The First 45 Seconds

First impressions are tough to overcome. Whether you are presenting a speech or going to a job interview, you need to capture your audience's attention in the first 45 seconds or they will go on to thinking about something else. If that happens, they might miss the very special gift that you are giving them - the key message of your speech.

The first contact that the audience has with you is the title. It is a great tool for generating interest and arousing curiosity. Titles should be short, intriguing or humorous, generate interest, and relevant to your audience and your speech.

From the moment your name is called, you have the opportunity to engage the audience, to perk their interest and show that you are confident and credible. Dress appropriately for the occasion. Remember that people want you to succeed. Shake hands firmly with the Toastmaster, make eye contact with the people in the room. When you scan the audience, remember that you are also being scanned. The audience is thinking, "Do I need to pay attention to you?"

Every word must count in your opening few sentences as if each was a piece of gold. Every movement must support your message.  A simple rule of thumb is to use the active voice whenever possible.  Don't say "At dawn, the crowing of a rooster could be heard", instead say "The rooster crowed proudly at dawn". Use vivid word pictures or interesting relevant facts to capture your audience's attention.

Avoid qualifiers like rather, very, little, pretty good, or maybe. They are leeches that suck the power out of your words. Say "We will do better" rather than "We will try to do a little better", or "He was impatient" rather than "He was rather impatient".

Walk to the front of the room confident that you have a message that the audience will want to hear and that they want you to succeed. Craft your title and your opening so that you grab the audience's attention and make them think "I want to hear what this speaker has to say!" You have 45 seconds. Use it well.

Our Champions!

Shown in this photo are our Champions, Carole (left) in Table Topics and Val (centre) in Humorous Speech with Contest Toastmaster Linda (right). Carole and Val will represent our club at the Area J41 contest on Thursday, Oct 21.



The Humorous Speech Contest
Our funny bones definitely got tickled at CTI's humorous speech contest on Wednesday September 29. Contestants Laurie, Mary Jane and Val had the audience laughing aloud with their stories about coping with a teenage vegetarian, renovating a haunted house and surviving an older sibling. Congratulations to all three contestants!

The results:
First place:       Val with "Sugar n Spice"
Second place:   Mary Jane with "What's a Little Dust"
Honourable Mention: Laurie with "Living with a Teenage Vegetarian or the Invasion of the Bean Sprouts"

Thank you to Toastmasters Karen from Golden Gavel, Spence and Laureen from Valley Echo and Marvin from Igniters who came to help us with judging the contest and to all the CTI members who took on roles to make the contest happen.

Humorous Speech Contest reminder

Humorous speech contest is on Wednesday, Sept 29 in Boardroom 2 and 3.

Prepare to laugh and learn. Let's all come out and support our humorous speakers.

Which Magical Power Would you Choose?

Three contestants in the CTI Techtalkers Table Topics contest were asked if they could have any magical power, which would they choose. Impromptu speaking is difficult enough at any time but in a contest situation, the pressure is on. The contestants showed us how it is done. They inspired and entertained us as they spoke about their favourite magical power.

First Place - Carole "Resolving world hunger "
Second Place - Kevin "Curing mental illness"

Congratulations to all our contestants, Carole, Kevin and Linda! Carole will now be going on to the next level - the Area J41 contest on Thursday, Oct 21 at 7:00 pm at the University of Calgary Students Council Chambers. Let's plan to be there to cheer Carole on.

Contests Contests Contests

Two Contests! Two opportunities to hear some mighty fine speakers.

On Thursday, September 23, come to cheer on our creative Table Topics contestants !

In the Table Topics contest, all of the contestants leave the room and then, one by one, they return to answer the same question in a two minute impromptu speech. It is fascinating how different those answers can be. Contestants are judged on delivery, content, and use of language and must answer the question.

On Wednesday, September 29, tickle your funny bone by listening to our humorous speech contestants entertain you with their funniest stories. Each contestant will deliver a 5-7 minute humorous speech on a topic of their choice and will be judged on delivery, content, use of language and audience reaction.

All members and guests are welcome!