Testimonials: 2012-2016, +1 for 2017

by Rodney Marks | Mar 10, 2017 | Business, Comedian, Comedy, Corporate, Entertainment, Events, Hoax, Ideas, Keynote, Speaker, Speaking

After blogging hundreds of jokes, anecdotes, videos, comedy war stories and funny case studies, I’m posting testimonial excerpts, in five groups:

1. 2012-2016, +1 for 2017
2. 2007-2011
3. 2002-2006
4. 1997-2001, and
5. 1992-1996.

As a freelance comedian, I’m always looking forward to the next performances! And sometimes I forget to sell.

It’s better to let happy customers speak on my behalf –

…   …   …   …   …

University of Sydney, HC Coombs Centre, Reserve Bank,  Sydney,  14/02/2017

I really enjoyed your performance. In fact it’s been my favourite dinner speech on the course. There have been many discussions about it from quite different perspectives amongst the cohort.

Tim Scholes – Head of Software Architecture, Qantas Assure

Thank you again for working with us this year. Everyone was surprised and it got them all thinking. We’ll have to watch out for paybacks in future modules though!!

Lucy Commis – Program Coordinator, Executive MBA – Management Education

National Speakers Association of Australia, The Pavilion, Darling Park,  Sydney,  8/12/2016

Rodney you are one of my favouritist people – thank you for a wonderful fitting (fitted?) performance and you got some great zingers in there … you should seriously consider comedy professionally …

Dale Rees-Bevan – President, SpeakersBank Australia Inc.

Community Colleges Australia, Dockside, Cockle Bay,  Sydney,  19/10/2016

My organisation, Community Colleges Australia, hired Rodney to portray “Phil Umbridge”, a Texas oilman-come-film producer who now “loves” community colleges to be our “keynote” comic speaker at our annual Gala Dinner in Sydney last year.

He had us all – literally – in stitches.

Don Perlgut – CEO

Rotary – Queensland, Maryborough City Hall,  Regional Qld,  15/10/2016

Rodney provided a great evening and my guests are still talking about it. An amazing talent.

Craig Winter – Rotary District Governor

UGL Engineering, Yarra Valley Lodge,  Regional VIC,  27/09/2016

Was a great night and well played as usual. Everyone had a great night and had you have not done the outro, I think we could have carried it to the next day! Will be sure to keep in touch,

Anthony Ward – National Operations Bid Manager

Was great to be entertained and sucked in last night!

Alison Cukier – PA

North Sydney Boys’ High School, North Sydney Boys’ High School,  Sydney,  16/09/2016

Thank you to – our MC for the evening, Rodney Marks, who did a fantastic job as always, and kept us entertained.

Neil Hunt – President

Australian Institute of Traffic Planning and Management (AITPM), Westin Sydney,  Sydney,  27/07/2016

Thank you for your contribution to our conference.  You were the icing on the cake.

Fred Gennaoui – Conference Co-convenor and Foundation President 50 years earlier (1966)

We got very positive feedback – well done!

Kevin John – Conference Co-convenor, and Immediate Past President NSW/ACT

They loved you – the whole event was a success and Fred even sent me a message saying it was the best conference dinner in all his (50) years – so for Fred I think that is something. Thank you again for doing a great job. Great to work with you.

Michelle Prideaux, Prideaux Entertainment – Event Producer

Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand, Doltone House – Pyrmont,  Sydney,  27/06/2016

Thank you again for playing such a wonderful role at our Network event.

Justine Ritchie – PA to Jeana Abbott, Head of People & Culture

Australian Marriage Celebrants, Holiday Inn Coogee Beach,  Sydney,  18/06/2016

The feedback we have received regarding Monsieur Roland de Heye’s presentation has been outstanding!

Ann Dally JP – President

I agree, it was great – thank you so much – let’s stay in touch.

Chirs Hale – Vice President

Paragem, Sofitel,  Melbourne,  6/06/2016

Good Morning Commissioner: We are back safely ensconced in our Sydney office ( still opposite each other the wrong way round ) and  this is  the first opportunity I’ve had   to write and thank you for your delivery in Melbourne on Monday evening. The whole evening turned out to be exactly what we had hoped for with a balance of refinement, wit and camaraderie. Your presentation and the sting were terrific and many advisers were still talking about the following morning. Without doubt it worked as we all wanted! Hopefully we will have cause to enjoy each other’s company again, if you are ever wandering around the city looking for a lunch companion let me know I’d love to keep in touch.

Ian Knox – Managing Director

Macquarie Bank, Offices of Macquarie Bank (Shelley St, Sydney),  Sydney,  19/05/2016

We’re so pleased with how it went – it was perfect to end the day on a lighter note.

Helen Copp – Head of Communications and Creative Services, BFS Central

You were AMAZING! Thank you so much for joining us today. I get the feeling people will be talking about your presentation for quite some time. It was the most engaged I’ve seen that audience for a long, long time.

Simone Kilby – Internal Communications Manager

UGL, Château Élan,  Hunter Valley,  17/05/2016

Thanks, Arlo. Team loved it! Particularly Ross (Taylor, CEO)

Emily Holborow – Group Marketing and Communications Manager, Corporate

EMC2, Crowne Plaza Terrigal,  Regional NSW,  16/05/2016

Thanks for a fantastic performance Rodney, everyone enjoyed it immensely!! … It was a pleasure, both working with you and talking with you. You are a consummate professional who I’ll gladly recommend to anyone. The emails from the APJ execs are flying around this morning and are full of compliments for you and also for Clive and I for pulling of the big secret. Matt says he will never trust us again (ever).

