TOASTMASTER SCRIPT
Humorous 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 Humorous Speech and the (enter name of other contest______)contest.

-or-

<If ONE contest:>…the Humorous Speech 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 District 23 website for 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, state“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 contest(s) today...

  • No flash cameras
  • 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.

~ HUMOROUSSPEECH CONTEST ~

Here are the rules for the HumorousSpeech Contest.

  • The subject for the Humorous speech shall be selected by the contestant. The speaker shall avoid potentially objective language, anecdotes and material.
  • The speech must be thematic in nature (opening, body, and close), not a monologue (series of one-liners).
  • Speeches are 5 to 7 minutes in length. Minimum time is 4 1/2 minutes; maximum time is 7 1/2 minutes.
  • The green light comes on at FIVE minutes... yellow light at SIX minutes... the red light at SEVEN minutes and remain on until the speech is completed.
  • 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 orderfor the HUMOROUS SPEECH 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 orderfor the HUMOROUS SPEECH 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.______

To the audience, “The rules have been reviewed with the chief judge and contestants. The contestants have been informed of the location of the timing lights.”

Sergeant-at-Arms – Have you secured the door?

Let us proceed with the contest!

<Contestant #1>

Bob Smith……(speech title)……(speech title)….……. Bob Smith………. <everybody claps>……….<shake hands>

contestant does his / her Humorous Speech

<everybody claps>……….<shake hands again>

After the Humorous Speech..... Mr / MadamTimer… please time us in one minute of silence.

<Contestant #2>

Bob Smith……(speech title)……(speech title)….……. Bob Smith………. <everybody claps>……….<shake hands>

<contestant does his / her Humorous Speech

<everybody claps>……….<shake hands again>

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *

REPEAT for all remaining contestants >

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *

Please remain quiet to allow our judges to complete their ballots.

Judges, when you are finished, please ensure your ballots are signed, and raise your hand in the air. Our Vote Counter(s) will come 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.

<Contestant #1>

Bob Smith……(speech title)……(speech title)….……. Bob Smith………. <everybody claps>……….<shake hands>

<contestant does his / her Humorous Speech

<everybody claps>……….<shake hands again>

<After the Humorous Speech..... Mr / MadamTimer… please time us in one minute of silence.

<Contestant #2>

Bob Smith……(speech title)……(speech title)….……. Bob Smith………. <everybody claps>……….<shake hands>

<contestant does his / her Humorous Speech

<everybody claps>……….<shake hands again>

<After the Humorous Speech>..... Mr / MadamTimer… please time us in one minute of silence.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *

REPEAT for all remaining contestants >

Please remain quiet to allow our judges to complete their ballots.

Judges, when you are finished, please ensure your ballots are signed, and raise your hand in the air. Our Vote Counter(s) will come get your ballot.

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, defer interviews until after both contests.>

Let’sInterviewthe 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 audienceLet’s give one more big round of applause for all of our Contestants!

<Ensure vote counters are in back in the room.>

* * * *(5 - 10 minute break to get ready for next contest.) * * * *

Check to make sure Chief Judge and vote counters are in back in the room.>

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 contestants, then the 1st and 2nd place winners are announced. If there are 3 contestants, then first place is announced and the 2nd place contestant is notified in private and alerted that they may move forward to compete if the 1st place winner cannot compete. For 5 or more contestants – announce 1st, 2ndand 3rd place.

Area/Division Governor says 'thank you' to helpers (judges while acknowledged, are NOT identified and NOT asked to stand) and announces winners... thanks everybody for being there, and reminds people about the next contest.

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