AP2 Resources for Entertainment from The Entertaining Speaker Manual

why didn't I think of it earlier? I spoke about Susan Boyle and Zoe Tay in my AP2 speech. I should have rounded it up by sharing about Lashunda Rundles, 2008 world champion of public speaking - the first woman to win since 1986 and the first African American woman to ever win this title.

Her winning speech was about speaking up. In an interview, she wrote:

The theme of my speech was to speak up. People sit in silence so much afraid to express themselves and it often diminishes the quality of their lives and those that they love. The fear people have has to be overcome and the purpose has to be the passion.

I chose this theme because growing up, I saw so many people abused because of their silence. I witnessed people be broken because they would not speak in their own defense. Most painfully, I watched my mother die from cancer. When she began to finally complain, it was too late. I am sure that she had symptoms long before she revealed it to us. She was the kind of person who would grin and bear it. She was so giving that she didn’t ever want to feel like she was imposing on anyone. I believe that her silence allowed the cancer to take [her] life because it was about one month from her diagnosis until her death.

In addition, what I learned from her is that our words make a lasting impression on this earth. Her words still live in me and the values she instilled in me live in me and will live on through my son.

http://sixminutes.dlugan.com/lashunda-rundles-2008-world-champion-public-speaking/

Just like Susan Boyle, Lashunda has a special place in my heart. She's my inspiration!

AP2 Resources for Entertainment from The Entertaining Speaker Manual

Objectives: 

(1) Draw entertaining material from sources other than your own personal experience.

(2) Adopt your material to suit your topic, your own personality and the audience.

Time:  5 - 7 minutes

OMG

The plump, plain-looking, middle-aged lady with grey hair ambled onto the stage. When asked by one of the judges what was her dream, she replied matter-of-factly that she would like to be a famous singer like Elaine Page.  You could hear the sniggers from the audience and see the incredulous, cynical looks on their faces. 'What audacity! How unrealistic! Far-off' are probably some of the thoughts that crossed their minds.  But when the lady opened her mouth to sing, her strong powerful vocals took everyone by surprise.  There was collective jaw-dropping.   After her rendition of the song 'I dreamed a dream', the audience erupted into thunderous applause and even gave the singer a standing ovation.  That singer was Susan Boyle, who became an overnight sensation as her performance video on youtube garnered 2.5 million views within 72 hours.

Good evening, fellow toastmasters, that was Susan's OMG - one moment of glory.  When you win a contest, it can open doors of opportunity for you, just like it did for Susan.  She went on to place 2nd in the contest Britain's Got Talent, produce two albums and in September this year, Susan Boyle was officially recognised by Guinness World Records as having had the fastest selling debut album by a female artist in the UK, and was also awarded the record for being the oldest person to reach number one with a debut album in the UK. She is 48 years old.

Boyle's performance has been hailed as a triumph over a youth culture that often dismisses middle-aged women. Her OMG has catapulted her from anonymity to instant fame.  What an inspiration!  There is yet hope for me.

Nearer home, we also have a classic story of rags to riches. Zoe Tay, whom I'm sure all of you are familiar with, joined the biennial talent-search contest Star Search in 1988.  She emerged as the first Star Search champion.  From the daughter of a pig farmer, she became a well-loved local actress who starred in countless serials and has been voted as Top 10 Most Popular Female Artiste for 10 consecutive years.  Zoe Tay's OMG in the Star Search contest certainly and completely changed her life!

There are many in our midst who also enjoy taking part in contests, not singing contests, not acting contests but speech contests! In fact, there is a term for people who are addicted to taking part in contests - they are called contest junkies. Some junkies I know are Wee Meng, Seh Leng, Richard Sng, Wekie Tay to name a few.

Wee Meng once told me that he has collected more than 60 trophies in his 12 years of experience as a toastmasters.  Wow! 60? Anyone would be impressed by not his wife.  All these trophies are taking up so much space and only collecting dust. Can you please stop taking part in contests? Give other people a chance! That's what his wife reportedly said.  Luckily I only have 20 trophies and my husband hasn't said that to me yet.

I have a confession to make - I am a contest junkie too! When I took part in the District 80 Evaluation Contest 2 years ago, it was my first time reaching a district level contest.    Unfortunately, I was the first contestant, I had too many points in my evaluation speech and I made a fatal mistake.  I insulted the test speaker, who happened to be a very important person. He was our International Director.  It was painful to not win anything in a contest but it was certainly an enlightening experience because now I know how to keep my evaluation speech within the time limit and how to insult people tactfully, I mean share constructive and encouraging feedback.

The following year was the most painful time in my journey as a toastmaster because I was appointed as an Area Governor,  and hence banned from taking part in contests. I could only watch others contest while I was itching to be on stage as a contestant. I suffered serious withdrawal symptoms. I would write contest speeches while daydreaming or dream that I took part in a contest and won.

Once my AG stint was over, I jumped straight into the contest ciruit again. Joni was back with a vengeance.  I wanted to challenge myself to reach the District 80 Evaluation contest again and be placed.   On 27 November 2010, during the District 80 Evaluation Contest, I wielded my weapon of alliterative triads and walked away with the champion trophy.  That was my OMG!

Who would have imagined that this once reticent, diffident and bashful girl would become a District 80 Evaluation Champion one day? Not only have I stretched myself beyond what I imagined possible, winning the contest has also opened doors for me. I have been invited by two trainers to join their organisation.  

In conclusion, if you have a chance to take part in a contest, go for it! It can help you discover your talent, open doors of opportunities and even change your life.  Go grab your OMG!

                  x                     x                     x                       x                     

Points for improvement by Lim Seh Leng:

(1) use ONLY material from sources other than your own personal experience as stated in the first objective.

(2) avoid distracting hand-gestures such as finger-pointing and moving the hand up and down

(3) dramatize the speech further for greater impact and more entertainment value

Voted BEST SPEAKER for the evening! 

AP1 The Entertaining Speech from The Entertaining Speaker Manual

Just as I was racking my brains over this project, a friend suggested that I use my PA contest speech for it (http://odysseydiscovery.blogspot.com/2010/10/pa-humorous-speech-contest-2010.html).  Perfect! So after rehearsing the speech a few times, I was ready to go. I had re-titled it "Happily Ever After"

Objectives:
(1) Entertain the audience by relating a personal experience.
(2) Organize an entertaining speech for maximum impact.
Time:  5 - 7 minutes

Unfortunately, the audience at NUS Alumni consisted mostly of young, single people and few could relate to my experiences about marriage.  Absolutely no one laughed at the jokes or funny anecdotes, unlike the audience at the PA contest.  It was quite terrifying and disheartening, like a stand-up comedian facing a silent audience.

My evaluator and mentor Wee Meng suggested gauging the audience needs and learning to change the angle of the speech to engage the audience so they can identify with the speech material better.