TOASTMASTER SCRIPT
TABLE TOPICS SPEECH CONTEST
<Contest Chair opens contest, leads the Pledge of Allegiance, introduces the Toastmaster>
Welcome to the Toastmasters (Area “X” & “Y” / Division “Z” / District 23) Speech
Contests! Today we have the pleasure of seeing and hearing…
<If TWO contests:> …two contests: the Table Topics and the (enter name of other
contest_____________) contest.
-or<If ONE contest:>…the Table Topics Contest.
Toastmasters competing today represent clubs in (Area "X" & “Y”/ Division “Z” / District
23).
<If NOT at District level:> The first (or first and second place) <check number of
contestants that can progress to the next level> winners in each contest advance to
the (Division “X” / District 23) contests. The next contest is (date
),
(location
), (time
).
Before we begin, let’s recognize the Dignitaries present.
<If any Dignitaries are contestants, say> “We will introduce Dignitaries after the
contest.”
<Introduce the District Governor, Lt. Governors, Division Governors, Area Governors,
Past District Governors, Past International Directors, and Past International
Presidents>
A few guidelines as we begin our contests today...
 The taking of photographs during the speeches is not permitted.
 No video cameras, unless previously arranged with the contestants
 Turn off pagers, beepers, phones or anything else that may distract contestants.
 Please keep aisles clear of obstructions such as briefcases, purses, etc.
 The Sergeant-at-Arms is instructed to not allow anyone to enter or leave during
any of the speeches; you may only enter or leave in between speeches.
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~ TABLE TOPICS CONTEST ~
Here are the rules for the Table Topics Contest.
 All contestants receive the same topic or question, which is general in nature, does
not require detailed knowledge of a subject, and will lead to an opinion or conclusion
 Contestants will be introduced as follows: Contestant name, the topic or question,
the topic or question, the contestant’s name.
 All contestants are escorted out of the room except the first contestant.
 After providing their response to the Table Topics question, contestants may remain
in the room for the duration of the contest.
 Table Topics are 1 to 2 minutes in length. Minimum time is 1 minute; maximum time
is 2 1/2 minutes.
 The green light comes on at ONE minute... yellow light at ONE-AND-A-HALF
minutes... and the red light at TWO minutes. The red light will remain on until the
contestant has completed their speech.
 There is 1 minute of silence between contestants for judges to complete their tallies
 After the final contestant, the audience will be requested to please remain quiet until
all of the judges have completed their ballots. When all the ballots are collected the
Chief Judge will announce, “Mr / Madam Toastmaster, all ballots have been
collected.”
The speaking order for the TABLE TOPCIS CONTEST (in Area “X”/ Division “ Y” /
District 23) is as follows <# of contestants varies depending on level of contest, etc.>:
1.______________________________________
2.______________________________________
3.______________________________________
4.______________________________________
5.______________________________________
6.______________________________________
7.______________________________________
8.______________________________________
The speaking order for the TABLE TOPCIS CONTEST for (Area “Y” / Division “Z”) is
as follows<number of contestants varies depending on level of contest, etc.>:
2
1.______________________________________
2.______________________________________
3.______________________________________
4.______________________________________
5.______________________________________
6.______________________________________
7.______________________________________
8.______________________________________
To the audience, “The rules have been reviewed with the chief judge and contestants.
The contestants have been informed of the location and operation of the timing lights.”
Sergeant-at-Arms – Have you secured the door?
Let us proceed with the contest!
Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort all contestants out of the room except for the first
contestant.
Let’s begin the (Area / Division / District) Contest. <one Area at a time>
<For each Contestant starting with Contestant #1>
Bob Smith…<question/topic>……<question/topic>….Bob Smith… <everybody
claps>………. <shake hands>
<Contestant provides his / her response>
<everybody claps>……….<shake hands again>
<After the response>..... Mr / Madam Timer… one minute of silence, please.
<after 1 minute> Sergeant-at-Arms, escort contestant #2 back into the room.
<Repeat for all remaining contestants >
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
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<After all responses>
To the audience, “please remain silent until all the ballots have been collected.”
Judges, when you are finished, ensure your ballots are signed, place the signed
portion of your ballot in the envelope, and raise the envelope in the air. Our Vote
Counter(s) will get your ballot.
Timers, please circle any contestant who did not meet the minimum time requirements
or went over the time limit.
<Vote Counters collect ballots from each judge AND the timer report>
When all the ballots are collected the Chief Judge will announce, “Mr / Madam
Toastmaster, all ballots have been collected.”
Let’s Begin the (Area “Y”) Contest.
Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort our first contestant into the room.
<Contestant #1 enters room and comes up to the front when TM announces their name.>
Bob Smith…<question/topic>……<question/topic>….Bob Smith… <everybody
claps>………. <shake hands>
<Contestant provides his / her response>
<everybody claps>……….<shake hands again>
<After the response>..... Mr / Madam Timer… one minute of silence, please.
<after 1 minute> Sergeant-at-Arms, escort contestant #2 back into the room.
<Repeat for all remaining contestants >
<After the final contestant
To the audience, “please remain silent until all the ballots have been collected.”
Judges, when you are finished, ensure your ballots are signed, place the signed
portion of your ballot in the envelope, and raise the envelope in the air. Our Vote
Counter(s) will get your ballot.
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Timers, please circle any contestant who did not meet the minimum time requirements
or went over the time limit.
When all the ballots are collected the Chief Judge will announce, “Mr / Madam
Toastmaster, all ballots have been collected.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
<Chief Judge and ballot counters exit room to count votes, and re-enter when
finished.>
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
<If any contestant is also in the next contest,
contests.>
defer all interviews until after both
And now, I will interview the contest participants.
<Interview order is same as speaking order. Typical question include asking which club
they’re representing plus one or two questions taken from the Biography Sheet,
depending on time. Present certificates as you interview & thank each person.>
<to audience> Let’s give one more big round of applause for all of our Contestants!
<If a dignitary was a contestant, introduce the dignitaries now.
Introduce the District Governor, Lt. Governors, Division Governors, Area Governors,
Past District Governors, Past International Directors, and Past International
Presidents>
<Ensure Chief Judge and vote counters are in back in the room.>
* * * *<5 - 10 minute break if there is another contest>) * * * *
The Contest Chair will announce if any there were any contestants who were
disqualified because of time. The name of any disqualified contestant will NOT be
announced.
I will now return control of this contest to the contest chair, (Area "X" & “Y” Governor /
Division Governor / LGET & DG), for the presentation of awards. <If there are 4 or
5
fewer contestants, then the 2nd and 1st place winners are announced. For 5 or more
contestants – announce 3rd, 2nd and 1st place winners. >
<Area/Division Governor says 'thank you' to helpers (judges while acknowledged, are
not identified) and announces winners... thanks everybody for being there, and
reminds people about the next contest.>
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