain and honor someone, so keep the jokes lighthearted and playful rather than mean-spirited.

By being mindful of your audience’s sensibilities and respecting their boundaries, you can ensure that your roast speech is enjoyed by all without causing any discomfort.

Give genuine compliments along with playful jabs

When giving a roast speech, it’s important to strike the right balance between humor and admiration. One effective way to do this is by giving genuine compliments along with playful jabs. By acknowledging the positive qualities of the person being roasted, you show that your intention is not to hurt or offend, but rather to celebrate their unique quirks.

This approach helps create an atmosphere of lightheartedness and ensures that your roasting comes across as friendly banter rather than mean-spirited mockery. Remember, the goal is to entertain and make people laugh while still showing appreciation for the individual being honored.

End on a positive note to leave a lasting impression

To give a truly memorable roast, it is crucial to end on a positive note that leaves a lasting impression. Your closing remarks should not only tie the speech together but also leave your audience feeling uplifted and appreciative.

After all, the goal of a successful roast is not to offend or belittle but to entertain and honor the individual being roasted.

One effective way to achieve this is by emphasizing the qualities or achievements of the person you’re roasting. Highlight their accomplishments, strengths, and contributions in a genuine and heartfelt manner.

By doing so, you demonstrate that despite the playful jabs throughout your speech, there is true admiration and respect for them.

Another approach is to express gratitude directly towards the person being roasted. Thank them for their friendship, support, or impact they have had on your life. This shows appreciation while also maintaining a positive tone.

Lastly, consider ending with an uplifting quote or anecdote that encapsulates both humor and affection towards the honoree. This can leave a lasting impression as it reinforces fond memories or shared experiences within your collective group.

Handling Challenges and Tips for Success

Handle hecklers calmly and confidently, approach sensitive topics with caution and respect, practice and rehearse your speech multiple times, enjoy the moment and embrace the energy of the event, show appreciation to the individual being roasted, follow up afterwards.

Deal with any hecklers calmly and confidently

Handling hecklers during a public speaking engagement can be a challenging situation, but with the right approach, you can navigate it calmly and confidently. Preparation is key when dealing with potential interruptions or disruptive behavior.

By anticipating such challenges, you can develop effective strategies for maintaining composure in the face of interruptions. Additionally, having techniques for responding to disruptive attendees and managing unruly participants will help you stay focused on delivering your message.

Remember that handling difficult training situations requires expert advice, which you can find in comprehensive resources or seek from experienced professionals like stand-up comedians who have dealt with hecklers before.

Approach sensitive topics with caution and respect

When addressing sensitive topics, it is crucial to approach them with caution and respect. Effective communication requires a tactful and careful handling of delicate subjects, especially in public speaking engagements like giving a roast.

By being mindful of cultural diversity, avoiding offensive language or stereotypes, and using both verbal and nonverbal cues to promote respectful conversations, you can ensure that your speech remains appropriate and inclusive.

Remember to listen actively when discussing sensitive issues with employees or individuals from different backgrounds. By doing so, you create an environment where everyone feels valued and respected.

Practice and rehearse your speech multiple times

Practice and rehearsal are key elements in giving a successful roast speech. It is crucial to prepare by practicing your speech multiple times before the event. Rehearsing allows you to become familiar with the flow of your speech, fine-tune your delivery, and build confidence in what you’re saying.

By practicing under different scenarios, such as in front of a mirror or recording yourself, you can analyze your body language, facial expressions, and overall stage presence. You can also seek feedback from trusted individuals or ask one person to be your audience for a realistic simulation of speaking in front of a crowd.

Remember that the goal is not to memorize your speech word-for-word but rather to understand and convey the key concepts effectively. Visual cueing can be helpful in ensuring smooth transitions between points during delivery.

Enjoy the moment and embrace the energy of the event

Embracing the moment and soaking in the infectious energy of a roast event is key to delivering a memorable speech. As public speakers, it’s important to fully immerse ourselves in the atmosphere and embrace the excitement surrounding us.

By doing so, we not only connect with our audience on a deeper level but also tap into our own natural charisma and confidence. Just as Starbucks innovates the coffee experience at its Reserve Roasteries, we too can elevate our performance by embracing this unique opportunity to make people laugh and create lasting memories.

So let go of any nerves or inhibitions, enjoy every second of the event, and let that vibrant energy fuel your captivating delivery. Remember, you have all the tools within you to conquer this stage with flair!

Show appreciation to the individual being roasted and follow up afterwards

After delivering a memorable roast speech, it’s crucial to show appreciation to the individual being roasted and follow up afterwards. This simple act goes a long way in strengthening relationships and ensuring that the humor of the roast is taken in good spirits.

A heartfelt thank you or a genuine compliment can make the person feel valued and respected despite the playful jabs they received during the roast. Following up with them after the event also allows for further connection and shows your sincerity in appreciating their presence.

Remember, roasting is all about celebrating someone while having fun, so don’t forget to express your gratitude and keep the positive energy flowing even after the event concludes.

In conclusion, giving a roast can be a fun and memorable experience when done right. By understanding the art of roasting, crafting a well-thought-out speech, and delivering it with humor and respect, you can create an unforgettable moment for both the roasted individual and the audience.

Remember to handle challenges gracefully, practice your speech beforehand, and most importantly, enjoy the process. With these tips in mind, you’ll be ready to give a hilarious and heartfelt roast that will be talked about for years to come.

Let the roasting begin!

1. What is a roast and how does it work?

A roast is a humorous speech or event where someone is subjected to good-natured ridicule in front of an audience. It typically involves jokes, teasing, and playful insults about the person being roasted.

2. How do I prepare for giving a roast?

To prepare for giving a roast, you should gather information about the person being roasted and their accomplishments, quirks, and personality traits. This will help you craft funny and personalized jokes that will resonate with both the honoree and the audience.

3. Are there any guidelines or boundaries when giving a roast?

When giving a roast, it’s important to keep the humor light-hearted and avoid crossing any sensitive or offensive topics that could be hurtful to the person being honored or anyone in attendance. Respect boundaries by ensuring your jokes are well-intentioned and maintain respect for the individual.

4. How can I deliver a successful roast speech?

To deliver a successful roast speech, practice your material beforehand to ensure good timing and delivery. Use body language and tone of voice to enhance your comedic effect while maintaining confidence on stage. Be sure to gauge audience reactions during your performance so you can adjust if necessary for maximum laughter.

Secret Comedy Writing Technique – Callbacks

Public Speaking in Context

Hungry for Humorous Speeches? Try a Roast

• By Jason Peck in Comedy , Toastmasters

I was idly playing videos on You Tube recently and I came across Dean Martin’s Roasts from the 1970s. I had a jolly old time watching some comedians from yesteryear engaging in humorous roasts. So I figured I should write a post about roasts and provide some roast speech examples. Although I talk about them in the Toastmasters context, the advice is absolutely applicable whether you’re giving a Toastmasters roast or not.

You can sometimes forget the skill of some of the old school comedians when they’re either a) not on TV so much anymore, b) Recognisable through films that aren’t really shown that much like The Cannonball Run or the original Ocean’s Eleven, c) they’re dead d) all of the above.

You can also see this basic concept at work at the White House Correspondence Dinner.

I realised that one of the Advanced Toastmasters Manuals includes a Roast. Interestingly, it’s not part of the Humorously Speaking manual . I find this quite an interesting module to include because in the U.K. we don’t really have roasts. In the U.S. they were originally done by the Friar’s Club then on Dean Martin’s show and are currently on Comedy Central. There are plenty of examples of roast speeches to be found on the internet.

Take a look at Don Rickles roasting… pretty much everyone. It’s a great example of a good roast speech:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-KeTNU-ods

A Brief History of Roasts Here’s a quick lowdown on this curious American past time…

In North American English, a Roast, or roast speech, is an event in which an individual is subjected to comedic insults, praise, outrageous stories (both true and untrue), racial stereotypes and heartwarming tributes. All for public consumption.

Generally speaking, the roastee takes the insults in good faith and as a result, show off their good nature. From what I can work out, it is seen as a great honor to be roasted, because the individual is often surrounded by friends, fans, and well-wishers, who sometimes receive the same treatment during the course of the evening.

In the U.K. part of our sense of humour is like this. We are generally insulting and frequently rude to our closest friends. Why this happens I’m not entirely sure. I guess, like the Roast, it is meant as a sign of affection and meant in good faith. But we tend not to give roast speeches.

The thing is, with the roast speech, I think it’s easy to do badly. I know, I’ve seen one… or four.

Roast Speeches or a Series of Humourless Insults?

What I think is difficult at a Toastmasters club is the fact that, often, we don’t have people to roast who are well known to the audience. Toastmasters roast speeches can be a little flat and insipid. Not only that, but the nature of a Toastmasters club is that you don’t use explicit language or content, but that’s what a speech of, say, a Club President needs.

On Dean Martin’s show that I saw, and the subsequent ones on Comedy Central where they roast today’s celebrities and comedians, everybody in the audience and watching at home on TV knows the victim. They know their background, they know they successes and failures.

Take, for example, the moment where Don Rickles insulted Dean Martin by referring to him as Jerry at the 2min 19 mark. The audience of the day would’ve known that he was originally part of the double act Martin and Lewis with Jerry Lewis. They also would’ve known that the pair split on bad terms, and so Rickles’ deliberate confusion would’ve been a perfect insult.

Whereas, roasting the president of your Toastmasters club, might not necessarily be the same. Unless they are particularly well known for certain successes and failures that everyone in the audience is aware of. Otherwise, it can come across as actual insults and result in tension in the audience as they don’t know how to react to the content.

How to Give a Roast Speech

Here is a brief outline of How to Give a Roast Speech. The following tips on roast speeches is based upon the legendary Milton Berle’s own advice which I’ve cribbed from one of his joke books . 1. Choose someone worthy – Berle advises that “the bigger the face you can make blush, the higher the gate receipts” . As I said earlier, it’s got to be someone known to the majority of your audience.

2. Marry the roastee to an event if possible – if your target is connected to an event somehow then the roast works even better as it can help give your insults in your roast speeches structure. Berle says: “Occasion give momentum, and an occasion can always be found: a birthday, an anniversary, a retirement…”

3. Make certain the roastee has some characteristics at which fun can be poked – Your target should have character idiosyncrasies or physical traits that are easy to ridicule. “The difference between average and dull, for roast purposes, is that put-down comedy is a matter of extremes. Cheap is not funny. The cheapest person is” , advises Berle.

4. A roast should last between four and six minutes – Berle talks about how professionals can conduct roast speeches that lasts between forty minutes to an hour and a half. However, “for non-professionals, the shorter the better. Each turn… should run between four and six minutes. Again, the shorter the better” advises Berle. I think that by keeping it short you keep the evening moving at a good pace at stop everyone from getting bored.

5. The designer of the affair should try to ensure that each speaker cover only a specific topic or topics – each speaker should focus on only one aspect of the roastee to ridicule. Berle advises against being too harsh with insults; “a word of caution in assembling spots. Consider the thickness of the roastees skin. The purpose of the roast is to “honor”, not make a roastee bleed red. The roast tell the guest of honor he or she is loved”.

6. The M.C. need not be a born clown – The M.C. should at least be witty, but doesn’t necessarily need to bust out punchlines on a regular basis. Berle adds that “not every guest on the dais will speak. There are almost always a half-dozen VIPs who will stand up and take a bow”. So remember not to introduce these VIPs as if they are going to speak. You may just want to acknowledge that they are there.

7. Speeches need not be memorised – while it’s not a prerequisite for your to memorise your roast speech, you still need to get very familiar with it if you are reading off index cards. As Berle says “the purpose of the card is a reminder only. Don’t recite the words”. They are there merely as your safety net.

8. Don’t rely on jokes, use your own sense of humour – this is one of my own additions here. I would outline your speech with your opening, body where you include any points that you want to make, and also your conclusion. Then work to uncover the humour and capture your own wit. One of the best methods of doing this that I’ve found is the Fast Start Guide to Stand-up Comedy. Don’t let the title put you off. As I’ve said before, the mechanisms for developing funny roast speeches are the same as stand-up, which are the same as humorous speeches.

Update: 30/07/2008

I found a link which supplies a bit of additional “how to” knowledge for penning funny roast speeches. You can check out that info right here: Comedy Roast .

Humorous Speech Roast – Outside the U.S.

As a Toastmasters speech module for speakers outside the U.S. I’m not completely convinced that it’s a good idea. From a speaking perspective away from Toastmasters a little gentle ribbing of a person who is being honoured might be a good avenue.

The main content of this type of humorous speech are the roast insults, you still have to be careful with what you say in the Toastmasters environment. Obviously, there are certain subjects that shouldn’t be mocked; politics, religion, sex and disabilities.

Even though the roastee may be fine for you to deal with these subjects when it comes to them, you run the risk of offending someone in your audience. And in a corporate or business environment that’s not something that you really want to do.

If you’re more interested in day to day business presenting this article might interest you might like to know how to create a funny presentation.

Addendum April 7th 2010 : It seems that the Brits are attempting to tackle their own version of this American institution. The first being a roast of entertainment legend Bruce Forsyth. Check out the review of Bruce Forsyth: a Comedy Roast . Some newspapers didn’t quite get that it was supposed to be an evening of insults.

Note: There are affiliate links on this page. That means if you make a purchase of a product I will get a commission. This is one of the ways that helps me pay the bills.

