Transcript 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.
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?
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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
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
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
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. 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…
In the true spirit of
Toastmasters, a competitor shouldn’t be in any
position that could give them an unfair advantagewhether real or perceived.
As for contest levels…
there are six
Club*
Area
Division
District
Region*
International*
Why three speeches?
that’s easy…
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
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%
Remember
Content is King
Speech Development
20%
Effectiveness
15%
Speech Value
15%
Delivery = 30%
Physical
10%
Voice
10%
Manner
10%
Language = 20%
Appropriateness
10%
Correctness
10%
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
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.
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.
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.
Use things that will
stick with the audience
What Sticks
What doesn’t
Simple
Concrete
Emotional
Unexpected
Stories
Complex
Abstract
Stoic
Predictable
Facts
Theme
Objective
Introduction
The first 30 Seconds
are critical!
Point/Story 1
Point/Story 2
Point/Story 3
Conclusion
The conclusion is as
critical as the intro!
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 seven minutes.
Not six minutes, 30 seconds.
Six minutes.
Now, let’s talk
about humor.
The room and seating makes a
difference.
Women laugh more freely
than men.
More women
in the audience
means faster and
more laughing.
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.
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.
and
Listen to the audio
without watching the video
to focus on your vocal
clarity and variety.
How about technology?
Two words.
Murphy’s Law.
The Day of the Event
Relax.
Watch what you eat
Before the competition.
Relax.
Stepping on 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:
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make a significant point?
provide significant value
make the audience think and feel?
regularly jolt them?
include humor from the situation?
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
A Contestant's View of the
International Speech Contest
Mike Futty, ACB
BAC to the Future Club
[email protected]
(h) 302-337-7177
(w) 302-337-7113