Darren Reynolds – Head of Cloud Solutions, Telco and Service Providers

Robbie Waterhouse: Bill Whittaker Book Award, Restaurant – Drink Better Wine,  Sydney,  9/05/2016

From your lunch mate Tim Storrier’s wife: “U totally got Tim. He said there was a very interesting Finnish academic and he is not believing me :-)”.

Robbie Waterhouse – bookmaker

You did a great job, fooled Tim Storrier!

Pennie Psaltis – Robbie Waterhouse’s persanal assistant

Clark Rubber, Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre,  Perth,  20/04/2016

The presentations went well. The team enjoyed them.

Eddie MacDonald – Chief Executive Office

Really enjoyed our time together. Great fun. Received many positive comments from our franchisees about Phillip de Poole. Thank you for helping us create a really positive conference.

Des Carroll – General Manager Sales

Speakers’ Club, Offices of Christie Offices,  Sydney,  23/03/2016

AND…..how about Rodney Marks? “Thoroughly perplexing”, “Brilliant”, “Unforgettable” were some of the words used by members to describe Rodney and his “systems thinking” last night – thank you Rodney! Please book Rodney for your next conference.

Michelle Bowden – Founder

University of Sydney, University of Sydney,  Sydney,  16/02/2016

Thanks again for Tuesday. The group is still talking about it.

Jane Lowther – Senior Facilitator

The CEO Institute, Four Seasons,  Sydney,  29/01/2016

What a wonderful job, and thanks so much … a great  contribution, very hard to top!

Yvonne Howie, Chief Executive – NSW

Hyman’s Valuers and Auctioneers, House – Warrawee,  Sydney,  20/01/2016

Thanks for last night. Very well received.

Ian Hyman – Chief Executive Officer

Certus3, Restaurant – Centennial Park,  Sydney,  8/12/2015

Special thanks goes to Rodney Marks for his inspired comedy set.

Melinda Young – Senior Consultant

Kashrut Authority, Inter.Continental Double Bay,  Sydney,  2/12/2015

Your performance went down very well

Karyn Lemon – PPR

Ergo Asia, Australian National Maritime Museum,  Sydney,  27/11/2015

We had a fabulous night, we weren’t sure what to expect but our apprehensions went straight out the window once you got up and people started laughing. It truly was an experience to remember.

Amanda Winton – Product Manager

Australian Retail Credit Association (ARCA), QT Gold Coast,  Regional QLD,  12/11/2015

That was excellent, thank you Rodney!! Well done! Some people said they worked it out with the Casanova joke! [“Casanova was the first big data.”]

It was indeed great fun and there were lots of laughs from the delegates the following day regarding your presentation!!

Apparently the Veda guy who asked you during the first question “is this presentation going anywhere?” really hadn’t worked out that you were a hoax speaker!

Rebecca Murray – Head of Member Services and Consumer Affairs

infOready, Restaurant – Targa,  Regional NSW,  15/10/2015

Hi Rodney (Noel :)),

Thank you for entertaining our Infoready team at our annual retreat on Thursday night. I have heard raving reviews of how excellent your performance was. You had everyone in stitches. Cameron, Zoe and Eric still cannot believe they had lengthy conversations with you believing your character.

Tristan Sternson – Managing Director

Everyone had a really good time last night. It was great!

Emma Higgins – EA to the MD

University of New South Wales, Sofitel Wentworth,  Sydney,  9/10/2015

Just wanted to give you a big thank you for MC-ing the Gala! It was a big success – we couldn’t have done it without your humour and ability to keep the crowd entertained all night.

— (Katrina Iannella – Student/Event Organiser)

A wonderful evening last Friday greatly enhanced by your skills in corporate observation and commentary.

— (Professor Mark Uncles – Deputy Dean (Education), UNSW Business School)

Dear Rodney Professor Lou Pole,

It was such a pleasure meeting you on Friday night at our gala event. Thank you for making us all laugh throughout the night – you did such a terrific job – and keeping the UNSW GSDO show on the road. Many of the attendees were raving about you at the end of the night, and couldn’t believe how well you convinced them that you were the Dean of Harvard Business School.

I would also like to thank you immensely for spruiking me in front of all our guests. I am not sure what opportunities may arise from the connections I made on the evening but I have lots of emails to send this morning, and I am sure something fabulous will come up for me! Thank you again, and I look forward to any opportunity where I will work with you in the future!!

— (Natalie Romaniuk – Student/Event Organiser)

Rotary – Crows Nest, Restaurant – Small Bar,  Sydney,  24/08/2015

Just wanted to say thank you very much for your talk today, it was very enjoyable. It actually sounds like you’re having too much fun for a fellow ‘old bloke’! Enjoyed talking to you as well beforehand.

Mark Warr – speaker seeker

National Electrical Contractors Association, The Entrance Leagues Club,  Regional NSW,  29/07/2015

It was fun and many thanks for coming along.

