International Speech Contest A Contestant's View of the International Speech Contest Mike Futty, ACB BAC to the Future

First Things First Please turn all cell phones, pagers, iPods, tricorders, communicator badges, and other noisemakers off.

can ruin a presentation. Unexpected noises can ruin a presentation.

You don’t want that on your conscience, do you?

Good. Let’s Start.

Congratulations to LaShunda Rundles from Dallas, Texas 2008 World Champion of Public Speaking

So, how does it feel to compete?

It’s hovers between…

this

and this.

That being said…

What are we going to talk about today? Why People Compete Contest Preparation Going On Stage I Won. Now What? I Lost. Now What?

Why do People Compete?

Fame and Glory

Curiosity

Personal Growth

Validation

To Get A Message Out

and, to be honest…

some compete

simply because they’re asked to.

(which isn’t bad)

The real secret to being a good competitive speaker is this:

Forget the Lucite.

It’s not about the Lucite.

If you focus on the Trophy

You’ve lost focus on what is important…

It’s about growing.

It’s about the Audience,

connecting with them

and changing them in a Positive Way.

Speech and Competitor Types Evangelist Comedian Hearts and Flowers Teddy Bear Rambo “Body Count” Happy to Be Here

So, how do you prepare to compete?

Rule Number 1

Know the rules

many competitors reach area and division contests It is AMAZING how many competitors reach area and division contests who DON’T KNOW the rules.

You read the rules when you play Monopoly…

and this is more important!

so…

Read the Rules

Learn the Rules

Become one with the rules

Have a copy of the rules with you at every competition.

Pop Quiz

Can a competitor videotape a competition?

The rules don’t say you can’t.

but

Bill Stevens productions. It isn’t allowed at the International level due to an agreement with Bill Stevens productions.

also

If you want to record a competition, make sure you clear it with the Chief Judge in advance

and

Get a signed release from every competitor you intend to record and provide it to the Chief Judge before you start recording

If they don’t sign, you don’t record them.

If the Chief Judge doesn’t want to allow recording, don’t record.

on a personal note…

in the true spirit of Toastmasters

professional courtesy, and as a professional courtesy,

offer a copy of the recording to any competitors you record

So, where do you get the rules?

www.toastmasters.org

The rules say*… *as of this writing

You must be a member in good standing

in a club of good standing

You must complete six CC manual speeches BEFORE the club competition

UNLESS

you are a charter member of a club chartered since July first you are a charter member of a club chartered since July first. The Club must be officially chartered prior to the Area contest.

and you must…

maintain eligibility at all levels of the contest

also…

Competitors can’t be…

(this is long)

incumbent International Officers and Directors and candidates for these offices; District offices (District Governor, Immediate Past District Governor, any Lieutenant Governor, Secretary, Treasurer, Public Relations Officer, Division Governor or Area Governor) whose terms expire June 30; District officers or announced candidates for the term beginning the upcoming July 1

or

presenters of education sessions at the Area, Division and District event at which the contest will be held

or

a judge at any level for a contest in which they are still competing

meaning…

you can’t be a judge for Division A this week…

and compete in Division B next week…

In essence…

whether real or perceived. In the true spirit of Toastmasters, a competitor shouldn’t be in any position that could give them an unfair advantage- whether real or perceived.

As for contest levels…

there are six

You need three original speeches! Club* Area Division District Region* International* You need three original speeches!

Why three speeches?

that’s easy…

present you as their best, you can’t be a For Toastmasters to present you as their best, you can’t be a One-Hit Wonder

So you will need three speeches

Substantially Original

and certified as such in writing to the Chief Judge This form is typically done on site the day of the competition up to the district level. For regional and international levels, it is submitted in advance along with outlines of previous speeches used that year in competition.

You also submit Biographical Information

At Region, you also need to submit the title and outline of your district speech.

At International, you need to submit the title and outline of your district and region speech.

Rule Number 2

This is REAL Important

Know the Judge’s Ballot

Let Me Repeat that.

Know The Judge’s Ballot

50% - Content 30% - Delivery 20% - Language

Content = 50% SPEECH DEVELOPMENT Structure Opening, Support material EFFECTIVENESS Achievement of purpose Interest Reception SPEECH VALUE Ideas logic Original thought

Remember Content is King

Speech Development 20% SPEECH DEVELOPMENT Structure Opening Support material

Effectiveness 15% EFFECTIVENESS Achievement of purpose Interest Reception

Speech Value 15% SPEECH VALUE Ideas logic Original thought Here is an important point when it comes to the International Speech Competition. A humorous speech, while it may have great entertainment value, is considered less value to the audience than a motivational or inspirational speech unless it has a great underlying message. If you are funny, do a motivational or inspirational speech that has some humor in it rather than a humorous speech that has some motivation in it.

Delivery = 30% PHYSICAL Appearance Body language VOICE Flexibility Volume MANNER Directness Assurance

Physical 10% PHYSICAL Appearance Body language

Voice 10% VOICE Flexibility Volume

Manner 10% MANNER Directness Assurance

Language = 20% APPROPRIATENESS to speech purpose and audience CORRECTNESS Grammar Pronunciation Word selection

Appropriateness 10% APPROPRIATENESS to speech purpose and audience

Correctness 10% CORRECTNESS Grammar Pronunciation Word selection

Now, let’s discuss putting a competitive speech together

Start NOW.

