Speech Contest Information Sheet
How does a "Speech Contest" differ from our Toastmaster speech assignments?"
Our club speeches are evaluated on their own merits, with attention paid to both the
strengths and opportunities for improvement. In a contest, the purpose is different,
each speech is compared by judges against their hypothetical ideal speech. The
speech with the best total marks from that comparison of multiple judges wins the
contest and moves on to the next round of competition. Like many of the manual
projects, the time goal is 5 to 7 minutes. But in a contest, a speech less than 4:30
minutes or more than 7:30 minutes is disqualified. Otherwise, the contest speeches
are very similar to regular Toastmasters manual speeches. You can use music,
PowerPoint presentations and props, just like in regular speeches. This contest
approach emphasizes speech quality over quantity, and really refines your speaking
skills while entertaining and inspiring the audience.
To be eligible to compete, you must be a “member in good standing” of your
Toastmasters club (paid according to the TI website). There are also speech
originality requirements that are spelled out in the official rules.
Which Contests does District 31 Provide for its Members?
The International Speech Contest (Spring) and Humorous Speech Contest (Fall)
International Speech Contest: (also referred to as the inspirational speech contest)
- it’s the major contest in the wide world of Toastmasters International.
- goes through six levels: Club, Area, Division, District, semi-finals, final round.
- it’s the only TI contest that goes beyond the District level.
- to be eligible to enter the International Speech contest, you have to have
completed 6 speeches from the Competent Communication Manual prior to your
club contest.
- you only need to have one speech to compete all the way through the Semifinal
round, but if you wish you can do a new speech at each level. If you advance to
the final round, you must use a new speech – you cannot use one you have
already used in the same year's competition.
- the International Speech contest starts in March and goes through to the final
contest at the Annual TI Convention in August.
Humorous Speech Contest
- only goes up to District level.
- Any District Toastmaster is eligible to enter the Humorous Speech contest. There
is no manual speech requirement.
- starts in September and goes through to the District 31 Fall Conference in the
first week of November.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to enter the contest?
- Zero, No cost, Free!
Are they held on weekdays or weekends?
- It can depend on availability of clubs, contestants and meeting locations, but contests
are usually held during the week, in the evening.
Where are the contests held?
- At Toastmasters club venues or other locally available spaces, until the district or
higher rounds of each contest, which are held at large hotel conference halls.
Can I bring family and friends to support me?
- Definitely! The more, the merrier. Other contestants will appreciate a larger crowd too.
Are there any prizes?
- Some clubs may provide a small gift, beyond club level, the winner is usually awarded
a certificate and/or trophy. The first three contestants who place in the final round each
get a trophy. But, as we all know, it’s not about the trophy!
Is it better to go first or last?
- Depends on who you talk to! Everyone has their own preference and there are many
theories about possible advantages of going at a certain order, but remember that
your performance is really what will dictate the result and the judges are marking their
ballot papers immediately after each contestant has finished, so it should not make
any difference when you speak.
When do you learn who has won?
- On the night, right after the contest. There is a short interval while the votes are
counted, during which it is common for the Contest Master to informally ‘interview’
each contestant in front of the audience to help them get to know you better.
What are the criteria used to judge a speech?
- The judging criteria are similar to what an evaluator would look for in a regular
speech, such as Structure, Content, Delivery, Connection with the Audience, etc. The
judging ballot has a weighted value for each of the listed criteria. The International
Speech Contest is also judged on how Inspiring the speech is. The Humorous
Speech Contest is also judged on how Entertaining and Funny the speech is.
Can I find out what criteria the judges mark us on?
- Yes, in the TI Contest Rulebook. It is a good idea to familiarize yourself with the
judging criteria before you begin to develop your speech.
What happens if there is a tie?
- A process is in place using a “Tiebreaking Judge’s Ballot”. This judge’s ballot will be
collected by the Chief Judge, but will not be counted unless there is a tie resulting
from the other judges’ ballots. Per the rules, all ties must be resolved by the Contest.