• Comedians , Comedy , humor , Humorous Speeches , humour , Roasts , Sense Of Humour , Speeches , Stand-up Comedy , Toastmasters

Jason Peck, is an award-winning English humorist, actor and comedian based in Chicago, IL. As a comedian, he performed stand-up on the London comedy circuit, worked as an improviser, wrote and performed material for Newsrevue and contributed material to The Treason Show.

• Fred L Curry on November 3, 2014 at 10:58 pm

I haven’t seen it for a while, but the roasts in Four Weddings and a Funeral impressed me. Maybe, if they are a valid British custom, you could add some comment about that.

Thanks for your website. I am still learning, and you show solid acumen.

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Types of Speeches: The Roast

What is a roast.

A roast is a lot like a toast , except it pokes fun at the honoree. Roasts are often performed at birthday parties, retirement parties and other occasions where someone with a sense of humor is being honored.

Although the roast got its name from the verbal skewering the honoree gets, not all jokes need to be negative. Yes, insults are common … but they shouldn’t be hurtful. They should be said in loving good fun.

Basically, a roast teases the honoree while still showing respect.

If you decide to become a professional speaker or use speaking as an integral part of your marketing strategy, it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with the various types of speeches you might be asked to give. In this series of posts, I’ll give you the basics of a variety of types of presentations you can prepare. At the end of this post, I’ve listed previous articles in this series.

Tips for effective roasting

• Be respectful – avoid jokes that bring up painful memories or mention past loves if the honoree is there with someone new. This is supposed to be fun … if your roast causes people to run out crying, you’ve failed.  
• Avoid inside jokes – if you and the honoree are the only people who will get it, don’t use it. You are still giving this presentation to an audience … you don’t want to leave them out.  
• Be organized – make sure your presentation has beginning, middle and an end. In fact, if your final joke hearkens back to your first, you might get an even bigger laugh!  
• Clear your comments in advance – if you are roasting someone for an organization, be sure to clear comments in advance so you don’t inadvertently step into political muck.  
• Learn from the pros – Dean Martin and Don Rickles are pros at roasting folks. Go on YouTube and watch some of their roasts from the 1970s to get ideas and inspiration.

Resources for creating roasts

• How to Write a Roast Speech
• Video: How to Give a Birthday Speech : Giving a Birthday Roast
• Video: How to Write a Roast Speech
• Writing a Retirement Roast Speech

Did you miss these?

Here are the previous posts in this “Type of Speeches” series:

• The Keynote Address
• The Training Session
• The Motivational Speech
• The Entertaining Speech
• The Demonstration
• The Information Dump
• The Inspirational Speech
• The Q & A
• The Persuasive Speech
• The Impromptu Speech
• The Acceptance Speech
• The Commencement Speech

The next post in this series is The Interpretive Reading

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2 comments on “Types of Speeches: The Roast”

How to Write a Roast Speech

Roasting a person, whether it's a celebratory dinner, a best-man's speech at a wedding or a loving comedy routine meant to poke fun at the guest of honor, is a delicate balance between funny and insulting. Originally created over 100 years ago at the famed Friars Club in New York City, the members delighted in shooting zingers at the roastee, often reducing the guests in the audience to tears of laughter.

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The roast speech is comprised of funny memories, strange occurrences, embarrassing moments and raucous adventures that the guest of honor has experienced, but it is all done with love. As the Friars Club motto goes: "We only roast the ones we love."

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Understand the Roastee’s Personality

You don't want to singe-roast someone who can't take a joke, who is sensitive, who has had a hardscrabble life and doesn't want to revisit it or whose parents are in the audience and are unaware of the honoree's "other side" or arrest record. You want to leave the roastee and everyone else in tears of laughter, not tears of embarrassment.

Don't use vulgarity if the roastee doesn't use vulgar language. Don't be brutal. A roast speech should make everyone laugh with love.

Researching the Roast Speech

Before putting pen to paper or fingers to keyboard, talk to the honoree's friends and family. Get material that indicates the personality and oddities of the person being roasted.

Go back in your memory to experiences you've shared, both funny and touching. Remember that you're writing with love, with a little embarrassment thrown in. The guests may include family members, so you don't want to be mean or shocking.

Writing the Speech

A roast speech must be organized so that the audience grasps the content. Being vague leaves them questioning what you mean. You're going for humor, laughter and sentiment, all mixed with tasteful vulgarity.

The punch line, which is your "gotcha" moment, is the heart of the joke and should be either at the beginning or end of the sentence. Hugh Grant's best-man speech in "Four Weddings and a Funeral" is a prime example of mixing all the elements into a successful speech.

Delivering the Speech

Make notes, whether bullet points or written in sentences, but rehearse and rehearse until you are no longer dependent on those notes. Be sure to leave a pause for the laughter if the punch line is at the end of the sentence. You don't want to waste the next joke if it's buried in the laughter of the previous joke. Pace yourself and your audience.

Always Be Gracious

Judge your honoree's demeanor as you give your speech. Also note the audience's response to your jokes. Recognize if either look uncomfortable and realize if you've gone too far. Cut back if that's the case. A nice touch would be to have the speech printed and bound in a folder and present it to the roastee at the end of the roast speech.

• Friars Club: Roasts
• Joe Toplyn: How to Write a Roast

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How to Write a Roast to Honor Someone and Have Fun

Hrideep barot.

• Communication , Public Speaking

Crafting a Memorable Roast: Honoring with Humor

Roasting , when done right, is like a finely crafted dish – it’s a blend of humor , affection , and celebration that leaves everyone with a satisfied smile. Have you ever wondered how to write a roast that not only honors someone but also guarantees a barrel of laughs?

Well, you’re in luck! In this guide, we’ll take you through the steps to craft a roast that’s as delightful as it is memorable. From the legendary roasts of celebrities to the heartwarming tributes at family gatherings, we’ll explore how to write a roast that honors the honoree while keeping the audience entertained. So, grab a pen and paper , and let’s embark on this delightful adventure together. By the end of this guide, you’ll be armed with the knowledge and confidence to write a roast that not only honors someone special but also ensures everyone has a blast in the process. Get ready to unleash your inner comedian and spread joy with every witty quip and clever observation. Let’s dive in!

The best roasts are the ones that leave everyone laughing and feeling loved.” – Ellen DeGeneres

Table of contents:

What is a roast, types of roasts:, why roast someone, choosing the right honoree:, structuring the roast:, how to write a roast:, executing the roast:, conclusion:, understanding the purpose of a roast:.

Have you ever wondered why people gather to roast someone? It might seem like a peculiar tradition, but there’s a lot more to it than meets the eye. Let’s delve into the purpose of a roast and uncover why it’s such a cherished form of celebration.

First things first, let’s define what a roast actually is. Roasting someone involves good-natured teasing or poking fun at them in a humorous way. It’s often done in a social setting, such as a comedy roast or a friendly gathering, where the intention is to entertain rather than offend. Roasting typically involves clever jokes , playful insults , and exaggerated anecdotes about the person being roasted, all delivered in a lighthearted manner. The key is to maintain a balance between humor and respect, ensuring that the jokes are well-received and the atmosphere remains friendly and enjoyable for everyone involved.

Types of Roasts: A Simple Guide

Roasting isn’t just about throwing jokes around like confetti. It’s an art, and like any art, it comes in different styles and flavors. Let’s take a look at some of the most popular types of roasts and what makes each one unique.

1. Celebrity Roasts:

You’ve probably seen them on TV or YouTube – those star-studded events where famous folks gather to laugh at themselves and each other. Celebrity roasts are all about poking fun at the rich and famous in a playful and often exaggerated way. Take,

For example , the legendary Comedy Central Roasts. They’ve roasted everyone from Donald Trump to Justin Bieber, with comedians delivering zingers left and right. These roasts are a mix of comedy and celebrity culture, offering viewers a chance to see their favorite stars in a new light.

2. Office Roasts:

Who says work has to be all business and no play? Office roasts bring colleagues together for a good laugh and some well-deserved ribbing.

Picture this : your boss is retiring after decades of service, and the office decides to send them off with a roast. Coworkers take turns sharing funny stories and inside jokes, all in good fun. It’s a chance to bond as a team and show appreciation for years of hard work.

3. Family Roasts:

Family gatherings are ripe for roasting, and no one is safe from a little good-natured teasing. Whether it’s a holiday dinner or a birthday celebration, family roasts are a chance to laugh at the quirks and idiosyncrasies that make each member unique. Grandma’s famous meatloaf? Dad’s questionable dance moves? They’re all fair game. Just remember to keep it lighthearted and respectful – after all, family is forever.

4. Comedy Club Roasts:

If you’re a fan of stand-up comedy , you’ve probably been to a few roast battles at your local comedy club. These events pit comedians against each other in a battle of wits, with each one trying to out-funny the other. It’s a high-energy , fast-paced format that keeps audiences on their toes and laughing all night long. Just ask Jeff Ross , the “Roastmaster General” himself, who has made a career out of roasting everyone from criminals to fellow comedians.

5. Personal Roasts:

Last but not least, we have personal roasts – the kind you might write for a friend’s birthday or retirement party . These roasts are all about celebrating the individual and their unique quirks and qualities. Maybe your friend is known for their terrible cooking or their love of cheesy ’90s music. Whatever it is, a personal roast is a chance to lovingly tease and show appreciation for the person behind the jokes.

Now, you might be wondering why on earth anyone would want to subject themselves to being roasted . Well, believe it or not, being roasted is actually considered an honor in many circles. It shows that people care about you enough to spend time crafting jokes and stories just for you. To get a better idea of how roasts work, let’s take a look at some famous examples.

Think about those celebrity roasts you’ve seen on TV, where comedians gather to poke fun at a famous person. These events are not only hilarious but also serve to celebrate the achievements of the honoree in a light-hearted way.

At its core, the purpose of a roast is simple: to bring joy and laughter to everyone involved. Laughter has a unique way of bringing people together and breaking down barriers. When done right, a roast can create lasting memories and strengthen bonds between friends and family.

Selecting the right person to roast is like picking the perfect ingredient for a recipe; it sets the tone for the entire dish. When you’re considering who to honor with a roast, it’s crucial to choose someone who will embrace the humor and enjoy being in the spotlight. Consider those who are outgoing , confident , and can laugh at themselves . Remember, the goal is to celebrate the honoree, not embarrass them.

1. Know Your Honoree:

Before making your final decision, take some time to think about the person you have in mind. Reflect on their personality , interests , and how they handle humor . Are they the type of person who enjoys being teased affectionately, or do they prefer more serious celebrations?

2. Ensuring Comfort and Consent:

Once you’ve identified a potential honoree , it’s essential to gauge their comfort level with being roasted. Have an open conversation with them about the idea and make sure they’re on board with the concept. Reassure them that the roast will be lighthearted and affectionate , with the goal of bringing laughter and joy to everyone involved.

3. Why Choosing the Right Honoree Matters:

• Sense of Humor: The ideal honoree for a roast should have a good sense of humor and be able to laugh at themselves. They should understand that the roast is all in good fun and not take any jokes too seriously.
• Comfort with Attention: The honoree should be comfortable with being the center of attention . Roasts often involve a lot of playful teasing and banter, so it’s important that the honoree can handle being in the spotlight.
• Respectful Relationship: There should be a level of mutual respect between the honoree and the roasters . While roasts are meant to be humorous, they should never cross the line into being hurtful or disrespectful.
• Celebratory Spirit: The honoree should be someone worth celebrating. Whether it’s for their achievements, milestones, or simply their presence in the lives of those attending the roast, the honoree should be someone who is genuinely valued and appreciated by the guests.

4. How to Choose the Right Honoree:

• Consider Their Personality: Think about the honoree’s personality and whether they would enjoy being roasted. Are they outgoing and fun-loving, or more reserved and private? Choose someone who will embrace the spirit of the roast and enjoy the experience.
• Consult with Close Friends or Family: Get input from close friends or family members who know the honoree well. They can provide valuable insight into whether the honoree would be a good fit for a roast and offer suggestions for topics or jokes.
• Assess Their Comfort Level: Have a candid conversation with the honoree about their comfort level with being roasted. Make sure they understand what the event entails and that they are on board with the idea before moving forward.
• Ensure Mutual Respect: Lastly, confirm that there is a level of mutual respect between the honoree and the roasters. The jokes should be light-hearted and affectionate, never mean-spirited or hurtful.

Let’s break down how to structure your roast in a simple and effective way that will keep the laughs coming.

1. Opening Remarks: Set the Tone

Just like the first bite of a sandwich, your opening remarks should be appetizing. Start by welcoming everyone and introducing the guest of honor. You want to set a friendly and light-hearted tone right from the start. Think of it as the bread slices that hold everything together. Example: “Good evening, everyone! Welcome to our roast in honor of [Name]. We’re here tonight to celebrate this incredible person and have a lot of laughs along the way!”

2. Roast Segments: Bring on the Fillings

Now it’s time to layer on the humor! Divide your roast into segments, each focusing on a different aspect of the honoree’s life or personality. Think of these segments as the tasty fillings that give your sandwich its flavor. You can have segments about work , hobbies , funny habits anything that will get a laugh! Example: “For our first segment, let’s talk about [Name]’s time at the office. We all know they’re a hard worker, but did you know they have a secret stash of snacks hidden in their desk drawer?”