It’s a bit of work to really do it right

and worth every minute.

So, commit the time to do it right

and get a good mentor to work with

who can also commit the time to do it right.

Make a Story File

Build stories over time.

Your stories

Why only your stories?

The audience doesn’t know them

and you can’t tell others’ stories…

with the same passion…

or emotion.

So, stick with your own.

You say you have no good stories?

I don’t believe that. (and I’ll tell you why)

If you have children

you have stories…

If you were ever a child yourself…

you have stories…

If you’ve ever been in a Denny’s

after midnight…

you have stories…

If you have relatives…

you have stories.

You get the point.

Want more stories?

Just read the news…

Carry a notepad or digital recorder with you at all times.

If you laugh,

cry,

become angry,

upset,

surprised,

shocked,

or are touched in any way,

record what happened for your story file.

and get it in there when you get home!

Next, you need to choose a good topic

and objective.

How do you pick a topic?

Here is a great way

what ONE lesson would you leave your children? If you were going to die, what ONE lesson would you leave your children?

The answer is probably a great topic

If it overlaps something that somebody already did,

Look at it from a different angle

or approach it in a different way.

you want the audience to Your objective is what you want the audience to think, feel, or do when you are done.

On the topic of feelings… The six emotions we all share are happiness, surprise, sadness, anger, fear, and disgust. On the topic of feelings…

Keep the topic and objective short and concise.

You should be able to write your topic and objective

on the back of a business card.

Example: Volunteering makes a much bigger difference than people think. I want the audience to volunteer more.

The movie “Alien” was pitched to the movie studios with just three words.

“Jaws in Space”

Why is this important?

It frames everything else in the speech.

Once you have that done…

Choose three stories from your story file that best support it.

and begin to

Build Your Speech.

stick with the audience Use things that will stick with the audience

What Sticks What doesn’t Simple Complex Concrete Abstract Emotional Stoic Unexpected Predictable Stories Facts

Theme Objective Introduction Point/Story 1 Point/Story 2 Point/Story 3 The first 30 Seconds are critical! Theme Objective Introduction Point/Story 1 Jolt The conclusion is as critical as the intro! Point/Story 2 Jolt Point/Story 3 Conclusion

Remember Content is King?

THIS IS CRITICAL!

An updated speech form

Once you have the speech outlined, you can begin to…

finalize it

Create a six minute speech.

Not six minutes, 30 seconds. Not seven minutes. Not six minutes, 30 seconds. Six minutes.

Now, let’s talk about humor. Never force or inject humor. Find humor in the situation.

The room and seating makes a difference.

Women laugh more freely than men.

More women in the audience means faster and more laughing.

open space tend to result Bigger rooms with more open space tend to result in less laughter.

Time of day, recent events, and many other factors can make differences too.

The point is not to get rattled if you don’t get the laughs you got before.

Allow time for laughs if you use humor.

Allow more “laugh time” for larger audiences.

What makes people laugh?

Exaggeration

Pain

Sudden release of tension.

Surprise (sudden redirection)

or better known as a setup and punch line.

“I’ve been in love with the same woman Henny Youngman “I’ve been in love with the same woman for 30 years” “if my wife finds out, she’ll kill me!”

Keep humor in short bursts.

Never use long stories to set up a punch line.

Never, ever use jokes...

or unrelated, forced humor.

Find the humor in the situation.

Use observational humor.

Words with a “K” sound are funny.

Cupcake is funny sounding. Tomato isn’t.

Finally, laughing at yourself is the safest humor.

Next, practice your speech.

First rule of practice: Too much isn’t enough.

practice at…

Your Club Other Clubs With Your Family With Your Friends In the Car (Make a CD) With Anybody

Record Yourself: Audio Video

Watch the video with the sound turned off

to focus on your stage presence. Never force or inject humor. Find humor in the situation.

and Never force or inject humor. Find humor in the situation.

without watching the video Listen to the audio without watching the video

to focus on your vocal clarity and variety. Never force or inject humor. Find humor in the situation.

How about technology?

Two words. Murphy’s Law.

The Day of the Event

Relax.

Before the competition. Watch what you eat Before the competition.

Relax.

Stepping on Stage Don’t run to the stage! Smile! You own the stage!

The Audience

Delivery

Stage Presence

Two Last Unwritten Laws

Perception is Reality

“Rub of the Green”

You’ve won! Now what?

You’ve lost. Now what?

Does your speech: make a significant point? provide significant value make the audience think and feel? regularly jolt them? include humor from the situation?

good resources out there? Are there other good resources out there?

www.commandthestage.com/stuff

Conclusion

Resources http://shop.kevinspalding.com/main.sc http://www.craigvalentine.com/products/index.php?page=Products http://www.jimkey.com/resources/ http://www.davidbrookstexas.com/products/ http://edtate.com/learningtools.html http://www.humor411.com/books/ https://www.billspro.com/ts/ts07.html http://www.markbrownspeaks.com/ http://www.worldchampionsedge.com/edge/index.cfm

International Speech Contest A Contestant's View of the International Speech Contest Mike Futty, ACB BAC to the Future Club mike@futty.com (h) 302-337-7177 (w) 302-337-7113