Eris McCarthy – Central Coast President, NECA

Charter Hall, Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley,  Regional NSW,  14/07/2015

It was great working with you at the Retail Conference last week.

Jade Cheetham – Events Manager

Chesterton Real Estate, Harbour 220 degrees,  Sydney,  9/07/2015

Rodney (nee Ulysses) , Yes, we loved having you there and appreciated your effort . Lets keep in touch – I enjoyed our conversations ..although with your email below – I think you have too much time on your hands !!!!

Andrew Hunter, CEO

A lot of people wanted to speak to you after your presentation, as they thought you were hilarious – so I hope they found you!

Rebecca Lightfoot, Marketing Manager

Harvard Club of Australia, Union Club, The,  Sydney,  6/07/2015

Veteran Australian comedian – Marks had the guests laughing as he shared stories about his work as a put-on artist booked for comic revenge.

‘Club News’ – page 5.

SwissCham Australia, Dockside, Cockle Bay,  Sydney,  21/05/2015

As always, it was a great pleasure working with you.

Marcel Svatos – General Manager

Rotary – Lane Cove, Lane Cove Country Club,  Sydney,  5/05/2015

Thank you for your entertaining presentation last Tuesday evening, Life as a Comedian, with examples. It was greatly enjoyed by our Rotary audience as you may have judged by the laughter generated and the many questions asked; a truly pleasant change from the educational but sombre talks we’ve had recently.

Frank Rule – Speaker Programmer

Sofico, Harbour cruise, or moored boat,  Sydney,  19/12/2014

Thank you again for your performance last Friday.  It was a great hit and everyone is still talking about it.  We certainly pulled it off.

Koenraad Van Grimbergen – General Manager

That was so funny, I had to borrow my girlfriend’s puffer. I thought I was going to die!

Sue Johnston – Account Management, Support (email, 27 May 2015)

Cooper Investors, Restaurant – Trunk (The Rintel Room),  Melbourne,  12/12/2014

Rod the day was a great success thank you. Have a terrific Xmas and a new year. And keep them laughing.

Peter Cooper – Managing Director

Gresham Partners, Pier One Sydney Harbour,  Sydney,  11/12/2014

It was great. Everyone loved the session.

Charlie Graham – Managing Director

Certus3, Restaurant – Aqua Dining,  Sydney,  3/12/2014

Thanks Rodney it was a wonderful evening and your performance was a great success.  Very positive feedback from everyone.

Michael Devlin – Managing Partner

Avondale Golf Club, Avondale Golf Club,  Sydney,  7/11/2014

The feedback we had was 98% excellent! Your session was extremely entertaining and most that I spoke to over the weekend said it took them to at least half way before they worked out that you were not what it seemed!

Paul Paterson – Chief Executive Officer

Hi Rohan, I mean Rodney, great to meet you on Friday night. Well done on your performance, it was thoroughly enjoyable! I’d be keen to catch up for a coffee one day to chat through what we are trying to do in Melbourne next year.

The CEO Institute, Offices of The CEO Institute,  Sydney,  28/10/2014

What a great night!

Yvonne Howie – Chief Executive, NSW

Community Relations Commission, Sofitel Wentworth,  Sydney,  16/10/2014

Thank you for a great performance yesterday. It was a pleasure working with you.

Rosa Stathis – Project Officer, Community Relations Commission

Bidvest, Château Élan,  Hunter Valley,  18/09/2014

You were a hit Rod, everybody enjoyed your gig. Well, there were a few who still didn’t get it. That loudmouth from Canberra told Bernard: You were OK for a yank. Some people should just not drink.

Peter Crowe – General Manager, Marketing

Australasian Association of Distance Education Schools, Sydney Distance Education High School, 

Sydney,  12/09/2014

Thank you once again for the incredible contribution you made to our conference last week. Your talent and professionalism were extraordinary. I’m sure many attendees are still talking about your performance.

In fact I believe some of them may have even returned to their schools to announce an impending review of distance education.

Daniel Rattigan – Head Teacher Secondary Studies (Australian Curriculum & Engagement), Sydney Distance Education High School

Danny Beran, Hotel – Hughenden,  Sydney,  31/08/2014

All the guests enjoyed the occasion richly!

Dr. Danny Beran

Matt Blatt, House (apartment) in Double Bay,  Sydney,  20/06/2014

Your presentation on Friday was well received and set the tone for the meeting that followed. We try to keep our staff (and customers) happy, stimulated and open minded and Otto certainly helped to achieve this.

Adam Drexler – Managing Director

The ‘Mo’ Awards, Bankstown Sports Club,  Sydney,  27/05/2014

Your comedy routine really set the fun atmosphere on the night. Thanks for the clever lines and the quick ad-libs.

Marty Morton (of ‘Marty and Emu’) – Producer/Director

SwissCham Australia, Swissotel,  Sydney,  15/05/2014

You were great as usual and absolutely made the evening.

Brian Greig – Non Executive Director

ConTech: Confectionery Technology, The Pullman, Albert Park,  Melbourne,  30/04/2014

[Follow-up survey: Overall, how would you rate the level of performance of the speaker?]

Very Good. He was authentic and well research.  He was generous with his time, including attending the afternoon tea and onward at the conference.  He truly had some of the audience fooled to the end.