3. Transition Smoothly: Keep the Flow Going

Just like you wouldn’t want a sandwich with clunky, uneven layers, you don’t want your roast to feel disjointed. Use transition words and phrases to move smoothly from one segment to the next. This keeps the audience engaged and the laughter flowing. Example: “Now that we’ve had a taste of [Name]’s professional life, let’s dig into their personal hobbies. You won’t believe what I found out about their karaoke skills!”

4. Include Audience Interaction: Add Some Spice

A good sandwich needs a little extra kick, and audience interaction can provide just that. Invite guests to share their own stories or jokes about the honoree. This adds variety to your roast and keeps everyone involved and entertained. Example: “Before we move on to our next segment, I want to open the floor to anyone who has a funny story or memory they’d like to share about [Name]. Don’t be shy!”

5. Closing Remarks: Wrap It Up Nicely

As you reach the end of your roast, it’s time to tie everything together with a nice bow. Offer some final words of appreciation and well-wishes for the honoree. This leaves everyone with a warm and fuzzy feeling, like finishing off a delicious sandwich. Example: “As we wrap up tonight’s roast, I want to thank each and every one of you for joining us in celebrating [Name]. You truly are an amazing person, and we’re lucky to have you in our lives. Here’s to many more years of laughter and memories together!”

How to Write a Roast: Writing Humorous Material

When it comes to writing a roast , injecting humor into your material is key to keeping the audience engaged and entertained . But fear not, crafting funny content doesn’t have to be daunting! Here’s a simple guide to help you write humorous material that will have everyone rolling with laughter.

1. Know Your Audience:

Before you start brainstorming jokes, take a moment to consider who will be attending the roast. Are they friends , family , or colleagues ? What is their relationship with the honoree? Tailoring your humor to suit the audience’s tastes and sensibilities will ensure that your jokes hit the mark.

2. Find Inspiration:

Drawing inspiration from famous speeches and comedy routines can help jumpstart your creativity. Pay attention to their comedic timing , wordplay , and use of absurdity to elicit laughter. Some top funniest comedians : Chris Rock, Jerry Seinfeld, Amy Schumer, Louis C.K, Trevor Noah, John Mulvaney, Sarah Silverman.

3. Use Everyday Observations:

One of the easiest ways to generate laughs is by pointing out the absurdities of everyday life. Look for quirks , habits , or idiosyncrasies of the honoree that you can playfully exaggerate for comedic effect.

For example , if the honoree is known for their love of coffee, you could joke about their caffeine addiction with lines like, “I’ve never seen anyone make a stronger cup of coffee than [Honoree]. They don’t need a mug, they need a fuel tank!”

4. Employ Wordplay and Puns:

Wordplay is a powerful tool in the arsenal of any humorist. Whether it’s a clever pun or a witty double entendre , wordplay adds an extra layer of amusement to your jokes.

For instance , if the honoree is a notorious workaholic, you could say, “They’re so dedicated to their job, they put the ‘work’ in ‘weekend’!”

5. Incorporate Anecdotes and Stories:

Personal anecdotes and funny stories about the honoree are goldmines for comedic material. Share memorable moments or embarrassing mishaps that highlight their endearing qualities and quirks . Just be sure to keep it light-hearted and avoid anything too embarrassing or sensitive.

6. Keep It Positive:

While roasts are all about poking fun, it’s important to keep the humor positive and affectionate . Avoid mean-spirited jokes or topics that could cause offense. Instead, focus on celebrating the honoree’s achievements , strengths , and unique personality traits .

7. Practice, Practice, Practice:

Once you’ve written your material, practice delivering it with confidence and enthusiasm . Pay attention to your timing , pacing , and delivery to ensure that your jokes land effectively. Rehearse in front of friends or family members and solicit feedback to fine-tune your performance.

8. Be Prepared to Adapt:

Remember that every audience is different , so be prepared to adapt your material on the fly based on their reactions. If a joke doesn’t elicit the desired response, don’t be afraid to improvise or move on to the next one. The key is to keep the energy high and the laughter flowing .

Executing the Roast: Bringing Your Roast to Life

Once you’ve written your roast, it’s time to bring it to the stage and make it shine. Executing a roast is all about setting the right atmosphere , engaging the audience , and delivering your jokes with confidence and flair . Let’s dive into how to execute your roast with style and grace.

1. Setting the Stage:

Before the roast begins, take a moment to set the stage for your audience. Make sure the venue is set up with comfortable seating and good visibility for all attendees. Consider adding some festive decorations or props to enhance the atmosphere and create a sense of excitement.

2. Engaging the Audience:

A great roast is as much about the audience as it is about the honoree. Keep the energy high by engaging the audience right from the start. Start with a warm welcome and some opening remarks to get everyone in the mood. Use humor and charm to connect with the audience and keep them entertained throughout the event.

3. Delivering Your Jokes:

When it comes time to deliver your jokes, confidence is key . Stand tall, speak clearly, and project your voice so that everyone can hear you. Use natural gestures and facial expressions to enhance your delivery and make your jokes land with maximum impact.

4. Timing and Pacing:

Timing is everything in comedy, and a roast is no exception. Pay attention to the pacing of your jokes and the flow of the event . Give the audience time to react and laugh before moving on to the next joke or segment. Use pauses and transitions to keep the momentum going and maintain the audience’s attention.

Sample Speech Example: Imagine you’re attending a retirement party for your coworker, Sarah. Here’s a sample roast speech to give you an idea of how it’s done: “Good evening, everyone! Tonight, we’re here to celebrate Sarah’s retirement, but before we send her off into the sunset, we couldn’t resist roasting her a little bit. Sarah, where do we even begin? From your legendary coffee addiction to your uncanny ability to always be fashionably late, you’ve certainly left your mark on this office. But in all seriousness, Sarah, we want to thank you for your years of hard work and dedication. You’ve been a mentor, a friend, and a constant source of laughter. We wish you all the best in your retirement, and we promise not to miss you too much (okay, maybe just a little). Cheers to you, Sarah!”

5. Wrapping Up:

As the roast comes to a close, take a moment to thank the honoree for being such a good sport and allowing everyone to poke fun at them in the name of celebration. Express gratitude to the audience for their laughter and support throughout the event. And finally, end on a positive note, wishing the honoree well in their retirement (or whatever the occasion may be) and looking forward to many more joyful moments together in the future.

In conclusion , learning how to write a roast to honor someone and have fun can be a rewarding and enjoyable experience for both the roster and the audience. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can create a memorable and entertaining event that celebrates the honoree’s achievements and brings laughter to all involved. With these tips and examples in mind, you’re well-equipped to write a roast that will entertain , honor , and delight all those involved. So go ahead, pick up your pen (or keyboard), and start crafting a roast that will be remembered fondly for years to come. Happy roasting!

If you’re looking to enhance your communication skills further, consider checking out our communication coaching services. Whether it’s refining your public speaking abilities, honing your comedic timing, or perfecting your storytelling skills, we’re here to help you shine. Check our Communication Coaching by clicking here .

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Roast Speech Tips

There is an art to a good roast speech, and we have perfected it! It is slow, turns well and keeps the juices flowing. It is just the right temperature, light hearted and never over the top. Its flavors are full of fun but emanate respect and fondness. Whatever you particular occasion or subject, your roast speech can be really enjoyed by your friends, family or colleagues. It’s difficult to roast someone we don’t know too well, but there are elements to a roast that tease and allow for some gentle fun.

It’s lovely to be at an occasion where such light hearted fun, can actually be the higher form of flattery and really allow us to understand that all seriousness aside we are all in fact undeniably human and therein lies the real juice of a roast, well turned. Whoever you are roasting our speeches will give you plenty of material and you are free to add as much or as little as you want to liven your roast up.

A. M. Venter, Hartbeespoort (South Africa) said, “They were perfect, just what I needed! Thank you!”

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Toast vs Roast Speech: Master the Art of Honoring or Humorously Roasting Your Loved Ones

What To Know

• A roast, on the other hand, is a humorous and satirical speech that pokes fun at a specific person or group.
• Whether you’re delivering a toast or a roast, the power of your words can leave a lasting impression on your audience.
• A toast is a speech that celebrates and honors an individual or group, while a roast is a humorous and satirical speech that pokes fun at a specific person or group.

In the realm of public speaking , there exists a delicate dance between two distinct forms of discourse: the toast and the roast. While both share the common goal of addressing an audience, their intentions and approaches diverge significantly. Understanding the nuances between a toast and a roast is crucial for crafting effective and memorable speeches.

Toast vs Roast: A Definition

Toast: A toast is a speech delivered to express admiration, gratitude, or well wishes towards an individual or group. It is characterized by its celebratory and complimentary nature , often accompanied by a raised glass or symbolic gesture. Roast: A roast, on the other hand, is a humorous and satirical speech that pokes fun at a specific person or group. Its primary purpose is to entertain the audience through friendly jabs and witty observations.

The Purpose and Tone of a Toast vs Roast

The primary purpose of a toast is to honor and celebrate the recipient. It focuses on highlighting their positive qualities , accomplishments, and contributions. The tone is typically warm , sincere, and respectful. In contrast, a roast aims to elicit laughter and provide a light-hearted critique of the subject. The tone is playful, often using exaggeration, satire, and gentle teasing.

The Structure of a Toast vs Roast

Toast: A toast typically follows a three-part structure: 1. Introduction: Begin by introducing the recipient and expressing your purpose for giving the toast. 2. Body: Share specific anecdotes , examples, or qualities that demonstrate the recipient’s worthiness of honor. 3. Conclusion: End with a heartfelt statement of appreciation and a toast to the recipient. Roast: A roast is typically organized around a series of “roasters” who take turns delivering humorous speeches targeting the subject. The structure is more flexible, allowing for improvisation and audience interaction.

The Content of a Toast vs Roast

Toast: The content of a toast should focus on the positive aspects of the recipient. It may include:

• Personal stories or anecdotes that highlight their character
• Recognition of their achievements and contributions
• Expressions of gratitude and well wishes

Roast: The content of a roast should be humorous and playful, while avoiding personal attacks or offensive language . It may include:

• Exaggerated or satirical descriptions of the subject’s quirks or flaws
• Poking fun at their past mistakes or embarrassing moments
• Using inside jokes or references that the audience will appreciate

The Delivery of a Toast vs Roast

Toast: The delivery of a toast should be sincere, engaging, and respectful. Maintain eye contact with the audience, speak clearly, and use appropriate gestures. Roast: The delivery of a roast should be lively, humorous, and confident. Be prepared to improvise and engage with the audience. Use a conversational tone and avoid relying heavily on notes.

Tips for Giving a Toast vs Roast

• Keep it short and sweet, around 3-5 minutes.
• Personalize your speech with specific examples and anecdotes.
• Practice your delivery to ensure it flows smoothly.
• Be respectful of the recipient and avoid potentially offensive remarks.
• Be playful and light-hearted, but avoid crossing the line into cruelty.
• Focus on the subject’s positive qualities while gently poking fun at their flaws.
• Be prepared to handle heckling or unexpected reactions from the audience.

Recommendations: The Power of Words

Whether you’re delivering a toast or a roast, the power of your words can leave a lasting impression on your audience. By understanding the nuances between these two forms of public speaking , you can craft speeches that are both memorable and impactful. Remember, it’s not just what you say, but how you say it that truly matters.

Common Questions and Answers

Q: What is the difference between a toast and a roast? A: A toast is a speech that celebrates and honors an individual or group, while a roast is a humorous and satirical speech that pokes fun at a specific person or group. Q: What is the appropriate tone for a toast? A: The tone of a toast should be warm, sincere, and respectful, focusing on the positive qualities of the recipient. Q: What is the purpose of a roast? A: The purpose of a roast is to entertain the audience through friendly jabs and witty observations about the subject. Q: How long should a toast be? A: A toast should typically be kept short, around 3-5 minutes. Q: What should I avoid saying in a roast? A: Avoid personal attacks , offensive language , or anything that could be considered hurtful or disrespectful to the subject.

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15.4 Celebrations: Toasts and Roasts

Learning objectives.

• Discuss the role, function, and importance of a toast.
• Discuss the elements of an effective toast.

Toasts Formal expressions of goodwill, appreciation, or calls for group attention to an issue or person in a public setting, often followed by synchronous consumption of beverages. are formal expressions of goodwill, appreciation, or calls for group attention to an issue or person in a public setting, often followed by synchronous consumption of beverages. Examples often include a toast at a wedding congratulating the couple, toasts at a bar after a tournament win to congratulate the team or an individual player, or a general toast to health for everyone on a holiday or other special occasion.

Toasts serve to unify the group, acknowledge a person or event, mark a special occasion, or simply to encourage the consumption of alcohol. These can range from serious to silly but are normally words that point out something that is commonly known. For example, a toast to the most valuable player in a game may serve to publicly acknowledge him or her for achievements that are already known by the community. The verbal recognition, followed by ritualistic drinking, serves as a public acknowledgement. Belonging is a basic human need that requires reinforcement, and a toast can be characterized as a reinforcement ritual, acknowledging respect for the individual or team, and also reinforcing group affiliation, common symbols and terms, beliefs and values, goals and aspirations. McLean, S. (2005). The basics of interpersonal communication . Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon.

Toasts, while common in many societies, are relatively rare in daily life. They are normally associated with informal and formal gatherings of the group, team, or community. Since you may only perform a couple of toasts in your lifetime, you no doubt want to get them right the first time. We will address toasts and one variation in particular, the roast.

