Toastmasters Contests

For the competitive among you, Toastmasters contests offer you the opportunity to test your skills with your fellow Toastmasters. Starting at the club level, the contests test your mettle with your club members.

If you are a top finisher (sometimes top 2 or 3), you progress to the area contest. From there to the division, then district contest (often national level or broad regional) and if your really good, you can make it to the semi-finals and perhaps all the way to the International Toastmasters contests (and be crowned World Champion of Public Speaking).

There are various opportunities with Toastmasters contests. You can do a prepared speech contest, an impromptu contest, an evaluation contest, humorous speaking contest (prepared), and/or tall tales contest.

Only the prepared speaking contest progress all the way to the international level. The other progress only to the district level. Still, progressing to compete at national levels are no mean feat. Let us look at each of those contests in turn.

Toastmasters' International Prepared Speaking Contest

Toastmasters Contests - Testing your mettle.

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In the same way you would prepare one of your normal speeches for your club, the prepared speaking contest allows you 5 to 7 minutes to deliver a prepared speech on a topic of your choice. Some clubs have the contestants wait outside while the other contestants speak though you can remain in the room if you wish. After delivering your speech and the nerves are gone it is a good idea to stay and listen to the other speakers.

Judges that was chosen before hand then vote for the person they feel delivered the best prepared speech. The timing rules are very strict and you will be disqualified if you go over or under by more than 30 seconds.

If you progress from the club contest to the area, district or international contest, you will deliver the same speech (but it is not required to do so). This will give you time to polish and refine your speech till it shines like a diamond. It also makes you realize the value of preparation and practice.

Typically members are required to have completed at least the first six speeches of the Competent Communicator Manual. Any club member can compete in the club competition, though only those with the right Toastmasters experience can progress to compete with other Toastmasters at the higher levels.

Impromptu Speaking Contest

Impromptu contestants are all given the same general topic and asked to speak for 1 to 2 minutes. To ensure no contestant gets an advantage, all of them are asked to leave the room. They are then called one by one. Told the topic. And asked to speak for 1 to 2 minutes (with a 30 second allowance on the long side).

Let there not be any doubt: even if it is 'impromptu' speaking, the best speakers are always prepared. They might not know the topic, but they prepare in other ways. Practicing on random topics. Or developing a flexible structure that is just waiting for content.

Voting and progress takes place in similar fashion to the prepared speaking. Experienced judges vote and the winners progress to the next stage.

Speech Evaluation Contest

The third part of what makes Toastmasters successful are your listening and feedback skills. This is what the evaluation contests are for. A guest to the delivers a standard prepared speech (which could be from a Communication Manual) which all the evaluating contestants listen to.

They are then asked to leave the room, given a set amount of time to make any additional notes on the speech (5 minutes). Contestants then hand in their notes and leave the room. One by one they are invited back, given their notes, and deliver an evaluation of the same prepared speaker for 2 to 3 minutes. The thirty second allowance are again strictly applied.

Judges vote for their favorite evaluator according to given guidelines and the winner goes on to compete at a more advanced level.

Humorous Speaking Contest

Although not part of the international speaking contests, most clubs have their own humorous speaking contests and you can progress to district level. Members (contestants) are asked to prepare a 5 to 7 prepared speech that is original and entertaining (see these humorous speeches with a humorous contest example). If the contest has been organized at an area or district level, winners can progress to a more competitive level.

Tall tales speech contest

The tall tales is a mix of prepared speaking, humorous and a lot of fibbing. Sorry, its not fibbing, as long as you swear you are telling the truth. Highly improbable tales are the order of the day, so take it all with a grain of salt.

Participants prepare a 3 to 5 minute (with 30 seconds leeway) original speech on a topic of their own choosing. You score bonus points for exaggeration and improbability. Judging works similarly to the other local contests and the winner can potentially progress to district level.

During normal Toastmasters meetings you are only measured against your own experience and progress. Yet, if you want to compete, you can. Whatever your competitive streak the different Toastmasters contests gives you the opportunity to test your skills against the best of the best. See how far you can go.