Everything you need to know about ...
The Toastmasters Tall Tales Contest is a fun and imaginative event where participants deliver exaggerated, humorous, or outlandish stories.
Unlike other contests, the focus here is on storytelling, creativity, and the art of stretching the truth. The speech must be original, with elements of fantasy or improbability, often incorporating wild twists, clever embellishments, or far-fetched characters and events.
Each contestant presents a 3-5 minute speech designed to entertain and amuse the audience. While the tale can be wildly exaggerated, it should still have a structured storyline, including a clear beginning, middle, and end. The speech must also be delivered in a way that captivates the audience, making even the most absurd plot seem believable for a moment.
The Tall Tales Contest encourages members to stretch their imagination, refine their storytelling skills, and enjoy the lighter side of public speaking in a supportive, creative environment.
Judging criteria
Judging criteria include:
- Content - 30%
- Speech Development: This covers the organisation of the story. A well-crafted tall tale should have a logical progression, even if the events are exaggerated. The narrative should flow smoothly, with a creative plot that builds to a surprising or humorous climax.
- Effectiveness: This criterion measures how well the speech entertains and engages the audience. The story should evoke laughter, amusement, or surprise, holding the audience’s attention throughout.
- Delivery - 55%
- Judges assess the speaker’s vocal variety, gestures, facial expressions, and overall energy. The delivery should enhance the humour and absurdity of the story, helping to bring the tall tale to life.
- Language - 15%
- The use of vivid, descriptive, and creative language is key. The words chosen should help paint a colourful picture of the exaggerated scenarios, making the tale more enjoyable and memorable.
Timing
Contents are to speak between three to five minutes.
Contestants will be disqualified if the Tall Tales speech is less than 2 minutes 30 seconds or longer than 5 minutes 30 seconds