Jennifer Thompson – Technical & Regulatory Manager, The Australian Industry Group

Visiting Belgian professor of neuro-psychiatry, Dr Emmanuel van Hoof MD, took some of the audience hook, line and sinker.  However, others were a little sceptical from the outset.  For the scientists in the room, he performed to perfection, baffling colleagues.  But did you ever think to check online and look this guy up, check out his credentials and scientific papers?  Whilst he fooled many into having a good time, Sydney comedian, Rodney Marks, kept the audience entertained to the end.

Confectionery Industry News, June 2014, page 1.

Private function – wedding, Claire Wivell Plater and James Kirby, Hungerford Hill Winery,  Regional NSW,  12/04/2014

It’s been a delight working with you on this grand project – thanks for taking us on and making us laugh!

James and Claire

Thank you so much for last night! It was the best wedding I’ve had! I think Claire would say it was one of the best she’s had. We’ll definitely catch up when we get back from our honeymoon.

James

We’re back from our honeymoon, but still floating on air! The wedding was all we hoped for and more … Thank you so much for all your help … we knew what we wanted to achieve, but we were really struggling with how to go about it and your humour, creativity and guidance were a major factor in making it so wonderful.

Claire

AMSRO: Association of Market and Social Research Organisations, Restaurant – Flying Fish,  Sydney,  20/03/2014

Quick note to thank you for making the forum dinner such a highlight! Not surprisingly, we received rave reviews today. Everyone loved the Dr. (Plus quite a few thought you were the real ABS thing! Hilarious!) Hope you enjoyed it (and my apologies for having to battle with the noise coming from the back room.)

Sarah Campbell – Executive Director

Bluestone Global, Parkroyal Melbourne Airport,  Melbourne,  17/03/2014

Big success – thank you Richard (Rich Vane).

Stephen Sasse – CEO

B’nai B’rith, B’nai B’rith Centre,  Sydney,  16/03/2014

Many thanks for the wonderful entertainment you gave us yesterday. It was most appreciated and very much enjoyed by all. I believe you are off again to night to another gig. You deserve an AOM for the time you give to the Jewish community.

Cancer Council Australia, Austrian Club Sydney,  Sydney,  11/03/2014

“Bernd Eggenberger” was a major success on Tuesday 11th at our Gala Cancer fundraiser. So many guests have been in touch to rave about you (though some admonished us for introducing a paid political announcement). The funds raised were excellent too..we’re still counting. Thank you so much,

Fergus, Trevor, Jim (& Smiley, of course)! – the honorary event organisers

DIC Australia and New Zealand, House in Castle Hill,  Sydney,  12/02/2014

Thanks for an entertaining evening, it takes a fair bit to get my lot rolling around the floor, but you certainly had them going.

Private function – Bar Mitzvah, Yossi Doron, Restaurant – Cipri Italian,  Sydney,  9/02/2014

You were hilarious, seriously you put a smile on everyones face, I’m still laughing at how well you tricked Troy (the butler) into believing you were a rabbi!!

Yossi Doron

QBE, Restaurant – Dedes on the Wharf,  Sydney,  3/02/2014

The team and myself enjoyed having a man of your standing at our event. Let’s hope you can be our guest again soon.

Echidnas – Australian Order of Comedians, Cardinal Freeman Lodge,  Sydney,  6/01/2014

Rodney went close to social and legal limits on his great impromptu ad libs.

Doug McLaughlin – Treasurer

Rodney kept the pace of the show moving with his usual clever anecdotes.

Alan Dale – Secretary

Harvard Club of Australia, House in Surry Hills,  Sydney,  12/12/2013

Great job on taking off academic jargon. It’s just as much of a phenomenon in theology and philosophy  — and educational research — as business, albeit with significantly more syllables in theology and philosophy … if you can believe that!

Tomago Aluminium, Hexham Bowling Club,  Regional NSW,  5/12/2013

Thanks again for a great evening, your spot was amazing (how do remember that stuff??), I thoroughly enjoyed it and there has been plenty of talk at Tomago about you.

Tony Camps – Sourcing Advisor, Tomago Aluminium

Rubik, Offices of Rubik,  Sydney,  4/12/2013

I’m still in disbelief at how many of our clients truly believed you were a psychiatrist working for Rubik … even after Wayne thanked you using your real name. Amazing … It was lots of fun so thank you again!

Alex Mercer – Account Manager

Nulon, Marriott Sydney Harbour,  Sydney,  30/11/2013

Just wanted to say a big thank you for helping to make the party last Saturday night a huge success. I think it all went off very well and everyone seemed to have a great time. They really enjoyed the roast. I hope you enjoyed the night,too. Once again, thanks for your comic input! It was spot on.

Heather Hackett – Executive Assistant to the CEO

Datacom, Restaurant – Prime,  Sydney,  28/11/2013

Most people I spoke to were fooled in the first 5-20 minutes.  This includes a number of staff.  I think Wally mentioned one of our GMs was close to resigning that night as he had spent the day interviewing candidates on a deadline. Had a lot of positive feedback, thank you.

