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

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

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

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

5. Good. Let’s Start.

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

7. So, how does it feel
to compete?

8. It’s hovers between…

9. this

10. and this.

11. That being said…

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

13. Why do People Compete?

14. Fame and Glory

15. Curiosity

16. Personal Growth

17. Validation

18. To Get A Message Out

19. and, to be honest…

20. some compete

21. simply because
they’re asked to.

22. (which isn’t bad)

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

24. Forget the Lucite.

25. It’s not about the Lucite.

26. If you focus on the Trophy

27. You’ve lost focus on
what is important…

28. It’s about growing.

29. It’s about the Audience,

30. connecting with them

31. and changing them
in a Positive Way.

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

33. So, how do you prepare
to compete?

34. Rule Number 1

35. Know the rules

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

37. You read the rules when
you play Monopoly…

38. and this is
more important!

39. so…

40. Read the Rules

41. Learn the Rules

42. Become one with
the rules

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

44. Pop Quiz

45. Can a competitor videotape
a competition?

46. The rules don’t say you can’t.

47. but

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

49. also

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

51. and

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

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

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

55. on a personal note…

56. in the true spirit
of Toastmasters

57. professional courtesy,
and as a
professional courtesy,

58. offer a copy of the recording to any competitors you record

59. So, where do you get
the rules?

61. The rules say*…
*as of this writing

62. You must be a member in
good standing

63. in a club of
good standing

64. You must complete
six CC manual speeches
BEFORE
the club competition

65. UNLESS

66. 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.

67. and you must…

68. maintain eligibility at all levels of the contest

69. also…

70. Competitors can’t be…

71. (this is long)

72. 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

73. or

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

75. or

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

77. meaning…

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

79. and compete in Division B next week…

80. In essence…

81. 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.

82. As for contest levels…

83. there are six

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

85. Why three speeches?

86. that’s easy…

87. 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

88. So you will need
three speeches

89. Substantially Original

90. 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.

91. You also submit Biographical Information

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

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

94. Rule Number 2

95. This is REAL Important

96. Know the Judge’s Ballot

97. Let Me Repeat that.

98. Know The Judge’s Ballot

99. 50% - Content
30% - Delivery
20% - Language

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

101. Remember
Content is King

102. Speech Development 20% SPEECH DEVELOPMENT Structure Opening
Support material

103. Effectiveness 15% EFFECTIVENESS Achievement of purpose Interest
Reception

104. 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.

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

106. Physical
10%
PHYSICAL
Appearance
Body language

107. Voice
10%
VOICE
Flexibility
Volume

108. Manner
10%
MANNER
Directness
Assurance

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

110. Appropriateness
10%
APPROPRIATENESS to speech purpose and audience

111. Correctness
10%
CORRECTNESS
Grammar
Pronunciation
Word selection

112. Now, let’s discuss
putting a competitive
speech together

113. Start NOW.

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

115. and worth every minute.

116. So, commit the time
to do it right

117. and get a good
mentor to work with

118. who can also commit
the time to do it right.

119. Make a Story File

120. Build stories over time.

121. Your stories

122. Why only your stories?

123. The audience doesn’t
know them

124. and you can’t tell
others’ stories…

125. with the same passion…

126. or emotion.

127. So, stick with your own.

128. You say you have no
good stories?

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

130. If you have children

131. you have stories…

132. If you were ever
a child yourself…

133. you have stories…

134. If you’ve ever been in a
Denny’s

135. after midnight…

136. you have stories…

137. If you have relatives…

138. you have stories.

139. You get the point.

140. Want more stories?

141. Just read the news…

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

143. If you laugh,

144. cry,

145. become angry,

146. upset,

147. surprised,

148. shocked,

149. or are touched in any way,

150. record what happened
for your story file.

151. and get it in there when
you get home!

152. Next, you need to choose
a good topic

153. and objective.

154. How do you pick a topic?

155. Here is a great way

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

157. The answer is probably
a great topic

158. If it overlaps something
that somebody
already did,

159. Look at it
from a different angle

160. or approach it
in a different way.

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

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

163. Keep the topic and objective
short and concise.

164. You should be able to write your topic and objective

165. on the back of a business card.

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

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

168. “Jaws in Space”

169. Why is this important?

170. It frames everything
else in the speech.

171. Once you have that done…

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

173. and begin to

174. Build Your Speech.

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

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

177. 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

178. Remember
Content is King?

179. THIS IS CRITICAL!

180. An updated speech form

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

182. finalize it

183. Create a six minute speech.

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

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

186. The room and seating makes a difference.

187. Women laugh more freely
than men.

188. More women
in the audience
means faster and
more laughing.

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

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

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

192. Allow time for laughs if you use humor.

193. Allow more “laugh time” for larger audiences.

194. What makes people laugh?

195. Exaggeration

196. Pain

197. Sudden release of tension.

198. Surprise
(sudden redirection)

199. or better known as
a setup and punch line.

200. “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!”

201. Keep humor in
short bursts.

202. Never use long stories
to set up a punch line.

203. Never, ever use jokes...

204. or unrelated, forced humor.

205. Find the humor in the situation.

206. Use observational humor.

207. Words with a “K” sound
are funny.

208. Cupcake is funny sounding.
Tomato isn’t.

209. Finally, laughing at yourself
is the safest humor.

212. Next, practice
your speech.

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

214. practice at…

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

216. Record Yourself:
Audio
Video

217. Watch the video with
the sound turned off

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

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

220. without watching the video
Listen to the audio
without watching the video

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

222. How about technology?

223. Two words.
Murphy’s Law.

224. The Day of the Event

225. Relax.

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

227. Relax.

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

229. The Audience

230. Delivery

231. Stage Presence

232. Two Last
Unwritten Laws

233. Perception
is Reality

234. “Rub of the Green”

235. You’ve won! Now what?

236. You’ve lost. Now what?

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

239. good resources out there?
Are there other
good resources out there?

242. Conclusion

243. Resources http://shop.kevinspalding.com/main.sc

245. International Speech Contest
A Contestant's View of the
International Speech Contest
Mike Futty, ACB
BAC to the Future Club
(h)
(w)