Disco Choo

Knowing one's audience is key, too. I've given three Best Man speeches. Two were for relatives in my very large family, one for a friend. For the ones with relatives, 80% of the audience knew me and what a sarcastic jagoff I am as well as my affinity for writing. My speeches reflected that, particularly the one for my brother that was at least ten minutes long and really, really killed. I'm talking employees at the banquet hall coming up to me afterwards to compliment me. For my friend's wedding (at age 21), I wrote a poem that got laughs but was quick (and the Maid of Honor before me gave to this day the worst wedding speech I've ever heard, which helped my cause). Short is best if you're a) not in a line of work that requires much composition writing and/or public speaking, and b) most of the attendees don't really know who you are. Knowing your limitations is key, and most people aren't great speech writers or speech givers, and that's okay. And, yes, never mentioned ex-girlfriends or sexual conquests. Ever.