Kimmy Lawrence – NSW Administration Manager

Rodney was engaged to make an ‘appearance’ at our annual client Xmas function. His piece in our evening took a nice evening &made it memorable with lots of fun & chatter continuing well through the evening & for some days afterwards. An absolutely fabulous performance which had everyone in hysterics and set the tempo for the balance of the evening. I would thoroughly recommend Rodney for any & all corporate events that would benefit from a ‘change-up’ and lots of good fun & laughter!

Kevin Leighton – General Manager, Managed Services NSW

CRC Business Solutions, Q1,  Regional QLD,  31/10/2013

I’m taking the unusual (for me) action of congratulating you on a superb effort last Thursday evening.  I haven’t laughed so much this century.  I would have emailed earlier but muscle spasms from excessive laughing have only eased this morning.

Nelson Wockner – Managing Partner, Wockner Lawyers

(The band) ‘Busta Hyman and the Penetrators’ thought the General was absolutely fantastic!

Danielle Webb – Mainstay Business Management

AGL, Country Place Retreat,  Regional VIC,  22/10/2013

You were a hit!

Marc Barrington – Head of Energy Services, AGL Energy Limited

Family Drug Support, Winbourne,  Sydney,  19/10/2013

Thanks again for a great session.

Tony Trimingham, OAM – CEO

Mirvac, Doltone House,  Sydney,  16/10/2013

Diana (Diana Sarcasmo, National Sales & Marketing Director, Development Division), Marie (Marie Hughes PA to Diana Sarcasmo, Development) and I want to say a HUGE thank you for the amazing job you did on Wednesday night.

You made the night!

We could not have achieved such an outstanding result without you pulling it all together.

Golf Management Australia, Royal Sydney Golf Club,  Sydney,  2/09/2013

The plan worked a treat, and I will stay in touch for some possible gigs in the future.

Stuart Fraser – Chief Executive Officer, Golf NSW

A pleasure to watch you perform, they were all talking about you (in a good way) all day Tuesday. It would be fun to work together again, hopefully that will happen.

Andrew Daddo – actor, author and television personality

I loved your ‘speech’ to the GMA at Royal Sydney last week. I have to say you had me for a bit, I was thinking finally a politician with some wit! Plenty of mileage was made at Stephen’s expense throughout the week. I also loved the way you handled Jack Newton at the end of the questions. Very professional.

Tony Rodgers – General Manager, Kogarah Golf Club

You were absolutely hilarious.  I really enjoyed the brief time that we had together.  I will keep you in mind for our event next year in Melbourne. I would like to stay in touch.

Jim G. James – Senior Director, Club and Hospitality Operations, Augusta National Golf Club

NO CHANCE HE’S SERIOUS

If you were deceived by Evan Chance last night, you were in the majority.

Evan (aka comedian Rodney Marks) perpetrated one of the most successful hoaxes in the history of Royal Sydney, posing as the Shadow Federal Minister for Sport, Housing, Immigration and Tourism to a packed room of GMA members.

Some got it quicker than others when Evan spoke of reducing golf courses to nine holes and building bus depots, detention centres and shipping terminals on the compulsorily-acquired land.

Others were not so quick on the uptake.

Stephen Pitt, CEO of Golf Australia, spent half an hour sitting next to Evan lobbying funds for a high performance golf academy.

Heath Wilson from Kingswood spent time cajoling the ‘shadow’ minister too, before confiding in resident scribe, Michael Davis: “You’ve got to get the government on side.”

Davis and his photographic cohort, Michael Court, were not immune to the ruse either. Both keenly embraced Evan’s pre-dinner overture to consider joining the government media team.

GMA Daily News – the conference newsletter

You were fantastic, so we will certainly keep you in mind for future events.

Jessica Riches – Professional Conference Organiser, EMG Events

Roxbury Hotel, Hotel – The Roxbury,  Sydney,  1/09/2013

Review written by Lloyd Bradford (Brad) Syke

Rodney Marks is something of a chameleon. Possibly the most personable comic you could ever hope to meet, he is the very picture of respectability, in pinstriped suit, fastidiously-pressed business shirt and old school tie (though look carefully, the traditional-looking emblem thereon may bear a trap). But when the jacket is removed, colourful suspenders betray a hint of mischief and eccentricity. Which means The Farewell Tour of Sydney’s Longest Serving Public Servant should be approached with some caution, lest you become snagged on one of countless barbs, or fall into another of the traps he almost compulsively sets. This is to be expected, because Marks is a professional practical joker.

Any lengthy address by a senior public servant in the context of The Roxbury Hotel, in Glebe, on a Sunday afternoon, has to come under scrutiny and suspicion as a hoax. But the genius of Rodney Marks, MBA (Master of Bullshit Artistry), is that his comic monologue, to the unsuspecting or uninitiated, may not be immediately recognised as such. After all, he embraces all the buzzwords that would make him sound the part. He looks the part. And his sober demeanour does nothing to dispel one’s reflexive credulity. The address is even flooded by an apparently earnest Q & A. Under the skin, though, his Farewell Tour ‘is, as you might imagine, a clarification, elucidation, explanation and illumination of waffle, piffle, double-talk and bureaucratic nonsense’. So steeped are we in such, however, so bombarded by evasive, non-specific polliewaffle, we become susceptible to falling, haplessly, hopelessly and helplessly, into unwitting, sympathetic complicity with his ‘self-referential parody and self-deprecating satire’, which are ‘underemployed and so is Rodney, hence this season’. Our compliance constitutes the comic elegance. Even having realised what we’re in for and up against, we must remain, at all times, vigilant, so as not to have the parody do a one-eighty and bite us on the face.