Proposing a Toast

One proposes a toast, rather than “making” a toast or simply “toasting,” because for it to truly be a toast, everyone in the group, team, or community must participate. If you propose a toast to someone and no one responds, even if you raise your glass to them as a nonverbal sign or respect and take a sip, it doesn’t count as a toast. Only the community can publicly acknowledge someone with a toast, but it takes an individual to make the proposition.

Sometimes the person who is supposed to make that proposition is already known by function or role. The best man and maid of honor at a wedding, the host of a party, and the highest-ranking manager at a business meal are common roles that are associated with ritualistic toasts.

Standing with proper posture to address the group is normally associated with acts of public speaking, including toasts. If you are understood to be a person who will be proposing a toast, you may not need to say anything to get the group’s attention. As you rise and raise your glass, the room will grow quiet in anticipation of your words. If the group does not expect you to propose a toast, you may need to say, “May I propose a toast?” in a voice above the level of the group. Nonverbal displays also work to capture attention, McLean, S. (2005). The basics of interpersonal communication . Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon. such as standing on a chair. While that may be nonstandard, your context will give you clues about how best to focus attention. Striking a glass with spoon to produce a ring, while common, is sometimes considered less than educated and a poor reflection of etiquette. The group norms determine what is expected and accepted, and it may be a custom that is considered normal. Etiquette A conventional social custom or rule for polite behavior. is a conventional social custom or rule for behavior, but social customs and rules for behavior vary across communities and cultures.

You will raise your glass, raise your voice, and make a brief statement complimenting the person being honored. Your toast should be brief. If you write it out in advance, use thirty words as your upper limit. Common mistakes are for toast-givers to ramble on too long and to talk about themselves instead of the honoree. The toast is not as much about the words you use, though they carry weight and importance, but it’s about the toast ritual as a group expression of acknowledgement and respect. People then raise their glasses to indicate agreement, often repeating “hear, hear!” or a word or phrase from the toast, such as “to success!” They then sip from their cup, possibly touching glasses first.

One common toast that always serves to unify the group is the toast to health. To propose a toast to health is common, well understood, and serves both the role and function of a toast. “Live long and prosper” is a common variation of “to your health” in English. Table 15.3 "Toasts to Health" lists toasts to health in other languages.

Table 15.3 Toasts to Health

Sometimes a best man at a wedding will be expected to tell a short story as part of their toast. A common story is how the couple met from the best man’s perspective. While this may be your choice, remember to keep it quite brief, positive, and focused on the honorees, not on yourself. Important occasions require you to play your part like everyone else, and your role is to focus attention on the individual, team, couple, or group as you honor them.

Alcohol is not a requirement for a toast, nor is draining one’s glass. The beverage and the quantity to be swallowed are a reflection of group norms and customs. Often alternatives, such as nonalcoholic sparkling cider, are served. If you are expected to perform a toast, one that requires tact, grace, and a clear presence of mind, you should refrain from drinking alcohol until after you’ve completed your obligation. Your role has responsibilities, and you have a duty to perform.

Roasts Public proclamations that honor someone by ridiculing or criticizing them. are public proclamations that ridicule or criticize someone to honor them. That may sound awkward at first, but consider the targets most commonly associated with roasts: those in positions of power or prestige. Knocking someone off their pedestal is a special delight for the group or community, but it requires special care and attention to social dynamics, sensitivities, rank, and roles.

A common context for a round of roasts, or a series or public statements intended to poke fun at someone, is at a retirement party. Individuals in the room tell brief stories that may have some basis in truth, but which through word choice and clear communication of exaggeration, allow everyone to look back upon the episode with light humor and laughter. Time has passed and the absurd is worthy of group laughter.

A roast is not an opportunity to say something mean. If you don’t think the target will laugh it off, don’t say it. Roasts can hurt feelings, and that misses the point. A roast honors someone in a position of power or influence by allowing them to demonstrate they can take a joke at their own expense gracefully. It is not intended to do harm to the individual or create divisions in the community. Ritual public speaking is supposed to unify groups, teams, and communities, and not create division or rival internal groups.

Key Takeaway

Toasts and roasts honor a member of the community.

• You are called upon to propose a toast to your team leader after your group has just completed a large contract. Work on this project wasn’t always easy, but now is the time for celebration and recognition. Write a sample toast in no more than thirty words. Compare your results with your classmates.
• What should someone propose a toast to? How should they propose it? Write your response and include an example. Compare with classmates.
• If you were the subject of a roast, what would you feel comfortable having people say, do, or show to make fun of you in public? Write your response and include an example. Compare with classmates.

Westside Toastmasters is located in Los Angeles and Santa Monica, California

16. toasts and roasts.

The Human brain starts working the moment you are born and never stops until you stand up to speak in public.

�Sir George Jessel

This English aristocrat and celebrated trial judge knew of where he spoke. And yet, the occasions where something is celebrated just seem to call for a few words.

Traditionally, the toast was good but boring, and the roast was bad but funny. Today, lines are somewhat blurred between a toast and a roast. In general, the more appropriately personal you can make either one, the more memorable it will be.

The body language of both toast and roast is to raise your glass with your right hand straight from the shoulder. This traditional toasting position indicated friendship in the days when swords or daggers were hidden in the right hand or sleeve for potential attack.

The best toasters and roasters are those who know us best. Recently, I went to a birthday party for a 40-year-old divorcee. Her ex-husband brought the house down while the other roasters were very forgettable.

First, he warmed us up when he said he'd been asked to represent all of the ex-husbands (he is the only one), past boyfriends, and one-night stands. Then, he described the true story of them as a young couple in their early 20s, habitually on game shows while struggling to make ends meet. He recounted fondly, and in detail, the time Janet hocked three dining room sets to pay the rent!

A roaster on another occasion merely mentioned, in headline fashion, the dramatic moments of the honorees' life leaving the stage for the guest of honor to tell his own great stories.

Depending on your time, talent, and resources, you can get very creative. One roaster I know, who can belt out opera with the best of them, arranged for a piano and piano player at a August retirement party. Her adaptation of "Summertime" from Porgy and Bess made everyone in the audience a little envious of the honoree's imminent summertime, when the livin' is easy.

Take a point of view (coworker, next-door neighbor, best friend in college, bride and groom's matchmaker, grew up together), and find something of value in it for the occasion. Trust the person who asked you or yourself for volunteering. There's an old saying in Hollywood, What's my motivation? Ask yourself, Why am I doing this? To get attention for myself or focus attention on the guest of honor? It always helps to know the motivation you have for speaking. What do you want to accomplish? Why are you interested in talking with this audience? What does it hold for you? What do you have for it? What funny, endearing things doesn't the audience know about the honoree.. .yet?

What will be added if you speak in this situation? What would be lost if you don't speak? Being clear about your motivation and what you can offer helps to give purpose, which helps to conquer fear.

A wedding is often the first opportunity most of us have to toast, or gently roast, our friends. An essential ingredient of any wedding, toasts have several functions, not the least of which is to bridge from the formal to informal. After a few toasters express the happy feelings of everyone, both the bride and the groom, and their friends and relatives can begin to relax and enjoy themselves.

The best man always begins the series of toasts by addressing the bride or bride and groom, and the father of the bride concludes them by welcoming everyone and commanding that the festivities begin.

With families being newly introduced to each other and the usual mix of generations, it's important to be humorous but appropriate. According to a survey in Modern Bride, nearly one in five brides were mortified by the best man's toast! A good rule of thumb is, when in doubt, leave it out.

The old standby of "unaccustomed as I am to this" is probably not going to win listeners over to your side either. It's also much too self-conscious. A wedding I recently went to featured a very young best man who pleaded with the audience for understanding, as it was the first toast of his career. The entire reception was pulling for him to pull it off, but his pulling it off was all that I remember � not whatever he said about the bride and the groom. It's their day; you should feature them instead of your own insecurity.

Again, ask yourself, What uniqueness can I add? Why am I here?

"Because I have to be" is not a good answer, although, it may be the first thing that comes to mind. The father of one groom, who was uncomfortable with the people who would be his son's new in-laws asked my screenwriting partner for help in crafting his rehearsal dinner toast. The KISS principle was never more necessary. "Keep It Short, Sweetheart."

Together, they explored that he really only wanted and needed to do three things: proclaim pride in his son, acceptance of his new daughter, and happiness in meeting her family.

This is what he said: "My son always strives for the very best. Whether through dumb luck or sheer determination, he has made no exception to that rule in taking a bride. He's always made me very proud, but never more happy that in choosing a wife of such fineness and grace. I am pleased to be joining with her family in celebrating these remarkable young people and the remarkable life they will have together."

My own dear father's simple and sincere toast at my wedding, which I still remember decades later, was, "May you always be as happy together as you are today."

And the wedding toast I traditionally give when it feels like more toasts are needed is a variation of the song "May You Always" with original words and music by Larry Markes and Dick Charles. Being careful not to race through it, I always take time to get the words across.

May you always walk in sunshine Slumber warm when night winds blow May you always live with laughter For your smiles become you so May you always be dreamers May your wildest dreams come true And may you have found someone to love As much as we love you.

Traditionally, the men give the toasts, but with today's nontraditional families of single mothers, divorced matrons of honor, young grandmothers, and grown children, everyone who knows the couple is welcome. Here are some thoughts and phrases to work into your toasts.

For better or for worse, but never for granted.

Today, I have married my best friend.

If it weren't for marriage, men would spend our lives thinking we had no faults at all.

�Married best man

May you never forget what is worth remembering and never remember what is best forgotten.

�Mother of the bride

May "for better or worse" be far better than worse.

�Father of the groom

Mythologist Joseph Campbell wrote, "When you make a sacrifice in marriage, you are sacrificing not to each other, but to unity in a relationship."

�Mother of the groom

If you steal, may you steal one another's hearts. If you fight, may you fight for one another.

�Maid of honor

Martin Luther said, "There is no more lovely, friendly and charming relationship, communion or good company than a good marriage."

�Matron of honor

In The Prophet, Kahlil Gibran writes: "Think not that you can guide the course of love, for love, if it finds you worthy, guides your course."

�Grown daughter

Now will you drink with me.. .that your love guides you through life and echoes in eternity.

�Father of the bride

The entire sum of existence is the magic of being needed by just one other person.

�A single best man

Socrates said, "My advice to you is get married: if you find a good wife you'll be happy; if not, you'll become a philosopher."

�A divorced best man

Poet and playwright, Oscar Wilde, said, "Woman begins by resisting a man's advances and ends by blocking his retreat."

Marriages may be made in Heaven, but man is responsible for the maintenance work.

�A married best man

I share Goethe's wisdom with you, "We are shaped and fashioned by what we love."

�Grandmother of the groom

All women should know how to take care of children. Most of them will have a husband someday.

�Grandmother of the bride

A toast should always end with a formal indication to the guests that they should join you in toasting to Adam and Eve's happiness. "To Adam and Eve!"

An interesting addition to the 21st century are online books and services that professionally write for you or help you edit your own wedding toasts. According to the Wall Street Journal, there is big business for these services that offer to work magic in 24 hours and mostly under $100. Other online help provides fill-in-the-blank templates to help you get started.

Birthdays and Other Occasions

For birthday toasts, I often borrow simple sentiments from birthday cards. My most recent favorite is, "To one who is much too young to be this old."

And there is no limit to the fun one-liners you will find at your favorite card store without spending a dime. Or instead of giving a good bottle of wine, buy up to three cards with great lines, use them in your toast, and give them as your gift. They will seem more personalized and last a lot longer than the wine.

Obviously, a toast can be a speech or simply raising a glass and offering a cultural tribute. In Sweden, it's "skol." Japan, it's "compai," and in Britain, it's "cheers." There is a rumor that to raise a glass of anything nonalcoholic is bad luck. Seems to me that missing a chance to wish someone well is a greater detriment to your karma than toasting with your beverage of choice.

If you are the recipient of a toast, you do not stand, raise your glass, or take a sip of your drink, but you do thank the toasters or at least smile and graciously nod. You are not obliged to propose a toast in return.

Westside Toastmasters on Meetup

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14 Ceremonial Speaking

Learning objectives.

• Understand the different types of ceremonial speeches.
• Explain how to deliver a strong ceremonial speech in different contexts.

There are many occasions in which one may be called to speak that do not focus on informing or persuading an audience in the ways we’ve already discussed. Special occasions mark life events, celebrate milestones, and commemorate people and situations. The speeches delivered at these types of events provide perspective on the occasion, help the audience make sense of its significance, and can become a lasting part of the memories formed from the event. Whether you are standing up to give an award speech, a wedding toast, or a eulogy, knowing how to deliver speeches in a variety of different contexts is an important skill of public speaking. In this chapter, we will explore the functions of special occasion speeches, as well as several specific types of special occasion speeches, and four key items to remember when you are asked to deliver one these speeches at an event.

Functions of Special Occasion Speeches

Chris Hill – Chris Hoy – Acceptance Speech – CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.

Entertain and Celebrate

While speeches intended to entertain an audience may be either informative or persuasive, the rhetorical situation often provides a clear indication of when a speech falls into the special occasion category. Consider roasts and toasts; both entertain and celebrate, albeit in different ways. An awards banquet and weddings are examples of special occasions that call for a speaker to present an upbeat, light speech designed to amuse the audience while celebrating a person, event, or situation.

