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President's Tip of the Week

Choreographing Your Speech
(11/4/09)

In just a few short months, it will be contest season again and the contests coming up this time are the International Speech and Table Topics Contests. If you are interested in competing in the International Speech Contest, start preparing now – this is not a contest that can be won with a hip-pocket speech. What sets winning speeches apart in the International Speech Contest? True choreography. Every gesture, step, facial expression, and vocal inflection is planned out and refined for maximum impact. How does one do that, you might ask? Andrew Dlugan has a few suggestions, summarized below.

  • Vocal Variety: Monotone delivery puts your audience to sleep, no matter how riveting your content. Keep in mind the Four P’s of vocal variety:
    • Power: The volume you project
    • Pitch: The frequency (high – low) of the sound you emit
    • Pace: Your speaking rate
    • Pauses: Magical moments that can be used for a multitude of purposes
  • Gestures / Body Language: Gestures should complement your words and should be used throughout your speech to help make you interesting to watch. If you are interesting to watch, then your audience will be more attentive to your message. Gestures should be natural, coincide with key points, varied, appropriately sized for the room, and don’t forget facial expressions.
  • Staging: Staging your speech means utilizing the 3-dimensional space around you in the most effective way possible. Great speakers move around the speaking area with purpose. Every time they take a few steps, they are doing so with a distinct purpose in mind.
  • Read Andrew's full article here.

If you start preparing your International Speech Contest speech now, you should be able to practice it once or twice at our club or another before the actual contest. You’ll be able to get feedback now and improve it before the contest date arrives. To be eligible to compete in this contest, you must have given at least 6 speeches toward your Competent Communicator award by the contest date. Start planning now!

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