Have you been asked to roast someone in your club? Here’s what Toastmaster Chris Arning advises you to consider:
- Your Objective:
A roast isn’t a personal attack but a portrait you should paint as vividly as possible. Depict the individual in rich detail. Bring their unique quirks to life – tell anecdotes, but if you struggle, simply say true things about the subject of the roast that others will recognize and you’ll 100% get laughs. - Your Tone
Aim for light joshing, gentle teasing, not full-on insults. Imagine the roastee is a loved one or sibling; this is not the time to share private revelations and confidences, but should focus on their public foibles. - Your Attitude
Commit to the joke – remember with a roast you are invariably punching up, meaning that the roasted person has more power than you. The person has broad shoulders, so you’ve got leeway to bring them down to earth. They should squirm a bit; it’s better to be funny than to flop for want of killer delivery.
—Kate McClare, DTM