Commemorate

When we think of a speech crafted to commemorate something or someone, perhaps a eulogy is the first type to come to mind. That is likely because a commemorative speech is one of tribute, and often remembrance, such as a eulogy or when a speaker recalls an anniversary or a milestone event. Speeches of commemoration can also include building or monument dedications that are designed to honor the memory of the person or situation that inspired the site.

Often the rhetorical situation calls for a speaker to present words of wisdom and guidance based upon their personal experiences or what they’ve learned through shared experiences of the audience they are addressing. Examples of this kind of inspirational speaking include one you’ve all likely already witnessed, the commencement speech. Another example is a keynote address at a conference or convention. An inaugural address is another type of speech designed to inspire audiences through the promise of the speaker’s vision for the future.

This textbook is dedicated to encouraging students to stand up and speak out and this type of special occasion speech encompasses the speeches in which individuals do just that. Speeches of advocacy focus on goals and values. They are often cause-oriented or crafted to impact policy-setting or change in some way. Speakers present advocacy speeches at special occasions such as fundraisers, campaign rallies, and even protests or marches.

Types of Special Occasion Speeches

If we consider the functions of special occasion speeches we’ve just reviewed, chances are we could come up with a myriad of different types of speeches that could be included in this section. For our purposes, we are going to focus on several special occasion speeches that you are likely to encounter in your academic, professional, and personal lives. By looking at common types of speeches, we hope to enable you with the tools to stand up and speak out in events and situations in which you may find yourselves given a platform to deliver a speech.

Speeches of Introduction

The first type of speech is called the speech of introduction. A speech of introduction is a short speech that introduces another speaker. There are two main goals of an introduction speech: to provide a bit of context, including who the speaker is and why that speaker will be giving a speech at the particular event, and to entice the audience to pay attention to what the speaker has to say.

Just like any other speech, a speech of introduction should have a clear introduction, body, and conclusion. The information should be delivered as concisely but informative as possible. For an introduction, think of a hook that will make your audience interested in the upcoming speaker. Did you read a news article related to the speaker’s topic? Have you been impressed by a presentation you’ve heard the speaker give in the past? You need to find something that can grab the audience’s attention and make them excited about hearing the main speaker.

The body of your speech of introduction should be devoted to telling the audience about the speaker’s topic, why the speaker is qualified, and why the audience should listen (notice we now have our three body points). First, tell your audience in general terms about the overarching topic of the speech. You may only have a speech title and maybe a paragraph of information to help guide this part of your speech. Remember, your role is to be concise and to the point. The speaker is the one who will elaborate on the topic. Next, you need to tell the audience why the speaker is a credible speaker on the topic. Has the speaker written books or articles on the subject? Has the speaker had special life events that make him or her qualified? Think about what you’ve learned about building ethos and do that for the speaker. Lastly, you need to briefly explain to the audience why they should care about the upcoming speech.

The final part of a good introduction speech is the conclusion. The conclusion is generally designed to welcome the speaker to the lectern. Many introduction speeches will conclude by saying something like, “I am looking forward to hearing how Joe Smith’s advice and wisdom can help all of us today, so please join me in welcoming Mr. Joe Smith.” We’ve known some presenters who will even add a notation to their notes to “start clapping,”  “shake the speaker’s hand,” or “give the speaker a hug” depending on the circumstances of the speech.

Speeches of Presentation

The second type of ceremonial speech is the speech of presentation. A speech of presentation is a brief speech given to accompany a prize or honor. A speech of presentation could be as simple as saying, “This year’s recipient of the Schuman Public Speaking prize is Wilhelmina Jeffers,” or could last up to five minutes as the speaker explains why the honoree was chosen for the award.

When preparing a speech of presentation, it’s always important to ask how long the speech should be. Once you know the time limit, then you can set out to create the speech itself. First, you should explain what the award or honor is and why the presentation is important. Second, you can explain what the recipient has accomplished in order for the award to be bestowed. Did the person win a political race? Did the person write an important piece of literature? Did the person mediate conflict? Whatever the recipient has done, you need to clearly highlight their work. Lastly, if the race or competition was conducted in a public forum and numerous people didn’t win, you may want to recognize those people for their efforts as well. While you don’t want to steal the show away from the winner (as Kanye West did to Taylor Swift during the 2009 MTV Music Video Awards ( https://vimeo.com/173170491 ), you may want to highlight the work of the other competitors or nominees.

Speeches of Acceptance

The complement to a speech of presentation is the speech of acceptance. The speech of acceptance is a speech given by the recipient of a prize or honor. For example, in the above video clip from the 2009 MTV Music Video Awards, Taylor Swift starts by expressing her appreciation, gets interrupted by Kanye West, and ends by saying, “I would like to thank the fans and MTV, thank you.” While not a traditional acceptance speech because of the interruption, she did manage to get in the important parts.

There are three typical components of a speech of acceptance: thank the givers of the award or honor, thank those who helped you achieve your goal, and put the award or honor into perspective.

First, you want to thank the people who have given you the award or honor and possibly those who voted for you. We see this done every year during the Oscars, “First, I’d like to thank the academy and all of the academy voters.” Second, you want to give credit to those who helped you achieve the award or honor. No person accomplishes things in life on their own. We all have families, friends, and/or colleagues who support us and help us achieve what we do in life. A speech of acceptance is a great time to graciously recognize those individuals. Lastly, put the award in perspective. Tell the people listening to your speech why the award is meaningful to you.

Speeches of Dedication

The fourth ceremonial speech is the speech of dedication. A speech of dedication is delivered when a new store opens, a building is named after someone, a plaque is placed on a wall, a new library is completed, and so on. These speeches are designed to highlight the importance of the project and those to whom the project has been dedicated.

When preparing the speech of dedication, start by explaining your connection to the project and why you’ve been asked to speak. Next, you want to explain what is being dedicated and who was involved with the project, who made it possible. If the project is a new structure, talk about the people who built the structure or designed it. If the project is a preexisting structure, talk about the people who put together and decided on the dedication. You also want to explain why the structure is important and the impact it may have on the local community. For instance, if the dedication is for a new store, you could talk about how the store will bring in new jobs and shopping opportunities. If the dedication is for a new wing of a hospital, you could talk about how patients will be served and the advances in medicine the new wing will provide the community.

It is likely that if you haven’t yourself given a toast at this point in your life, you’ve witnessed one at a social event. A toast is a speech designed to congratulate, appreciate, or remember. Toasts can be delivered for the purpose of congratulating someone for an honor, a new job, or getting married. You can also toast someone to show your appreciation for something they’ve done. We also toast people to remember them and what they have accomplished. Think about a time when you may have heard someone exclaim “let’s raise our glass!” in honor of someone who may or may not be present at that moment.

When preparing a toast, the first goal is always to keep your remarks brief. Toasts are generally given in the course of some festivity (e.g., wedding, retirement party, farewell party), and you don’t want your toast to take away from the festivity for too long. Second, the goal of a toast is to focus attention on the person or persons being celebrated—not on the speaker. As such, while you are speaking you need to focus your attention on the people you are toasting, both by physically looking at them and by keeping your message about them. You should also avoid any inside jokes between you and the people being toasted because toasts are public and should be accessible for everyone who hears them. To conclude a toast, simply say something like, “Please join me in recognizing Joan for her achievement.” While that will verbally signal the conclusion of the toast, some occasions may also call for you to physically raise your glass in the direction of the honoree. This action will invite the audience to join in the toast.

A roast is an interesting and peculiar speech because it is designed to both praise and good-naturedly poke fun at a person being honored. Generally, roasts are given at the conclusion of a banquet in honor of someone’s life achievements. The television station Comedy Central has created a series of celebrity roasts which showcases public figures jokingly insulting other well-known figures in front of a live audience.

In this clip ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSE_saVX_2A#action=share ), watch as Stephen Colbert, television host of The Colbert Report, roasts President George W. Bush.

How does one prepare for a roast? You want to think about the person who is being roasted. Do they have any strange habits or amusing stories in their past that you can discuss? When you think through these things, you want to make sure that you cross anything off your list that is truly private information or will really hurt the person. The goal of a roast is to poke fun at them, not embarrass them or tarnish their reputation. When selecting which aspects to highlight in your roast, you want to make sure that the items you choose are widely known by your audience. Roasts work when the majority of people in the audience can relate to the jokes as these are intended to create a fun atmosphere for all. It is up to the speaker to ensure neither the individual being roasted or the audience, is left feeling uncomfortable. Always remember the point of a roast is to honor someone. While the jokes are definitely the fun part of a roast, you should leave the roastee knowing that you truly do care about and appreciate them.

A eulogy is a speech given in honor of someone who has died. If you are asked to deliver a eulogy, it’s important to understand the expectations of this type of speech and ensure you are prepared. You need to be prepared both for the sake of the audience as well as your own. Watch the following clip ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRsH92sJCr4&feature=youtu.be ) of then-Senator Barack Obama delivering a eulogy at the funeral of civil rights activist Rosa Parks in November of 2005.

In this eulogy, Senator Obama delivers the eulogy by recalling Rosa Park’s importance and her legacy in American history. When preparing a eulogy, first you need to know as much information about the deceased as possible. The more information you have about the person, the more personal you can make the eulogy. While you can rely on your own knowledge if you were close to the deceased, it is always a good idea to ask friends and relatives of the deceased for their memories. Other people’s input may add important facets that may not have occurred to you. Of course, if you were not very close to the deceased, you will need to ask friends and family for information.

Second, although eulogies are delivered on the serious and sad occasion of a funeral or memorial service for the deceased, it is very helpful to look for at least one point to be lighter or humorous. In some cultures, in fact, the friends and family attending the funeral will expect the eulogy to be highly entertaining and amusing. While eulogies are not roasts, one goal of the humor or lighter aspects of a eulogy is to relieve the tension that is created by the serious nature of the occasion.

Lastly, remember to tell the deceased’s story. Tell the audience about who this person was and what the person stood for in life. The more personal you can make a eulogy, the more touching it will be for the deceased’s friends and families. The eulogy should remind the audience to celebrate the person’s life as well as mourn their death.

Speeches of Farewell

A speech of farewell allows someone to say goodbye to one part of their life as they move on to the next part of life. Maybe you’ve accepted a new job and are leaving your current job, or you’re graduating from college and entering the workforce. Whatever the case may be, periods of transition are often marked by speeches of farewell. Watch the following clip ( https://youtu.be/HJrlTpQm0to ) of Derek Jeter’s 2008 speech saying farewell to Yankee Stadium, built in 1923, before the New York Yankees moved to the new stadium that opened in 2009.

In this speech, Derek Jeter is not only saying goodbye to Yankee Stadium but also thanking the fans for their continued support. When preparing a speech of farewell, the goal should be to thank people and let them know how much you appreciate them as you make the move to your next role in life. In Derek Jeter’s speech, he starts by talking about the history of the 1923 Yankee Stadium and then thanks the fans for their support. You will also want to express to your audience how much the experience has meant to you.

A farewell speech is a time to commemorate and think about the good times you’ve had, not recount any less pleasant aspects. It’s a good idea to end on a high note. Derek Jeter concludes his speech by saying, “On behalf of this entire organization, we just want to take this moment to salute you, the greatest fans in the world!” At this point, Jeter and the other players take off their ball caps and hold them up toward the audience.

Inspirational Speaking

The goal of an inspirational speech  is to elicit or arouse an emotional state within an audience. Although other speeches we’ve already explored can incorporate inspirational messages, we will now look at two specific types of inspirational speeches: goodwill and speeches of commencement.

Speeches to Ensure Goodwill

Goodwill is an intangible asset that is made up of the favor or reputation of an individual or organization. Speeches of goodwill are often given in an attempt to get audience members to view the person or organization more favorably. Although speeches of goodwill are persuasive, they try not to be obvious about the persuasive intent. They are often delivered as information-giving speeches that focus on an individual or organization’s positive attributes.

Speeches for Commencements

The second type of inspirational speech is the speech of commencement, which is designed to recognize and celebrate the achievements of a graduating class. Nearly all of us have sat through commencement speeches at some point in our lives.  Perhaps you just finished high school and earned your degree, or you recently attended a commencement for a sibling or other family member. If you have not yet attended a commencement ceremony, you will soon as you work toward earning your college degree. Numerous celebrities and politicians have been asked to deliver commencement speeches at colleges and universities. One famous commencement speech was given by famed Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling at Harvard University in 2008 ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkREt4ZB-ck ).

J.K. Rowling’s speech has the perfect balance of humor and inspiration, which are two of the main ingredients of a great commencement speech.

If you’re ever asked to deliver a commencement speech, there are some key points to think through when deciding on your speech’s content.

• If there is a specific theme for the graduation, make sure that your commencement speech addresses that theme. If there is not a specific theme, come up with one for your speech. Some common commencement speech themes are commitment, competitiveness, competence, confidence, decision making, discipline, ethics, failure (and overcoming failure), faith, generosity, integrity, involvement, leadership, learning, persistence, personal improvement, professionalism, reality, responsibility, and self-respect.
• Talk about your life and how graduates can learn from your experiences to avoid pitfalls or take advantages of life. How can your life inspire the graduates in their future endeavors?
• Make the speech humorous. Commencement speeches should be entertaining and make an audience laugh.
• Be brief! Remember, the graduates are there to get their diplomas, and their families are there to watch the graduates walk across the stage.
• Remember, while you may be the speaker, you’ve been asked to impart wisdom and advice for the people graduating and moving on with their lives, so keep it focused on them.
• Place the commencement speech into the broader context of the graduates’ lives. Show the graduates how the advice and wisdom you are offering can be utilized to make their own lives better. 
Overall, it’s important to make sure that you have fun when delivering a commencement speech. Remember, it’s a tremendous honor and responsibility to be asked to deliver a commencement speech. Take the time to really think through and prepare your speech.