If you’ve ever been to a convention, conference, congress, colloquium, seminar, tutorial, brainstorm, workshop or breakout session, you’ll have something to laugh at, somewhere between the mission and vision statements, white papers, what-have-you. Marks covers all this ground. In his public service persona, he’s a man of many words. Most, utterly and intrinsically meaningless which, of course, is as it should be. Much time is spent on linguistic assessment and analysis; because semantics matter.

As a child, I had the Professor Branestawm books. One of the good professor’s revolutionary theories, as best I recall, was that if you go double your speed travelling between points A & B and keep doubling it, pretty soon you’ll get to B at precisely the same time you left A and, should you go even faster, you’ll get to your destination before you even left for the same internal logic seems to apply when Marks appeals to us, as follows. ‘Perhaps if I talk for five minutes and you listen for five, we might both finish at about the same time. If you finish listening before I finish speaking, perhaps just sit quietly and think privately to yourself until I catch up; it would be most appreciated.’

And, of course, Marks is every bit as clever as Branestawm. By way of but one example, he’s been able to put into a system he’s developed the framework of a structure for the activities he describes. Well, something like that. We ‘free radicals’ can’t be expected to penetrate such sophisticated modelling at first byte. Much of the modelling, as I’m sure you’ll appreciate, proceeds from a semiotic and pragmatic viewpoint, as well it should. I mean, is there any other way of looking at it?

What’s more, when Marks shares something (as he’s only too pleased to do, being nothing if not generous with his knowledge, such as it is) off-the-record, he does so in the utmost confidence, moving the meeting into camera, so that what goes on is as discreet as it would be if it took place under a cone of silence. In the era of Assange, Manning, Snowden and wholesale identity theft (which, at least, is cheaper than retail), it’s damn reassuring.

Just as a car that yes like greased lightning is likely to be automatic, systematic and hyrdromatic, Marks’ thinking system, ‘based as it is on systems thinking, isn’t so much circumlocutory, annular, or radial, as systemic and, ultimately, cyclic; albeit in a roundabout sort of way’. In terms of process, I’m sure you’ll be as relieved to learn, as I was, that ‘the system itself is part of its own feedback loop’, somewhat akin to ‘the snake in Taoist philosophy, impossibly swallowing its own tail’. Inputs are input as input and then, as throughput, transformed, cunningly, into output, which is then measured; ‘initially, qualitatively and, ultimately, quantitatively, against a plethora of hierarchies, an aggregation of continua and a collection of assessment criteria’, before being put back into the system as refined input.

Marks even deigns to discuss the emerging popularity of research into the subject of deferred gratification, but promises ‘more of that later’.

The co-writer (with his son, Benjamin) and performer is best summed-up, methinks, in his own words. ‘Rodney performs mostly at business events for the corporate, government and non-profit sectors, so this is a rare opportunity to see him expose himself in public’. Except, in truth, he lays bare much more. As a result, I’m a Marksist.

‘Farewell Tour of Sydney’s Longest Serving Public Servant’

Rodney Marks and Benjamin Marks

Venue: The Roxbury Hotel | 182 St Johns Rd, Glebe, NSW

Reference: The Farewell Tour of Sydney’s Longest Serving Public Servant | Rodney Marks. 2013. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.australianstage.com.au/201309106521/reviews/sydney/the-farewell-tour-of-sydney-s-longest-serving-public-servant-%7C-rodney-marks.html. [Accessed 15 September 2013]

Rotary – Sydney CBD, Menzies – All Seasons Premier,  Sydney,  19/08/2013

Last night was such fun, thank you for the laughs it made my day. I’ll be recommending you!

Yve Lavine – Committee Member

ClubsNSW, Dockside, Cockle Bay,  Sydney,  17/07/2013

It was great to work with you. I know the audience enjoyed it too.

Samantha Engel – Event Coordinator, Member Services & Marketing

Private function – Bar Mitzvah, Guy Suttner, Bonnie Doon Golf Club,  Sydney,  23/06/2013

People have been reporting back they found Sunday evening very refreshing, and that they enjoyed very much your portion of it.

Immanuel Suttner, father of the bar-mitzvah boy

People loved your jokes and thought you were a hired proffessional (sic). Which you kind of are. This can only mean that you are very good at your job.

Guy Suttner, bar-mitzvah boy

Adjudicate Today, Sheraton on the Park,  Sydney,  31/05/2013

People loved the hoax. We really had them going in the beginning.

Bob Gaussen – Managing Director

Svitzer, Radisson Hotel, Chinatown, Sydney,  Sydney,  23/05/2013

We enjoyed your performance.

Mark Cox – Director, Human Resources

It was a privilege to watch you work.

Tony Latimer – Master Executive Coach and the conference’s facilitator

Leaders’ Soundbite Breakfast, The Royce Hotel,  Melbourne,  22/05/2013

I loved your bit at Ricky’s breakfast.

Dr Jack Jacoby

It was so much fun and everyone really enjoyed your presentation. A couple of people didn’t even realize at the end you were a hoax (including) my poor daughter who gave me grief afterwards!

