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This page has procedural tips for speech contestants when preparing for and competing in Toastmasters speech contests. These tips are compiled from a number of Toastmasters experience competing in contests over the years. We hope these tips are helpful to you in your participation as a speech contestant.
Preparing for contests
- Ensure you remain eligible to compete in contests at all levels of the Toastmasters contest programme. This includes ensuring that your semi-annual subscription has been paid to Toastmasters International by the club treasurer, and that your club is in good standing. If you become ineligible at any level for any reason, you will be disqualified, even if it is not your fault. Refer to the Eligibility section of the Speech Contest Rulebook available from your Club President for full eligibility requirements.
- Ensure you have:
- reviewed the Judging Criteria for the contest in which you are competing,
- are familiar with the judges marking scheme,
- and the timing requirements.
- Refer to the Speech Contest Manual available from your Club President for full details.
- Prepare any props, and provide any equipment needed and assistants for its operation, eg datashow projector (after consultation with the contest chairperson).
- Ensure your prepared speech is in good taste and appropriate for a Toastmasters audience and the public, any quoted material is identified, and is delivered in English.
- Remember the criteria for prepared speeches such as the Humorous or International speech. They must be substantially original. If in doubt, ASK! An official protest due to a supposed conflict in this area is not particularly pleasant.
- Contact your club President, Area or Division Governor, to make any special requests or enquiries prior to contest day.
Contest day
- Always arrive at the venue early, and acquaint yourself with the room layout.
- Let the Contest Chairperson know that you are present, and do not leave the venue for any reason without notifying the Contest Chairperson.
- Attend the contest briefing on time, and give the chairperson any special requirements, such as any props, location of the lectern, or any other equipment setups required.
- You will need to draw for speaking order during the briefing.
- Make sure you know where the timing lights are located, and have checked they are operational and visible to you from the speaking area.
- Make sure you know where the speaking area is, ie the stage only, or the stage plus an area in front of, or to the side of the stage etc, as identified by the contest chairperson. You would not be automatically disqualified if you step outside this area but you may be marked down by the judges.
- Be prepared to wear a lapel microphone, or use a fixed microphone on a stand, if the venue is large or the acoustics are poor.
- Ensure you have filled in and signed the contest eligibility forms, confirm the title of your speech, and the pronunciation and spelling of your name.
- If you miss the contest briefing, you forego this opportunity.
- Refer to the General Procedure section of the Speech Contest Rulebook (see below) for other rules about briefings and disqualifications.
- Any protests on the basis of eligibility or originality can only be made by a contestant or a judge, and must be made to the chief judge or contest chairperson only. Refer to the Speech Contest Rulebook for other rules about Protests and Disqualifications.
Delivering your speech
- Make sure you are seated in an area suitable for easy access to the speaking area.
- Ensure your lapel microphone is secure and operational, or the fixed microphone is located in a suitable place and at a suitable height.
- Walk up to the stage or speaking area, stand and face the audience, and wait for your name and speech title (for the humorous and international speech contests) to be announced.
- Your timing will begin at the first definite verbal or nonverbal communication with the audience. If you have a non-spoken introductory component in your speech, ensure the contest chairperson is aware of this so that the timers can be briefed when to start the timing. For other timing procedures, refer to the Timing section of the Speech Contest Rulebook.
- It is appropriate and polite to acknowledge the contest chairperson at the beginning and end of your speech. A suitable opening would be: Mr/Madam Contest Chair, Ladies and Gentlemen.
- The audience does not usually interject in a speech contest unless invited to by the contestant in some form of interaction.
- Photographs cannot be taken of the contestants during the contest. Permission to record the speech on video must be obtained from the contest chairperson and all contestants, if the entire contest is to be recorded, or if just your speech is recorded, then the audience and other contestants should be notified.
- When you have finished delivering your speech, wait for the applause, then leave the stage and return to your seat.
- There will be one minute of silence while the judges mark their judging ballots. You can collect any props and clear the stage during this time.
After the contest
- Because the event is a contest, you will not receive any feedback from the judges as their scores are confidential.
- If you wish to have personal feedback, you need to organise your own evaluator to take notes for you.
- You will not be informed if you were disqualified because of a timing over-run, only that a contestant was disqualified. This will be announced before the final results are given.
- As a participant in Area, Division and District contests, you will be presented with a Participation Certificate.
- If you are a 3rd or 2nd place-getter, you will receive a certificate. If you win the contest, you will receive a certificate and a trophy. Clubs may present these at the club contest event, or at a special annual event.
- If you are a 2nd place-getter, you are the alternate speaker in the next level contest if the winner is unable to compete. Make sure your contact details are forwarded to the organiser of the next level contest, and you are aware of the contest date, time and place. You may be required to compete at short notice if the primary contestant drops out. If you are unable to compete, then your club or area or division forfeits the contest.
Speech Contest Manual and Rulebook
The Toastmasters Speech Contest manuals have a number of other rules about the eligibility and conduct of speech contests which you should be familiar with. These rules are updated annually, so ensure you have reviewed the current year’s rule books, which are available for downloading from the Toastmasters International website, or your Club President.
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International Speech Contest, Section 6 C:
If a contestant is absent from the briefing, the alternate speaker, if present, may attend the briefing in place of the primary contestant. If the primary contestant is not present when the person conducting the contest is introduced to conduct the contest, the primary contestant is disqualified and the alternate officially becomes the contestant. Should the primary contestant arrive after the briefing but before the person conducting the contest is introduced, the primary contestant may compete, provided the primary contestant: 1) reports to the contest chairman upon his/her arrival, and 2) has all required paperwork in good order before the person conducting the contest is introduced to begin the contest. The primary contestant waives the opportunity of a briefing.
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What is not covered here:
- Emergency procedures – if the fire alarm goes off during a contest, there is an earthquake or other emergency
- Medical emergency – what happens if a contestant falls ill during their speech or while waiting to compete
- Disruptions and Cellphones – what a contestant should do if a cellphone rings or there is some other disruption during the delivery of a speech
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Past Speech Contestants:
Do you have any other tips you would like to add to this page for the benefit of future speech contestants.
Email webmaster@toastmasters.org.nz with your input. |
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