Keynote Speaking

Acumen_ – Keynote Speech – CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.

The last type of special occasion speech we will examine is the keynote speech. A keynote speech is delivered to set the underlying tone and summarize the core message of an event. People who deliver keynote speeches are typically experts in a given area who are invited to speak at a conference, convention, banquet, meeting, or other kinds of events with the purpose of setting a specific tone for the occasion. As mentioned, keynote speeches often are meant to inspire an audience. This inspiration can anything from motivating staff at a sales convention to discussing organizational values and imparting wisdom on a group with a shared goal or purpose.

Some keynote speakers will work for a speakers bureau, an agency that represents celebrity and professional speakers. One important organization for all aspiring keynote speakers is the National Speaker’s Association, or NSA. ( http://www.nsaspeaker.org ). In the world of professional public speaking, there are two common types of keynotes: after-dinner speeches and motivational speeches. Let’s look at each of these unique speeches.

After-Dinner Speeches

Ironically, an after-dinner speech does not have to occur after a formal dinner, though it does get its name from the idea that these speeches historically followed a meal of some kind. After-dinner speakers are generally asked (or hired) to speak because they have the ability both to effectively convey a message and to make people laugh. This characteristic does not mean its only goal is to entertain. The after-dinner speech could serve any of the functions previously detailed in this chapter, and all the basic conventions of public speaking discussed in this text apply to after-dinner speeches. However, the overarching goal of these speeches is to entertain and create a light-hearted, jovial atmosphere.

After-dinner speaking is a challenging type of speaking because it requires a balance of entertainment and humor by providing substantive insight into the topic of the event or situation. Finding this balance will allow speakers to deliver a rewarding speech that leaves a lasting impact on the audience. For an example of an after-dinner speech, read the following speech delivered by Mark Twain on his seventieth birthday: ( https://www.pbs.org/marktwain/learnmore/writings_seventieth.html ).

Here are some things to consider when preparing an after-dinner speech.

First, use all that you have learned about informative or persuasive speeches to prepare for this speech, and then consider the four items of note we will outline later in this chapter for creating a successful special occasion speech. You must prepare, consider the occasion, understand your audience, and be mindful of time constraints surrounding your speech and the event.

Second, remember that this is not an opportunity to try your hand at stand-up comedy. The after-dinner speech has a specific goal or purpose, which you must identify and attempt to accomplish. Doing so requires that your speech has a recognizable structure like your more formal speeches: an introduction, a body, and a conclusion. While you ideally want to entertain and amuse your audience, you also want to be sure you achieve your speech goal in the given timeframe.

Motivational Speaking

The second common form of keynote speaking is motivational speaking. A motivational speech is designed not only to make an audience experience emotional arousal (fear, sadness, joy, excitement) but also to motivate the audience to do something with that emotional arousal. Whereas a traditional persuasive speech may attempt to influence listeners to purchase a product or agree with an ideology, a motivational speech helps to inspire people in a broader fashion, often without a clearly articulated end result in mind. As such, motivational speaking is a highly specialized form of persuasive speaking commonly delivered in schools, businesses, or religious, club, and group contexts. The Toastmasters International Guide to Successful Speaking lists four types of motivational speeches: hero, survivor, religious, and success (Slutsky & Aun, 1997).

The hero speech is a motivational speech given by someone who is considered a hero in society (e.g. military speakers, political figures, and professional athletes). Just type “motivational speech” into YouTube and you’ll find many motivational speeches given by individuals who can be considered heroes or role models. The following clip ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMlmbz8-_Xg ) presents a speech by Steve Sax, a former major league baseball player.

In this speech, Sax talks about his life as a baseball player, along with issues related to leadership, overcoming obstacles, and motivation.

The survivor speech is a speech given by someone who has survived a personal tragedy or who has faced and overcome serious adversity. In the following clip ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NasfjwL8wTc ), Becky Olson discusses her life as a cancer survivor.

Becky Olson goes all over the country talking with and motivating cancer survivors to beat the odds.

The final type of motivational speech is the success speech, which is given by someone who has succeeded in some aspect of life and is giving back by telling others how they too can be successful. In the following clip ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E52eIa1VSgQ ), the then CEO of Xerox, Anne Mulcahy, speaks before a group of students at the University of Virginia discussing the spirit of entrepreneurship.

In this speech, Mulcahy shares the leadership lessons she had learned as the CEO of Xerox

Review of the Types of Special Occasion Speeches

A speech of introduction is a short speech that introduces another speaker.

A speech of presentation is a brief speech given to accompany a prize or honor.

The speech of acceptance is a speech given by the recipient of a prize or honor.

A speech of dedication is delivered when a new store opens, a building is named after someone, a plaque is placed on a wall, a new library is completed, and so on. These speeches are designed to highlight the importance of the project and those to whom the project has been dedicated.

A toast is a speech designed to congratulate, appreciate, or remember.

A roast speech is designed to both praise and good-naturedly poke fun at a person being honored.

A eulogy is a speech given in honor of someone who has died.

A s peech of farewell allows someone to say goodbye to one part of their life as they move on to the next part of life.

An inspirational speech  elicits an emotional state within an audience. Inspirational speeches include speeches to ensure goodwill and commencement addresses.

A keynote speech is delivered to set the underlying tone and summarize the core message of an event. Keynote speeches include after-dinner and motivational speeches.

Delivering Your Special Occasion Speech

Special occasion speeches may be common, but that doesn’t mean they don’t require effort and preparation. A frequent trap is that people often do not consider the impact these speeches can have on the occasion. For instance, a wedding toast not only leaves a lasting impression on the couple getting married but also all of the guests in attendance (not to mention it will likely be recorded and posted on social media). As a result, one may not prepare seriously but instead, stand up to speak with the idea that they can “wing it” by acting silly and telling a few jokes. Rather than being entertaining or commemorating the occasion, the speech appears ill-prepared and falls flat. To help us think through how to be effective in delivering special occasion speeches, let’s look at four key items to remember: preparation, adaptation to the occasion, adaptation to the audience, and mindfulness about the time.

First, and foremost, the biggest mistake you can make when standing to deliver a ceremonial speech is to be underprepared or simply not prepare at all. We’ve stressed the need for preparation throughout this text, so just because you’re giving a wedding toast or a eulogy doesn’t mean you shouldn’t think through the speech before you stand up and speak out. If the situation is impromptu, even jotting some basic notes on a napkin is better than not having any plan for what you are going to say. Remember, when you get anxious, as inevitably happens in front of an audience, your brain doesn’t function as well as when you are having a relaxed conversation with friends. You often forget information. By writing down some simple notes, you’ll be poised to deliver a more thoughtful speech that matches the needs of the occasion.

Consider the Occasion

Not all content is appropriate for all occasions. If you are asked to deliver a speech commemorating the first anniversary of a school shooting, then obviously using humor and telling jokes is not appropriate. But some decisions about adapting to the occasion are less obvious. Consider the following examples:

• You are the maid of honor giving a toast at the wedding of your younger sister.
• You are receiving a Most Valuable Player award in your favorite sport.
• You are a sales representative speaking to a group of clients after a mistake has been discovered.
• You are a cancer survivor speaking at a high school student assembly.

How might you adapt your message and speaking style to successfully mark each occasion in front of the various audiences in attendance? 
Remember that being a competent speaker is about being both personally effective and socially appropriate. Different occasions will call for different speech functions. As a speaker, it is important to understand the needs of the occasion and adapt your content accordingly. One of the biggest mistakes speakers can make is to deliver one generic speech to different groups without adapting the speech to the specific 
occasion. In fact, professional speakers always make sure that their speeches are tailored to each specific occasion by asking questions and investigating the details of each event or situation. When we customize our speech for the special occasion, people are more likely to remember the speech than if we give a generic speech.

Consider Your Audience

Understanding your audience remains one of the most critical aspects of preparing your speech for any occasion. Different audiences will respond differently to speech material. The more you know about your audience and the more you are able to adapt your content to their needs and wants, the more likely your speech will have an impact and you will effectively achieve your speaking goal. One of the coauthors of this text was at a conference specifically for teachers of public speaking. The keynote speaker stood and delivered a speech on the importance of public speaking. Remember, a function of keynote speaking is to inspire the audience. Though this particular speaking was highly informed on the topic and even entertained the audience, the speech did not go over very well with the audience. Why do you think this was? Speaking to an audience of public speaking instructors, a safe assumption is that they already believe in the importance of the subject. Thus, we can also assume that the speaker may not have considered the audience when preparing the speech, and therefore it is likely the keynote did not fulfill its function of inspiring them.

Be Mindful of the Time

There are very few times in life, whether it be academic, professional, or personal, that you will be given an infinite amount of time to do anything. This is an important consideration to keep in mind when preparing your special occasion speech (as well as your informative and persuasive speeches!). Special occasions often consist of more than just speeches. Each has its own conventions and rules with regard to time. Acceptance speeches and toasts, for example, should be relatively short (typically under five minutes). A speech of introduction should be extremely brief, just long enough to tell the audience what they need to know about the person being introduced and prepares them to appreciate that person’s remarks. Conversely, commemorative speeches, commencement speeches, and keynote addresses tend to be longer as they include more content and have different goals.

When it comes to speech timing, the other three items we’ve discussed in this section can come in very handy. With preparation and practice, you can ensure your speech adheres to a specific timeframe. Considering your occasion and understanding your audience will also help you when crafting your speech and determining an appropriate amount of time for speaking. Think about a wedding you’ve attended when a toast honoring the couple has gone on and on and on, and everyone, including the happy couple, just wanted to get up and dance. There are also examples of instances when an audience may have been eager to be inspired and motivated but left disappointed when the speaker presented a quick and vapid speech. It can go either way, and that’s why it is important to be prepared, consider the occasion, and understand your audience.

It is also perfectly acceptable to ask questions about the expected time frame for a speech. Either ask the person who has invited you to speak, or you can do some quick research to see what the average speech times in the given context tend to be.

Slutsky, J., & Aun, M. (1997). The Toastmasters International® guide to successful speaking: Overcoming your fears, winning over your audience, building your business & career. Chicago, IL: Dearborn Financial Publishing.

Stand up, Speak out Copyright © 2017 by Josh Miller; Marnie Lawler-Mcdonough; Megan Orcholski; Kristin Woodward; Lisa Roth; and Emily Mueller is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

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18.2 Special-Occasion Speeches

Learning objectives.

• Identify the different types of ceremonial speaking.
• Describe the different types of inspirational speaking.

M+MD – Birthday Speech – CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.

Many entertaining speeches fall under the category of special-occasion speeches. All the speeches in this category are given to mark the significance of particular events. Common events include weddings, bar mitzvahs, awards ceremonies, funerals, and political events. In each of these different occasions, speakers are asked to deliver speeches relating to the event. For purposes of simplicity, we’ve broken special-occasion speeches into two groups: ceremonial speaking and inspirational speaking.

Ceremonial Speaking

Ceremonial speeches are speeches given during a ceremony or a ritual marked by observance of formality or etiquette. These ceremonies tend to be very special for people, so it shouldn’t be surprising that they are opportunities for speech making. Let’s examine each of the eight types of ceremonial speaking: introductions, presentations, acceptances, dedications, toasts, roasts, eulogies, and farewells.

Speeches of Introduction

The first type of speech is called the speech of introduction , which is a minispeech given by the host of a ceremony that introduces another speaker and his or her speech. Few things are worse than when the introducer or a speaker stands up and says, “This is Joe Smith, he’s going to talk about stress.” While we did learn the speaker’s name and the topic, the introduction falls flat. Audiences won’t be the least bit excited about listening to Joe’s speech.

Just like any other speech, a speech of introduction should be a complete speech and have a clear introduction, body, and conclusion—and you should do it all in under two minutes. This brings up another “few things are worse” scenario: an introductory speaker who rambles on for too long or who talks about himself or herself instead of focusing on the person being introduced.

For an introduction, think of a hook that will make your audience interested in the upcoming speaker. Did you read a news article related to the speaker’s topic? Have you been impressed by a presentation you’ve heard the speaker give in the past? You need to find something that can grab the audience’s attention and make them excited about hearing the main speaker.

The body of your introductory speech should be devoted to telling the audience about the speaker’s topic, why the speaker is qualified, and why the audience should listen (notice we now have our three body points). First, tell your audience in general terms about the overarching topic of the speech. Most of the time as an introducer, you’ll only have a speech title and maybe a paragraph of information to help guide this part of your speech. That’s all right. You don’t need to know all the ins and outs of the main speaker’s speech; you just need to know enough to whet the audience’s appetite. Next, you need to tell the audience why the speaker is a credible speaker on the topic. Has the speaker written books or articles on the subject? Has the speaker had special life events that make him or her qualified? Lastly, you need to briefly explain to the audience why they should care about the upcoming speech.

