Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #58298 in Books
• Published on: 2008-03-30
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 128 pages

Synopsis
A successful speech depends very much on how the ideas are arranged. It is not as simple as just finding some good jokes to deliver.When preparing an important speech where you will be expected to be funny, it is essential to learn that it's not what you say but where you plan to say it.With this book - the only book that offers such detail - readers can stand with confidence and know that even if they fluff their lines, the structure of their speech will ensure their success. It does the job properly and is the only book you should recommend!

From the Back Cover
It's true. Mitch Murray is one of Britain's best speechwriters. If you were to commission a speech from him you'd be talking big bucks!

Here you have his DIY kit. And after you've used it successfully, you will know that it's worth its weight in gold!

In this book you'll be taught the how to's of making a very successful speech and you'll find hundreds of ideas for one-liner jokes to adapt or import for your own purposes.

Do the job properly with the help of Mitch Murray and you'll be hailed a hero when it's all over! And that's what it's all about, isn't it?

About the Author
Mitch Murray is one of the UK's top speechwriters and is the absolute master of the sharp one-liner woven into a skilful and amusing speech.
Starting out in the music business, Mitch was the talent behind several number one hits. His first major successes came when he wrote `How Do You Do It?', first recorded by The Beatles but made a number one hit by Gerry and the Pacemakers, and their next number one, `I Like It'. More successful songs followesd for atrists including The Tremeloes, Cliff Richard, and Tony Christie. Mitch then went into producing, and as Tony's producer was responsible for `Is this the Way to Amarillo?'. He also established his own record label, Bus Stop.

In 1964 Mitch wrote How To Write A Hit Song, which famously inspired the 12-year-old Sting to begin his songwriting career.

Murray has established a reputation for comedy in many areas, including voice characterisation for films and radio advertisements, as well as for after-dinner speaking. Murray is now regarded as one of Britain's leading professional humorous speechwriters, and has written several best-selling books on the subject including Mitch Murray's One-Liners For Weddings and Mitch Murray's One-Liners for Speeches on Special Occasions.

Customer Reviews

This is what works from one of the 'great' speechwriters
I notice from one of the reviews of the earlier edition of this book, that some people think the lines rather naff and old-fashioned. But if these critics ever stood up and tried out their own comedy writing in front of an audience, they would get a big shock.

Making an audience laugh is all about rhythm. The crafted one-liner works best. It's easy to read, it has a sting and it is usually rather silly. That means everyone from the teenagers to the oldies get the joke.

Take this one, "We're here to celebrate a love match, pure and simple; Lucy's pure and David's... a very nice guy."

He sums up almost everything you need to know in his introduction. Yes he's a bit of a 60s throwback in his style, but that's where he comes from. Carefully select the gems in this book and you'll be a hit.

Dont waste your money
Unless you are a 13 year old, dont waste your money. I hope I dont go to any wedding where anyone has to resort to these jokes. Use your imagination and come up with some anecdotes from your family's background.

Outdated, unfunny, Bob Monkhouse-esque

I bought this book to help me prepare to write a speech for my best friend (who is 31) in 2009.

My friend is reasonably modern - he does not, as far as I know, spend his evenings watching vintage Bob Monkhouse. He is not a moron and neither were the audience - thus the jokes in this book were of little use. The Author was mentored by Monkhouse so this should give you a good idea of the tone.

The style in which this book is written is appalling - smug and unfunny. The jokes themselves are terrible - I could not find one which I would even have considered putting in a draft. It consists of jokes like "Andy suffers from a receding hairline....it's receded all the way down to his arse!". Boom boom.

The worst element of the book is the sample best mans speech - which you would have hoped would be one of the more helpful bits. If you want to insult the groom which half wit humour, offer to shag the bride if "Dave is not up to it" and so forth, then this is just the book for you.