Toastmasters, Beverley Hepting and Steve Graham from Casterbridge Speakers, a club based in Dorchester, both came third in the UK South District speaking contests that they entered. Coming third in the finals is no mean feat. With almost 700 Toastmaster members in UK South, they have won the club, the area and the divisional Humorous Speech and Table Topics contests before the finals in Gatwick.
Beverley Hepting, a professional speaking coach is a regular entry to the contests and often visits other clubs in the area to practice. She offers five top toastmasters tips to help you build a humorous speech.
- Find the humour in daily life and regale it in stories
- Know your audience, incorporate jokes what will make them chuckle
- A speech is a speech with a beginning, middle and end; not a stand up comedy session
- Use props to punctuate and support the story
- Don’t step over the laughter, pause to give your audience the time to get the joke.
Fellow club member, Steve Graham competed in the Table Topics Contest, where contestants are asked to present a 1-2 minute mini speech on a subject chosen by the Contest Chair. Steve has been a member of Toastmasters International for over ten years. He shares his reasons for Toastmasters stickiness.
“Whatever you want to achieve in life, you need a certain level of confidence. If you rely solely on your own measure of ability you are likely to be wrong about what you believe you can achieve. More importantly, what skills you already have. Toastmasters gives us the opportunity to silence the doubts and encourages us to fully embrace our true potential.”
Toastmasters International is a global network of almost 16.5k clubs in 141 countries. The clubs provide a supportive and positive learning experience in which members are empowered to develop communication and leadership skills. The result is greater self-confidence and personal growth.
Salisbury Speakers meets on the first and third Mondays of the month at St George’s Church Hall, Harnham Salisbury.
For more information about all clubs in the area please visit the Dorset & SouthWilts Speakers Facebook Page or contact Laura McHarrie the Area Public Relations Officer on 07962 626604