The final part of a good introduction is the conclusion, which is generally designed to welcome the speaker to the lectern. Many introducers will conclude by saying something like, “I am looking forward to hearing how Joe Smith’s advice and wisdom can help all of us today, so please join me in welcoming Mr. Joe Smith.” We’ve known some presenters who will even add a notation to their notes to “start clapping” and “shake speakers hand” or “give speaker a hug” depending on the circumstances of the speech.

Now that we’ve walked through the basic parts of an introductory speech, let’s see one outlined:

Specific Purpose: To entertain the audience while preparing them for Janice Wright’s speech on rituals.

Introduction: Mention some common rituals people in the United States engage in (Christmas, sporting events, legal proceedings).

Main Points:

• Explain that the topic was selected because understanding how cultures use ritual is an important part of understanding what it means to be human.
• Janice Wright is a cultural anthropologist who studies the impact that everyday rituals have on communities.
• All of us engage in rituals, and we often don’t take the time to determine how these rituals were started and how they impact our daily routines.

Conclusion: I had the opportunity to listen to Dr. Wright at the regional conference in Springfield last month, and I am excited that I get to share her with all of you tonight. Please join me in welcoming Dr. Wright (start clapping, shake speaker’s hand, exit stage).

Speeches of Presentation

The second type of common ceremonial speech is the speech of presentation . A speech of presentation is a brief speech given to accompany a prize or honor. Speeches of presentation can be as simple as saying, “This year’s recipient of the Schuman Public Speaking prize is Wilhelmina Jeffers,” or could last up to five minutes as the speaker explains why the honoree was chosen for the award.

When preparing a speech of presentation, it’s always important to ask how long the speech should be. Once you know the time limit, then you can set out to create the speech itself. First, you should explain what the award or honor is and why the presentation is important. Second, you can explain what the recipient has accomplished in order for the award to be bestowed. Did the person win a race? Did the person write an important piece of literature? Did the person mediate conflict? Whatever the recipient has done, you need to clearly highlight his or her work. Lastly, if the race or competition was conducted in a public forum and numerous people didn’t win, you may want to recognize those people for their efforts as well. While you don’t want to steal the show away from winner (as Kanye West did to Taylor Swift during the 2009 MTV Music Video Awards, for example http://www.mtv.com/videos/misc/435995/taylor-swift-wins-best-female-video.jhtml#id=1620605 ), you may want to highlight the work of the other competitors or nominees.

Speeches of Acceptance

The complement to a speech of presentation is the speech of acceptance . The speech of acceptance is a speech given by the recipient of a prize or honor. For example, in the above video clip from the 2009 MTV Music Video Awards, Taylor Swift starts by expressing her appreciation, gets interrupted by Kanye West, and ends by saying, “I would like to thank the fans and MTV, thank you.” While obviously not a traditional acceptance speech because of the interruption, she did manage to get in the important parts.

There are three typical components of a speech of acceptance: thank the givers of the award or honor, thank those who helped you achieve your goal, and put the award or honor into perspective. First, you want to thank the people who have given you the award or honor and possibly those who voted for you. We see this done every year during the Oscars, “First, I’d like to thank the academy and all the academy voters.” Second, you want to give credit to those who helped you achieve the award or honor. No person accomplishes things in life on his or her own. We all have families and friends and colleagues who support us and help us achieve what we do in life, and a speech of acceptance is a great time to graciously recognize those individuals. Lastly, put the award in perspective. Tell the people listening to your speech why the award is meaningful to you.

Speeches of Dedication

The fourth ceremonial speech is the speech of dedication . A speech of dedication is delivered when a new store opens, a building is named after someone, a plaque is placed on a wall, a new library is completed, and so on. These speeches are designed to highlight the importance of the project and possibly those to whom the project has been dedicated. Maybe your great-uncle has died and left your college tons of money, so the college has decided to rename one of the dorms after your great-uncle. In this case, you may be asked to speak at the dedication.

When preparing the speech of dedication, start by explaining how you are involved in the dedication. If the person to whom the dedication is being made is a relative, tell the audience that the building is being named after your great-uncle who bestowed a gift to his alma mater. Second, you want to explain what is being dedicated. If the dedication is a new building or a preexisting building, you want to explain what is being dedicated and the importance of the structure. You should then explain who was involved in the project. If the project is a new structure, talk about the people who built the structure or designed it. If the project is a preexisting structure, talk about the people who put together and decided on the dedication. Lastly, explain why the structure is important for the community where it’s located. If the dedication is for a new store, talk about how the store will bring in new jobs and new shopping opportunities. If the dedication is for a new wing of a hospital, talk about how patients will be served and the advances in medicine the new wing will provide the community.

At one time or another, almost everyone is going to be asked to deliver a toast . A toast is a speech designed to congratulate, appreciate, or remember. First, toasts can be delivered for the purpose of congratulating someone for an honor, a new job, or getting married. You can also toast someone to show your appreciation for something they’ve done. Lastly, we toast people to remember them and what they have accomplished.

When preparing a toast, the first goal is always to keep your remarks brief. Toasts are generally given during the middle of some kind of festivities (e.g., wedding, retirement party, farewell party), and you don’t want your toast to take away from those festivities for too long. Second, the goal of a toast is to focus attention on the person or persons being toasted—not on the speaker. As such, while you are speaking you need to focus your attention to the people being toasted, both by physically looking at them and by keeping your message about them. You should also avoid any inside jokes between you and the people being toasted because toasts are public and should be accessible for everyone who hears them. To conclude a toast, simply say something like, “Please join me in recognizing Joan for her achievement” and lift your glass. When you lift your glass, this will signal to others to do the same and then you can all take a drink, which is the end of your speech.

The roast speech is a very interesting and peculiar speech because it is designed to both praise and good-naturedly insult a person being honored. Generally, roasts are given at the conclusion of a banquet in honor of someone’s life achievements. The television station Comedy Central has been conducting roasts of various celebrities for a few years.

In this clip, watch as Stephen Colbert, television host of The Colbert Report , roasts President George W. Bush.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSE_saVX_2A

Let’s pick this short clip apart. You’ll notice that the humor doesn’t pull any punches. The goal of the roast is to both praise and insult in a good-natured manner. You’ll also see that the roaster, in this case Stephen Colbert, is standing behind a lectern while the roastee, President George W. Bush, is clearly on display for the audience to see, and periodically you’ll see the camera pan to President Bush to take in his reactions. Half the fun of a good roast is watching the roastee’s reactions during the roast, so it’s important to have the roastee clearly visible by the audience.

How does one prepare for a roast? First, you want to really think about the person who is being roasted. Do they have any strange habits or amusing stories in their past that you can discuss? When you think through these things you want to make sure that you cross anything off your list that is truly private information or will really hurt the person. The goal of a roast is to poke at them, not massacre them. Second, when selecting which aspects to poke fun at, you need to make sure that the items you choose are widely known by your audience. Roasts work when the majority of people in the audience can relate to the jokes being made. If you have an inside joke with the roastee, bringing it up during roast may be great fun for the two of you, but it will leave your audience unimpressed. Lastly, end on a positive note. While the jokes are definitely the fun part of a roast, you should leave the roastee knowing that you truly do care about and appreciate the person.

A eulogy is a speech given in honor of someone who has died. (Don’t confuse “eulogy” with “elegy,” a poem or song of mourning.) Unless you are a minister, priest, rabbi, imam, or other form of religious leader, you’ll probably not deliver too many eulogies in your lifetime. However, when the time comes to deliver a eulogy, it’s good to know what you’re doing and to adequately prepare your remarks. Watch the following clip of then-Senator Barack Obama delivering a eulogy at the funeral of civil rights activist Rosa Parks in November of 2005.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRsH92sJCr4

In this eulogy, Senator Obama delivers the eulogy by recalling Rosa Parks importance and her legacy in American history.

When preparing a eulogy, first you need to know as much information about the deceased as possible. The more information you have about the person, the more personal you can make the eulogy. While you can rely on your own information if you were close to the deceased, it is always a good idea to ask friends and relatives of the deceased for their memories, as these may add important facets that may not have occurred to you. Of course, if you were not very close to the deceased, you will need to ask friends and family for information. Second, although eulogies are delivered on the serious and sad occasion of a funeral or memorial service for the deceased, it is very helpful to look for at least one point to be lighter or humorous. In some cultures, in fact, the friends and family attending the funeral will expect the eulogy to be highly entertaining and amusing. While eulogies are not roasts, one goal of the humor or lighter aspects of a eulogy is to relieve the tension that is created by the serious nature of the occasion. Lastly, remember to tell the deceased’s story. Tell the audience about who this person was and what the person stood for in life. The more personal you can make a eulogy, the more touching it will be for the deceased’s friends and families. The eulogy should remind the audience to celebrate the person’s life as well as mourn their death.

Speeches of Farewell

A speech of farewell allows someone to say good-bye to one part of his or her life as he or she is moving on to the next part of life. Maybe you’ve accepted a new job and are leaving your current job, or you’re graduating from college and entering the work force. Whatever the case may be, periods of transition are often marked by speeches of farewell. Watch the following clip of Derek Jeter’s 2008 speech saying farewell to Yankee Stadium, built in 1923, before the New York Yankees moved to the new stadium that opened in 2009.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJrlTpQm0to

In this speech, Derek Jeter is not only saying good-bye to Yankee Stadium but also thanking the fans for their continued support.

When preparing a speech of farewell, the goal should be to thank the people in your current position and let them know how much you appreciate them as you make the move to your next position in life. In Derek Jeter’s speech, he starts by talking about the history of the 1923 Yankee Stadium and then thanks the fans for their support. Second, you want to express to your audience how much the experience has meant to you. A farewell speech is a time to commemorate and think about the good times you’ve had. As such, you should avoid negativity during this speech. Lastly, you want to make sure that you end on a high note. Derek Jeter concludes his speech by saying, “On behalf of this entire organization, we just want to take this moment to salute you, the greatest fans in the world!” at which point Jeter and the other players take off their ball caps and hold them up toward the audience.

Inspirational Speaking

The goal of an inspirational speech is to elicit or arouse an emotional state within an audience. In Section 18.2.1 “Ceremonial Speaking” , we looked at ceremonial speeches. Although some inspirational speeches are sometimes tied to ceremonial occasions, there are also other speaking contexts that call for inspirational speeches. For our purposes, we are going to look at two types of inspirational speeches: goodwill and speeches of commencement.

Speeches to Ensure Goodwill

Goodwill is an intangible asset that is made up of the favor or reputation of an individual or organization. Speeches of goodwill are often given in an attempt to get audience members to view the person or organization more favorably. Although speeches of goodwill are clearly persuasive, they try not to be obvious about the persuasive intent and are often delivered as information-giving speeches that focus on an individual or organization’s positives attributes. There are three basic types of speeches of goodwill: public relations, justification, and apology.

Speeches for Public Relations

In a public relations speech, the speaker is speaking to enhance one’s own image or the image of his or her organization. You can almost think of these speeches as cheerleading speeches because the ultimate goal is to get people to like the speaker and what he or she represents. In the following brief speech, the CEO of British Petroleum is speaking to reporters about what his organization is doing during the 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cCfa6AxmUHw

Notice that he keeps emphasizing what his company is doing to fix the problem. Every part of this speech is orchestrated to make BP look caring and attempts to get some amount of goodwill from the viewing public.

Speeches of Justification

The second common speech of goodwill is the speech of justification, which is given when someone attempts to defend why certain actions were taken or will be taken. In these speeches, speakers have already enacted (or decided to enact) some kind of behavior, and are now attempting to justify why the behavior is or was appropriate. In the following clip, President Bill Clinton discusses his decision to bomb key Iraqi targets after uncovering a plot to assassinate former President George H. W. Bush.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mpWa7wNr5M

In this speech, President Clinton outlines his reasons for bombing Iraq to the American people and the globe. Again, the goal of this speech is to secure goodwill for President Clinton’s decisions both in the United States and on the world stage.

Speeches of Apology

The final speech of goodwill is the speech of apology. Frankly, these speeches have become more and more commonplace. Every time we turn around, a politician, professional athlete, musician, or actor/actress is doing something reprehensible and getting caught. In fact, the speech of apology has quickly become a fodder for humor as well. Let’s take a look at a real apology speech delivered by professional golfer Tiger Woods.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xs8nseNP4s0

When you need to make an apology speech, there are three elements that you need to include: be honest and take responsibility, say you’re sorry, and offer restitution. First, a speaker needs to be honest and admit to doing something wrong. The worst apology speeches are those in which the individual tries to sidestep the wrongdoing. Even if you didn’t do anything wrong, it is often best to take responsibility from a public perception perspective. Second, say that you are sorry. People need to know that you are remorseful for what you’ve done. One of the problems many experts saw with Tiger Woods’s speech is that he doesn’t look remorseful at all. While the words coming out of his mouth are appropriate, he looks like a robot forced to read from a manuscript written by his press agent. Lastly, you need to offer restitution. Restitution can come in the form of fixing something broken or a promise not to engage in such behavior in the future. People in society are very willing to forgive and forget when they are asked.