Ricky Nowak – Founder/Director

CFMEU (Construction, Forestry, Mining, Energy Union), Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley,  Regional NSW, 18/04/2013

The way you managed to take on the role of Phil reinforces just how clever you are even though that is a bit scary. I would have no problem recommending you for any comedian role and will definitely keep you in mind.

Lorraine Usher – District Secretary, NSW Energy District, CFMEU

Domain Principal Group, Royal Pines,  Regional Qld,  22/03/2013

Overall grading: excellent. An ultimate professional. Such detailed background work undertaken. Everyone was fooled and thought the act was very clever. Rodney was a pleasure to work with.

Sheridan Woodcroft – Executive Assistant to Managing Director

Fantastic feedback.

Emma Azzopardi – ICMI Speakers & Entertainers

Well done!

Rosanna La Martina, Managing Consultant  – ICMI Speakers & Entertainers

Catholic Care, Parliament House, New South Wales,  Sydney,  18/03/2013

The afternoon was a great success and I have some great feedback on your piece.

Bernard Boerma – CEO

Association of Australasian Diesel Specialists, Marriott Gold Coast,  Regional Qld,  17/03/2013

You did a great job, and it lightened the morning’s formalities – my client was very happy with your performance. It was a great way to finish off the conference.

Daniel Evans – Event Manager, The Association Specialists

SGA Property, Ivy,  Sydney,  6/03/2013

Thank you for a wonderful night  – your team input made the night go swimmingly and gave the party goers something different and something to talk about. The few that I have seen, ( so early this morning) have all  mentioned your great show and interviews way before the beer and Wagu burgers.

It has been great fun and so easy to work with you all.

Keep up the good work.

Roger Webster – Non Executive Director

Barwon Water, Deakin University Management Centre,  Regional Vic,  21/02/2013

Enjoyed it thoroughly. Great to see our Board do something different, and great feedback on your performance from those I’ve seen since.

Seamus Butcher – Manager Corporate Strategy and Regulation

Australasian Humour Studies Network, University of Newcastle,  Regional NSW,  7/02/2013

Next time you see Hugh Moore tell him that I now have to stifle a smile every time I use the word ‘system’. “A thinking system built upon systems thinking” – Damn, you’ve just written my PhD!

Michael Meany, Conference Co-convenor and Senior Lecturer, School of Design, Communication and Information Technology, Faculty of Science and IT, University of Newcastle

Comedian extraordinaire.

Michael Ewans – Conference Co-convenor and Conjoint Professor of Drama, University of Newcastle

Great Synagogue, Great Synagogue,  Sydney,  1/02/2013

Many thanks for joining in at such short notice as a compere and moderator for our Law Service Dinner. At least half of the guests have not yet filed suit and some of the judges have even confided that they agree with your assessment of many practitioners!

The feedback we have had on the evening has been very positive and your role in keeping it warm and on track was invaluable.

With all best wishes and looking forward to future collaboration,

Rabbi Jeremy Lawrence – Chief Minister, The Great Synagogue, Sydney

Western Sydney Business Connection, WatervieW in Bicentennial Park,  Sydney,  7/12/2012

“Dr Phil”: Great work yesterday. Much good feedback and some are still scratching their heads – making it even funnier. I suspect the poor AV guy is seeking therapy.

Whitney Rousham – President

Hilarious session at lunch today Rodney … thank you.

Anthony Moss – Deputy Chair, Sydney Hills Business Chamber

Fantastic work. Just wanted to thank you for a highly entertaining lunch at the Waterview today you certainly fooled our table. I’ll certainly keep you in mind as I quite often require talent for our clients.

Jerome Ballard – Sales Manager, ANZ Stadium

Donington, Restaurant – Italian Village,  Sydney,  6/12/2012

Everyone is still laughing about your keynote.

Jane Paech – Business Operations Manager

What an intervention! After your speech on Thursday night, the next day was spent by most of the participants convincing each other they really did smell a rat! Yet all agreed that you had them completely fooled, even some of our most experienced and worldly wise were completely taken in. What a triumph! Personally, I shan’t forget General Ariel Lieder in a hurry.

There is no doubt that the 10.30 pm billing on the Thursday evening was the correct slot as your speech and thoughts capped off a most enjoyable evening, and gave our celebrations a wonderful climax.

Monica and I were, as always, delighted to spend time with you, even if it meant that we had to play our part in the subterfuge! Monica certainly enjoyed it as it appealed to her wicked sense of humour and love for drama.

Very many thanks from us all. It was a pleasure to work with you, as always, and you can be assured that you left with our group a lasting impression and a wonderful memory.

Geoff Officer – Managing Director

Fairfax Holdings, Offices of Google,  Sydney,  26/11/2012

Everyone absolutely loved last night’s speech.  Most (but not all) admitted to the penny not dropping until about 15/20 minutes into proceedings.  I thought that if anyone twigged as to your status yesterday, it would have been Tim Mannes, who was on your table … but you even had him fooled (apart from a couple of instances where he sincerely doubted that you knew what you were talking about!!)

