A Tall Tales Contest in Toastmasters competitions is an event where participants deliver highly exaggerated, improbable, and imaginative stories designed to entertain and amuse the audience. These contests emphasize creativity, storytelling skills, and the ability to stretch the truth while maintaining a coherent plot.
The contest is an officially sanctioned speech competition within Toastmasters International, though it is an optional contest for Districts, meaning some may hold it at their District conference while others may not. Even if a District doesn't host the event, individual clubs can still conduct their own Tall Tales Contests. The primary goal is to challenge speakers to enhance their oratorical skills by crafting narratives that are outlandish yet engaging.
Speakers are encouraged to use humor and props to support or illustrate their speeches. The stories must be original, and contestants are advised against simply copying existing fables or folk tales, though they can draw inspiration from various sources like movies or books of tall tales. A key element is the careful blend of exaggerated and credible details; not everything should be over-the-top, as some realistic elements can help hook the audience and make the fantastical parts more impactful.
Judging Criteria
Judging in a Tall Tales Contest focuses on three main areas: Content, Delivery, and Language.
- Content (30%): This evaluates how well the speaker develops their ideas and constructs the story. A good tall tale should immediately capture the audience's attention and build smoothly to a climax and conclusion. Effectiveness, or how well the speech entertains and engages the audience, is also a crucial aspect of content.
- Delivery (55%): This is the most heavily weighted category. Judges assess the speaker's use of various tall tale techniques such as exaggeration, irony, puns, humor, and surprise twists. Physical presentation, including gestures, facial expressions, and body language, should reinforce the story, while vocal variety (pitch, rate, volume) should carry the message effectively.
- Language (15%): This criterion focuses on the appropriateness and vividness of the language used. The choice of words should relate to the speech's purpose and audience, promoting clear understanding and painting a colorful picture of the exaggerated scenarios. Proper grammar and pronunciation are also considered.
Benefits and Purpose
Participating in a Tall Tales Contest offers numerous benefits for Toastmasters members. It stimulates creativity and originality, pushing speakers to think outside the box. It hones storytelling skills, which are valuable not only in public speaking but also in professional and personal communication. The contest encourages the use of vocal variety, body language, and other presentation techniques to bring the story to life. Ultimately, it helps members realize the power of their imagination and the influence of their words, testing their skills in entertainment, persuasion, and word usage. The immediate payoff often comes from the audience's reaction, such as laughter, which can be incredibly rewarding for the speaker.
Classic examples of tall tale characters include Paul Bunyan, the giant American lumberjack, and Finn MacCool, the Irish hunter-warrior. Speakers are encouraged to watch movies like Big Fish for inspiration on storytelling techniques and to practice coming up with ideas through Table Topics sessions focused on implausible events. The key is to craft a story that, while clearly exaggerated, might leave the audience wondering, "Did that really happen?"