Speeches for Commencements

The second type of inspirational speech is the speech of commencement , which is designed to recognize and celebrate the achievements of a graduating class or other group of people. The most typical form of commencement speech happens when someone graduates from school. Nearly all of us have sat through commencement speeches at some point in our lives. And if you’re like us, you’ve heard good ones and bad ones. Numerous celebrities and politicians have been asked to deliver commencement speeches at colleges and universities. One famous and well-thought-out commencement speech was given by famed Harry Potter author J. K. Rowling at Harvard University in 2008.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkREt4ZB-ck

J. K. Rowling’s speech has the perfect balance of humor and inspiration, which are two of the main ingredients of a great commencement speech.

If you’re ever asked to deliver a commencement speech, there are some key points to think through when deciding on your speech’s content.

• If there is a specific theme for the graduation, make sure that your commencement speech addresses that theme. If there is no specific theme, come up with one for your speech. Some common commencement speech themes are commitment, competitiveness, competence, confidence, decision making, discipline, ethics, failure (and overcoming failure), faith, generosity, integrity, involvement, leadership, learning, persistence, personal improvement, professionalism, reality, responsibility, and self-respect.
• Talk about your life and how graduates can learn from your experiences to avoid pitfalls or take advantages of life. How can your life inspire the graduates in their future endeavors?
• Make the speech humorous. Commencement speeches should be entertaining and make an audience laugh.
• Be brief! Nothing is more painful than a commencement speaker who drones on and on. Remember, the graduates are there to get their diplomas; their families are there to watch the graduates walk across the stage.
• Remember, while you may be the speaker, you’ve been asked to impart wisdom and advice for the people graduating and moving on with their lives, so keep it focused on them.
• Place the commencement speech into the broader context of the graduates’ lives. Show the graduates how the advice and wisdom you are offering can be utilized to make their own lives better.

Overall, it’s important to make sure that you have fun when delivering a commencement speech. Remember, it’s a huge honor and responsibility to be asked to deliver a commencement speech, so take the time to really think through and prepare your speech.

Key Takeaways

• There are eight common forms of ceremonial speaking: introduction, presentation, acceptance, dedication, toast, roast, eulogy, and farewell. Speeches of introduction are designed to introduce a speaker. Speeches of presentation are given when an individual is presenting an award of some kind. Speeches of acceptance are delivered by the person receiving an award or honor. Speeches of dedication are given when a new building or other place is being opened for the first time. Toasts are given to acknowledge and honor someone on a special occasion (e.g., wedding, birthday, retirement). Roasts are speeches designed to both praise and good-naturedly insult a person being honored. Eulogies are given during funerals and memorial services. Lastly, speeches of farewell are delivered by an individual who is leaving a job, community, or organization, and wants to acknowledge how much the group has meant.
• Inspirational speeches fall into two categories: goodwill (e.g., public relations, justification, and apology) and speeches of commencement. Speeches of goodwill attempt to get audience members to view the person or organization more favorably. On the other hand, speeches of commencement are delivered to recognize the achievements of a group of people.
• Imagine you’ve been asked to speak before a local civic organization such as the Kiwanis or Rotary Club. Develop a sample speech of introduction that you would like someone to give to introduce you.
• You’ve been asked to roast your favorite celebrity. Develop a two-minute roast.
• Develop a speech of commencement for your public speaking class.

Stand up, Speak out Copyright © 2016 by University of Minnesota is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

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How to Write a Roast

A roast is a series of insulting jokes about a particular person, the roastee. You write each roast joke using the same techniques that you’d use to write a joke about a topic in the news.

So here’s how to roast someone. Start by brainstorming as many associations of the roastee as you can. An association is something that most people in your audience would know about the roastee or would accept as true about the roastee.

An association could be anything: something the roastee did or said, a physical characteristic, a family member. Research the roastee if you have to. Associations are the main building blocks of jokes, so the more associations a roastee has, the easier it will be to generate multiple jokes about him or her.

Of course, because you’re writing roast jokes, be sure to come up with plenty of associations that are unflattering, embarrassing, or negative in some way.

Then draw on your list of associations to create roast jokes using the joke-writing techniques that I call Punch Line Makers. I describe those techniques, and many others, in my book Comedy Writing for Late-Night TV .  Write your punch lines so that the laugh triggers are negative associations of the roastee.

I’ll show you how the process works by analyzing some jokes from the Comedy Central Roast of Rob Lowe .  Here’s a joke about actor Rob Lowe himself:

“Rob was in a movie called  The Outsiders,  playing a character called Soda Pop…which made sense since he was about 98-percent coke.” — David Spade

That joke was written using Punch Line Maker #1: Link two associations of the topic. One handle of the topic, Rob Lowe, has the association “Soda Pop,” which has the sub-association “Coca-Cola.”

Another, negative, association of Rob Lowe is “did a lot of cocaine,” which has the sub-association “coke.” The punch line, “98-percent coke,” links those two sub-associations in a surprising way.

When assembling your jokes into a roast of somebody, make sure your jokes don’t become repetitive and therefore less surprising and less funny. That means including jokes that rely on as many different associations as possible and eliminating some jokes that rely on the same association.

An eighty-minute show like the Comedy Central Roast of Rob Lowe minimizes joke repetition by also roasting the other celebrity guests on the dais.

For example, here’s a joke about conservative writer and commentator Ann Coulter:

“Ann Coulter has written eleven books…twelve if you count  Mein Kampf .” — Nikki Glaser

That joke is a product of Punch Line Maker #3: Ask a question about the topic. The topic “Ann Coulter has written eleven books” invites the question “What are their titles?”

The writer answered that question by using an association of Ann Coulter that the writer believed most audience members would accept as true: “Hitler,” who has the sub-association “ Mein Kampf .” That answer to the question became the punch line.

When you’re writing a roast joke, you can also start with a punch line and work backward to create a topic that sets up that punch line. For example, take this joke about Rob Lowe:

The writer started by associating Rob Lowe with all the movies he’s made for the lesser-prestige Lifetime network. Then the writer decided to create a punch line around “Lifetime” by using Punch Line Maker #4: Find a play on words in the topic.

A second meaning of “lifetime” is the duration of one’s life. The writer relied on that second meaning to create a topic sentence that sounds like something you’d say when paying tribute to somebody. With the addition of that topic, the joke was complete.

After you’ve written the rough draft of a joke, edit it using what I call the Joke Maximizers. This next joke, about distinctive-looking Ann Coulter, demonstrates the use of Joke Maximizer #11: Don’t be too on-the-nose.

The rough draft of that joke must have referred to Ann Coulter as a scarecrow. But just calling her a scarecrow would be too on-the-nose. The edited punch line says the same thing but in a less direct, and therefore more surprising and funnier, way.

Because roast jokes are, by definition, insulting, think hard about whether they’ll be acceptable to your anticipated audience.

If you’re roasting a non-celebrity , keep your roast jokes fairly gentle. Joke about associations of the roastee that neither the roastee nor your audience is likely to be sensitive about. And make sure the roastee has agreed to be roasted and will probably have a good sense of humor about it. That way the audience won’t feel too guilty to laugh.

6 thoughts on “ How to Write a Roast ”

[email protected] men I love ur work

Thanks. I have to roast a fellow YouTube creator in a sort of Battle Roast so, I needed some tips. This helped a lot.

Thanks for saying so. I’m glad I could help. Have fun with your roast!

This has been helpful! Thank you … I now look forward to roasting my son even more 😉

You’re welcome! We roast because we love.

Nice …l learn something really …thank you so much

Comments are closed.

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Successful Speeches

• Be prepared.  Your audience is giving you their time and consideration, so rehearse enough to be confident you'll leave a good impression.
• Start strong. Begin your speech with a powerful opening that will grab your audience's attention, such as a startling fact or statistic, an interesting story or a funny joke.
• Be conversational. Avoid reading your speech word for word. Instead, refer to notes or points from an outline to help your speech have a more free-flowing, conversational tone.
• Speak with passion.  If you're truly invested in what you're saying, you'll be better able to keep your audience's attention.
• Be patient. It's easy to get frustrated if you make a mistake. But remember that public speaking is not easy and it takes time to hone your skills. Keep practicing and you will reach your goals.

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OpenAI Unveils A.I. Technology That Recreates Human Voices

The start-up is sharing the technology, Voice Engine, with a small group of early testers as it tries to understand the potential dangers.

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By Cade Metz

Reporting from San Francisco

First, OpenAI offered a tool that allowed people to create digital images simply by describing what they wanted to see. Then, it built similar technology that generated full-motion video like something from a Hollywood movie.

Now, it has unveiled technology that can recreate someone’s voice.

The high-profile A.I. start-up said on Friday that a small group of businesses was testing a new OpenAI system, Voice Engine, that can recreate a person’s voice from a 15-second recording. If you upload a recording of yourself and a paragraph of text, it can read the text using a synthetic voice that sounds like yours.

The text does not have to be in your native language. If you are an English speaker, for example, it can recreate your voice in Spanish, French, Chinese or many other languages.

OpenAI is not sharing the technology more widely because it is still trying to understand its potential dangers. Like image and video generators, a voice generator could help spread disinformation across social media. It could also allow criminals to impersonate people online or during phone calls.

The company said it was particularly worried that this kind of technology could be used to break voice authenticators that control access to online banking accounts and other personal applications.

“This is a sensitive thing, and it is important to get it right,” an OpenAI product manager, Jeff Harris, said in an interview.

The company is exploring ways of watermarking synthetic voices or adding controls that prevent people from using the technology with the voices of politicians or other prominent figures.

Last month, OpenAI took a similar approach when it unveiled its video generator, Sora. It showed off the technology but did not publicly release it.

OpenAI is among the many companies that have developed a new breed of A.I. technology that can quickly and easily generate synthetic voices. They include tech giants like Google as well as start-ups like the New York-based ElevenLabs. (The New York Times has sued OpenAI and its partner, Microsoft, on claims of copyright infringement involving artificial intelligence systems that generate text.)

Businesses can use these technologies to generate audiobooks, give voice to online chatbots or even build an automated radio station DJ. Since last year, OpenAI has used its technology to power a version of ChatGPT that speaks . And it has long offered businesses an array of voices that can be used for similar applications. All of them were built from clips provided by voice actors.

But the company has not yet offered a public tool that would allow individuals and businesses to recreate voices from a short clip as Voice Engine does. The ability to recreate any voice in this way, Mr. Harris said, is what makes the technology dangerous. The technology could be particularly dangerous in an election year, he said.

In January, New Hampshire residents received robocall messages that dissuaded them from voting in the state primary in a voice that was most likely artificially generated to sound like President Biden . The Federal Communications Commission later outlawed such calls .

Mr. Harris said OpenAI had no immediate plans to make money from the technology. He said the tool could be particularly useful to people who lost their voices through illness or accident.

He demonstrated how the technology had been used to recreate a woman’s voice after brain cancer damaged it. She could now speak, he said, after providing a brief recording of a presentation she had once made as a high schooler.

Cade Metz writes about artificial intelligence, driverless cars, robotics, virtual reality and other emerging areas of technology. More about Cade Metz

Explore Our Coverage of Artificial Intelligence

News  and Analysis

David Autor, an M.I.T. economist and tech skeptic, argues that A.I. is fundamentally different  from past waves of computerization.

Economists doubt that artificial intelligence is already visible in productivity data . Big companies, however, talk often about adopting it to improve efficiency.

OpenAI unveiled Voice Engine , an A.I. technology that can recreate a person’s voice from a 15-second recording.

Amazon said it had added $2.75 billion to its investment in Anthropic , an A.I. start-up that competes with companies like OpenAI and Google.

Gov. Bill Lee of Tennessee signed a bill  to prevent the use of A.I. to copy a performer’s voice. It is the first such measure in the United States.

French regulators said Google failed to notify news publishers  that it was using their articles to train its A.I. algorithms, part of a wider ruling against the company for its negotiating practices with media outlets.

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Live updates, white house wants to give the moon its own time zone.

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The White House has directed NASA to lead efforts to help develop a standard time for the Moon and other planets in our solar system as more companies and countries enter the space race.

According to a recently released memorandum , the new time zone could be called Coordinated Lunar Time (LTC) and be in place by the end of 2026.

A standard lunar day is equivalent to 29.53 Earth days.

Due to the Moon’s reduced gravity, a clock gains about 56 microseconds compared to 24 hours on Earth.

The idea of space explorers using an agreed-upon time has been floated around for years, with the European Space Agency recently exploring a new potential time zone for the celestial body.

It is unclear whether the U.S. would adopt any proposal by the ESA, as the foreign agency has not publicly stated a timeline for its release.

“With a shared vision and unity of purpose across departments and agencies, the United States will lead the responsible, peaceful, and sustainable exploration of Cislunar space and application of discoveries in this area,” the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy memorandum stated. “OSTP will lead and support the implementation of this policy and guidance.”

If the memorandum’s timeline is upheld, it would mean the Moon would be in an official time zone before humans’ return to the lunar body.

The Artemis program aims to send men and women to the lunar surface for the first time since 1972.

NASA intends to land astronauts near the Moon’s South Pole during a scheduled 2026 Artemis III mission to search for ice deposits and other vital support elements.

The space agency is also planning to install a communications network on the Moon , much like that of navigation systems used on Earth.

In addition to the increased surface activity on the lunar body, NASA is also in the final design stages of its Lunar Gateway, a space station that is expected to orbit near the Moon.

The future space station is expected to be in operation by 2028, and modules could be launched into orbit as early as 2025.

Similar to the International Space Station, the mission will be a joint effort by the U.S., Europe, Japan, Canada and the United Arab Emirates.

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