What are the benefits of entering competitions?
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Many! Just ask some of your Toastmaster comrades who have competed.
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Concentrates your mind on getting a speech prepared.
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Allows you to focus on just one speech, a real plus for Toastmasters, who usually think
they have to prepare a different speech for each project.
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You learn that ‘a great speech is not written, it’s re-written’. You learn first-hand how a
speech develops and deepens as you work on it.
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You have the opportunity (possibly for the first time) to become so familiar with your
content that it is internalized, not memorized.
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The benefit of internalization is that you don’t have to make any effort to recall what you
are going to say. That in turn allows you to concentrate on making the best possible
connection with the audience. It also allows you to work more on your staging, gestures,
etc. These are the nuances that can make the difference between an average speech
and a very good one; an enjoyable speech and a memorable one; an amusing speech
and a hilarious one.
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Competitions encourage you to go outside your usual boundaries of the club (or clubs)
you belong to and to go to different clubs to try out your material and get feedback from
other Toastmasters. This often gives you new and different perspectives to those you
get from people who are more familiar with your style.
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Competitions put you under pressure. Any public presentation is stressful, but when you
have performed under competitive pressure, you gain confidence and new insights into
the speech making and delivery process.
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They encourage you to seek coaching/mentoring to really help you raise your game –
best done by Toastmasters who have competed at a higher level than the one you are
at, or even by professional speakers (though they will usually want a fee).
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You get better MUCH faster than you normally would. When you are in a competition,
and especially if you progress one or two levels beyond the club level, you actually
speak more than you might otherwise in a year (or more). It’s a simple equation – the
more you speak, the better you get!
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You also have more fun! You get to meet new people, hear other people’s stories and
learn from their experience.
Do I have to be a speaker to participate in a contest?
No. There are many non-contestant roles. They are explained in greater detail in your
speech contest manual, but here is a quick summary:
- Contestmaster: Runs the contest, like the Toastmaster of the meeting.
- Sergeant-At-Arms: Sits by the door to prevent interruptions during the speeches.
- Chief Judge: Coordinates the Judging.
- Judges: Compare each speech to the “ideal” speech to come up with a score
and rank for each contestant.
- Counters: Collect and tally the judges’ votes. Not to be confused with Ahcounters, of which there are none in a speech contest.
- Timer: Times the speeches to make sure they aren’t disqualified for being more
than 30 seconds shorter or longer than the 5-7 minute target range. Holds up
green, yellow, and red cards, or turns on green, yellow, and red lights, at 5, 6,
and 7 minutes respectively, to make sure the speaker is aware of the time.
- Backup Timer: Time the speeches, just in case the timer messes up. Does not
need to hold up cards or turn on colored lights.
- Interviewer: Kind of like a Table-Topics Master, except that the subject is
interviewing the contestants. This role is usually performed by the
Contestmaster, but could be separate. The goal of the interviews is to keep the
audience entertained and involved while the ballots are being counted.
What are the benefits of attending area and division contests?
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One of the chief benefits is networking. By going to the contests, either as a
contestant or contestmaster, chief judge, or a supporting role, you get to meet other
enthusiastic Toastmasters with a lot of good experience and knowledge. You can
bring the benefit of their sage advice back to your own club.
Another benefit of going to the contests is that you will learn how they are run by
watching other more experienced Toastmasters run them, which will make it easier
for you to run them yourselves at your club.
Another benefit of going to the division contests is that the speeches are almost as
high-quality as at the district contest, yet you can take in this inspiring entertainment
for free.
Are there benefits being involved with a contest if I am not a speaker?
It is beneficial to the whole club to hold a speech contest because:
- It raises the level of the speakers in the club.
- It increases the entertainment and inspiration for the audience members
- It increases the excitement members and guests feel about Toastmasters.
- It is an entry for the club and its members into the Toastmasters District, which
can tap into vast resources of Toastmasters knowledge and networking to help
your club.