Being roasted is an honor, but you should be careful to honor people while roasting them during a public speaking engagement. He jokes about things that are obviously not true and then exaggerates to make them more obvious. However, he can outrageously exaggerate things that are true.
When choosing the target of a story or roast joke, choose big targets. Never make fun of a small target (janitor, secretary, etc.). Make fun of the boss. He or she is still the boss after all the teasing and you will look like big sport for taking it on.
Members of ‘in’ groups can joke about their peers and insult each other all they want. Bob Hope made fun of Ronald Reagan. They all knew they were friends.
If you spread an insult or a collection of insults widely, the group can laugh together. No one is individually embarrassed. The same comments directed at an individual removed from the cohesive influence of the group can cause someone to become upset.
Always clarify your comments IN ADVANCE! Unless you’re participating in a full roast program, always mock yourself first. If you fool yourself first, the audience will be more receptive when you joke with them. Here are some examples of roasting:
To an AT&T executive:
If a Martian called Ed’s office to contact Earth, he would try to sell them the benefits of our new 800 service.
Keep comments focused on unimportant things that can’t be harmful.
Folks, we’re here tonight for Roast Joe. I’m particularly happy to be here because now I can say in public all the things I’ve been saying behind his back. He is a man/woman of the world. . . and you know what a mess the world is in.
Insult over areas of recognized strength and superiority!
To a great family man and/or community leader:
Joe’s (neighbors/business associates/preacher, etc.) say that he and his wife make a wonderful couple. . . If it wasn’t for Joe.
To a well-known philanthropist:
He is a man of rare gifts. . . he hasn’t given any in years.
In a program with a long head table with many speakers, an emcee might say:
The emcee’s job is not to be wise or witty. In fact, it’s his job to appear boring to make the show’s speakers shine by comparison. Tonight it looks like I’m going to have to rise to new heights of boredom.
To the audience, the emcee or speaker might say:
I’m glad to be here tonight to look you in the face. . . . And God knows there are some faces here that need to be examined.