Corporate Speakers - Speaker Will Durst

As the sacred cows set themselves up for slaughter each night at six, America cries out for a man with the aim, strength and style to swat the partisan political piñatas upside their heads. Will Durst is that man. Sweeping both sides of the aisle with a quiver full of barbs sharpened by a keen wit and dipped into the same ink as the day's headlines, Durst transcends political ties, last year performing at events featuring Vice President Al Gore and former President George HW Bush, also speaking at the Governors Conference and the Mayors Convention cementing his claim as the nation's ultimate equal opportunity offender. Outraged and outrageous, Durst may mock and scoff and taunt, but he does it with taste.

"On behalf of the Association of American Editorial Cartoonists, I want to thank you for coming to our convention and throwing a perfect game. You were witty, topical, perceptive, professional, creative, daring and edgy—everything my own work isn't." - Association of American Editorial Cartoonists

"Never in my 21-plus years of being involved in this association, have I seen a group respond so favorably to a speaker". - Westen Association of Chamber Executives

" We've received dozens of letters and calls from guests who said that the Presidential Primary Gala Dinner was the best Washington, D.C. event they have ever attended. I want you to know you are the reason for our success." - Smith Fairfield, Incorporated

Will Durst's identity crisis is not helped by the media. The L.A. Times calls him, "A modern day Will Rogers." The S. F. Examiner argues he's "the heir apparent to Mort Sahl and Dick Gregory." The Chicago Tribune hails Durst as a "hysterical hybrid of Hunter Thompson and Charles Osgood", but all agree he is America's premier political comic. An equal opportunity offender. A bi-partisan smartass. A man, who in 1998, scored a political hat trick by opening for Vice President Gore and performing at both the Governor's Conference in Milwaukee and the Mayor's Convention in Reno.

"I want to personally thank you for speaking to the delegates and guests at the Texas AFL-CIO Constitutional Convention on Friday . . . I heard nothing but rave reviews from the delegates about your speech . . . People told me you had them laughing out of their seats, literally." - Community Services and Volunteers Department

"BRAVO! OUTSTANDING! WONDERFUL! . . . I could go on and on about your presentation to our group [The International Society of Barristers]. I heard over and over again, throughout the week, how much everyone enjoyed your presentation." - The McLeod Law Firm, P.A.

"On behalf of the members of the California Newspaper Publishers Association, thank you for participating in CNPA's 112th Annual Convention . . . Our installation luncheon received the highest ratings ever. Comments included: Bring him back! Bring him back, please! A scream! Top-knotch!" - California Newspaper Publishers Association

A Midwestern baby boomer with a media induced identity crisis, Durst has been called "a modern day Will Rogers" by The L.A. Times while the S. F. Chronicle hails him as "heir apparent to Mort Sahl and Dick Gregory." The Chicago Tribune argues he's a "hysterical hybrid of Hunter Thompson and Charles Osgood," although the Washington Post portrays him as "the dark Prince of doubt." All agree Durst is America's premier political comic.

As American as a bottomless cup of coffee, this former Milwaukeean is cherished by critics and audiences alike for the common sense he brings to his surgical skewering of the hype and hypocrisies engulfing us on a daily basis. Busier than a blind squirrel neck deep in an almond sorting warehouse, Durst writes a daily Internet column, was a contributing editor to both National Lampoon and George magazines and continues to pen frequent contributions to various periodicals such as the New York Times and his hometown San Francisco Chronicle.

This five-time Emmy nominee and host/co-producer of the ongoing award winning PBS series "Livelyhood" is also a regular commentator on NPR and CNN, and has appeared on every comedy show featuring a brick wall including Letterman, Comedy Central, HBO and Showtime, receiving 7 consecutive nominations for the American Comedy Awards Stand Up of the Year. Hobbies include the never-ending search for the perfect cheeseburger, while his heroes remain the same from when he was twelve: Thomas Jefferson and Bugs Bunny.

Will Durst's performances are made possible by the First Amendment. Enjoy the wit and wisdom of Roman Gabriel's motivational speaking at your next event! Contact us today to get started.