SAMPLE CONTEST SCRIPT

- Area governor brings the agendas. Contestants arrive, complete eligibility forms and bios. The bios go to the interviewer.
- The area governor reviews the topics question with the topics master. It's a good idea for the topics master to bring 3 questions; sometimes it's necessary to use a backup question.
- Contest chair presides as contestants draw for order.
- Chief judge gives ballots to judges, and briefs contestants and judges.
- Chief judge tells the ballot counter who the tie breaking judge is.
- At contest time, area governor leads pledge if she wants, welcomes everyone, introduces contest chair, if different person.
- Contest chair introduces Chief judge, who reads the rules, returns control to chair.
- Chair announces the speaking order. At this point, contestants not present are disqualified.
- Chair introduces topics master, if different person.
- Sergeant at arms escorts topics contestants 2 through N to the rea dy room, out of ear shot.
- Topics master says "Contestant 1, (name of contestant)". Contestant 1 comes to lectern. Audience  applauds. Topic master says the name again, reads the question twice, says the name again, and sits down nearby.
- Contestant 1 has between 1 minute and 2½ minutes to respond. Timer raises a green at 1, yellow at 1½, red at 2, which stays up until the end of the response.
- At end of the response, topics master goes back to lectern, shakes hands with contestant, contestant sits down. Topics master says "One minute of silence for the judges to score. Timer, please give me a green at one minute. Sergeant at arms, please admit the next contestant." When the minute is up, topics master says "Time. Does any judge need more time?" Wait until all the judges have scored.
- Topics master says "Contestant 2, (name of contestant)". Contestant 2 comes to lectern. Audience applauds. Topic master says the name again, reads the question twice, says the name again, and sits down nearby.
- Contestant 2 has between 1 minute and 2½ minutes to respond. Timer raises a green at 1, yellow at 1½, red at 2, which stays up until the end of the response.
- At end of the response, topics master goes back to lectern, shakes hands with contestant, contestant sits down. Topics master says "One minute of silence for the judges to score. Timer, please give me a green at one minute. Sergeant at arms, please admit the next contestant." When the minute is up, topics master says "Time. Does any judge need more time?" Wait until all the judges have scored.
- Topics master says "Contestant 3, (name of contestant)". Contestant 3 comes to lectern. Audience applauds. Topic master says the name again, reads the question twice, says the name again, and sits down nearby.
- and so on, until all contestants have responded. