Roast and Boast – a unique way to pay tribute to a special leader, employer, employee, relative or friend – if done correctly.

Roast and Boasts Claim to Fame

I think the roast and boast was raised to fame by the Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts – but Wikipedia tells us that these roasts were patterned after the roasts held at the New York Friars’ Club in New York City.  The format of a roast on the Dean Martin roasts and at the Friars’ Club, was the guest of honor seated at a banquet table and affectionately teased and praised by those in attendance.

“Affectionately” and “praised” are two key elements of an effective roast and boast

The two key words here are “affectionately” and “praised.”  No person who has a beef or grudge against the man or woman of the hour should be delivering a roast – and all roasts should end with praise.  I think the only reason why comedian Don Rickles is alive today is because he always ended his brutal roasts with heartfelt words of praise.

In Toastmasters it is not unusual for an outgoing officer to be honored through a roast and boast.  I was a member of a club that practiced that tradition….and for probably 8 of those years I conducted an “Art of the Roast” training so club members would be comfortable participating in the ritual.  “The Roast” and “Speaking in Praise” are two projects in one of the Toastmaster advanced manuals titled “Special Occasion Speeches.”

Learning to do it right

In the next several posts I will be sharing my training so you can learn how to prepare and deliver a tasteful roast and boast that truly honors the roastee. In my training we practice on Arnold Schwarzenegger.  Some of what I will cover includes:

• The #1 myth about roasts that spoils the fun
• Why do Roasts?
• Why people shy away from Roasts
• Who shouldn’t roast, or be roasted
• Preparing for Roast
• Cautions
• Creative approaches to Roasts

There is a lot to cover. So let’s get started!