An Oscar-winning performance, and I hope we cross paths again some day

Lenore McCotter – EA to Chief Executive & Managing Director

You were hilarious. I thought it was great, and (CEO Greg) Hywood said you actually went easy on us…although Allan Browne might debate that 🙂 I’ll look forward to catching you again

Jack Matthews – CEO, Metroplitan Media

Your “McKinsey” performance was terrific.  We were still talking about it the next day

Margaret Easterbrook – Editor, The Saturday Age

Private function – wedding, Liliya Dutch and Tim Donahoo, Northbridge Golf Club,  Sydney,  25/11/2012

It was a great day and thanks to you for adding to the occasion. Many commented on how well you ran the show and your ability to string words together so cleverly

Tim Donahoo – the Groom

State Emergency Service Volunteers Association NSW, Bankstown Sports Club,  Sydney,  24/11/2012

I really enjoyed your presentation . . . I haven’t laughed that much in ages and was trying to hold it back, but then ended up laughing so much I was crying. Thanks for the laugh and fun

Therese Cook – Executive Officer

Thanks again for brining suych a perfect “end-note” to our conference! Love you work

Camille Valvo – Master of Ceremonies, www.emcee.com.au

Rotary – Chatswood, Roseville Returned Servicemen’s Memorial Club,  Sydney,  7/11/2012

We had all been had . . . Every gullible one of us but none more so than those who rose to their feet and in asking a question showed that they had be taken in: hook , line and sinker! It was a most entertaining evening.

Wayne Kearns – Past President

Thank you to Con deWitt  for his wonderful Yes Minister presentation where he said an awful lot about absolutely nothing and then shared some more.

Michael MacQuillan – Rotary newsletter editor

That was great fun last evening. You had them in on the act, but also managed to weave in some v funny pointers to the art of speech writing. The Q&A was especially a laugh . . . I’m stilled being ribbed for this great hoax!

Richard Gilbert – guest speaker liaison

Gentec, Offices of Gentec,  Sydney,  25/10/2012

. . . it was a great night . . . You did a good job relaxing the group.

George Joukhadar, Founding Managing Director

SydneySiders Express – Men’s Barbershop Chorus, Abbotsleigh School,  Sydney,  20/10/2012

Very polished, a true pro, let him off the leash next time; he’s a great performer.

Written feedback received by John Unsworth – Concert Committee Chairman

Van Leeuwen Pipe & Tube, Crowne Plaza Norwest,  Sydney,  24/09/2012

It was such a fantastic performance that I’m sure all participants will remember for many years to come!

Katherine Cole – Executive Assistant

Department of Defence, Harry’s Bar,  Honiara,  14/09/2012

We have just returned from the Solomon Islands. Thank you to Tori Darke, Tom Diesel & The Girl, Mick Neven, Gary Eck & Rodney Marks for two awesome performances over last weekend

Mark Langley – Artist Liaison Officer, Department of Defence

Private function – 70th birthday, Glen Bowden, Milton Park Country House Hotel,  Regional NSW, 8/09/2012

Your performance was very successful on Saturday night and many of the guests were taken in … even the ones who then remembered seeing you on another occasion.  Thank you, it certainly added to a most successful evening.

Glen

Veterinary Manufacturers & Distributors Association, Lauriston House,  Sydney,  16/08/2012

Thank you very much for a highly successful evening. Very good feedback coming in already! Sally was taken in, hook line & sinker and very much appreciated the ‘flea colony’ plug

Alan Pyefinch – VMDA organiser

Rotary – North Sydney, North Sydney Leagues Club,  Sydney,  2/08/2012

Nothing short of brilliant.

Brendan Walsh – Program Director & Paul Harris Fellow

North Sydney Boys’ High School, Luna Park,  Sydney,  28/07/2012

Master of ceremonies Rodney Marks (class of 1975) ran proceedings smoothly with his witty observations and introductions that kept the audience engaged and entertained.

Tim Donahoo – President, Old Falconians’ Union (the School’s alumni association)

AUC (Apple Universities Consortium) X World, Imax Star Room,  Sydney,  4/07/2012

Mate it was a pleasure working with you tonight. Awesome feedback from the client and the guests – I am really chuffed with the event and without embarrassing you, I was privileged to be working with you professionally. … A great gig tonight, I was in awe and I was so pleased to see you own that room and leave them pleased to be so owned!

Steve Hoskins – comedy MC

Independent Education Union, Mercure Sydney,  Sydney,  22/06/2012

I want to point out your comedic mastery. Thanks for being part of our conference and starting us off with such tremendous intellectual fire.

Daniel Long – Organiser, IEU

Your session was a lot of fun.

Tara de Boehmler – Communications, IEU

Toowoomba Chamber of Commerce, Southern Queensland Institute of TAFE,  Regional QLD, 15/03/2012

Grand performance, congratulations!

Greg Johnson – Chief Executive Officer, Toowoomba Chamber of Commerce & Industry

…   …   …   …   …

Rodney Marks

I’m an Australian comedian, comedy hoax speaker and corporate impostor. I present comic hoax keynotes at business events. If you like these blogs, you’ll like my live comedy. If you don’t like these blogs, you still might like my live comedy.

Add comedian.com.au to your bookmarks, and one day: book Marks. I don’t do cheap jokes, and I’m freer than you think. I’m comical not anatomical, economical not astronomical.

For more info – and to contact me directly – see my LinkedIn profile, and website: www.comedian.com.au. I’m based in Sydney and travel widely.