Kempner Auditions New Comedy Bit; But No One's Laughing

Here's a funny tip. So, you've recently been fired by your client and want to settle the score? Hell, use your company blog. Try out a few caustic jokes. Well, that's apparently the communications lesson being taught by Michael Kempner, president and CEO of the PR firm, the MWW Group.

Here's the setup: The MWW Group had contracted with Comix NY to host a party shortly before the company chose to terminate its relationship with the agency. Okay. But, apparently, Kempner felt a little payback was in order. Here are a few excerpts from his personal blog, MWW Straight Talk:

- Warning to anyone who wants to have a private party, corporate event or Holiday Party: Stay away from Comix Comedy Club in NYC.

- Disorganized, rude and bait and switch were the Club's mode of operation. As my staff began to do the planning, they were treated rudely and with no cooperation on everything from menu planning, room set up and simple logistics.

- When we arrived for the party, everyone from the hostesses to the bartenders was rude and unwelcoming... that attitude continued throughout the night. Bartenders were barely civil and many members of my staff were visibly upset by how we were treated.

- Upon entering, we discovered that they had changed our entire menu, instead of serving the food we had ordered and confirmed... they served some sort of fish and potatoes... it was a slight step above prison food. I even asked them to order in Chinese food, which they refused to do.

- With its horrific management and warped sense of service, no to mention Comix’s warped sense of “hospitality,” it's no wonder that the club is a disaster and rumors of its impending failure are rampant. Those rumors are well deserved.

In response to the posting, Comix released this simple statement, "Why a public relations firm would openly vilify a former client so soon after their engagement was ended by the client reeks of sour grapes. We will not honor such displaced negativity with a point-by-point response."

Well, maybe this is all a joke gone VERY bad on Kempner's part. It could be his timing or maybe his delivery. I mean, we were warned. After all, when Kempner had taken the stage to say a few words at the event he did begin his remarks with a joke about the food. "After all, this is a comedy club," he said. Ba Dum Bum Pssssssh.

Funny? I don't know. Kempner's blog post is titled, "Comix: A comedy club that can't take a joke." But I am certain that the subsequent lawsuit will be an absolute riot!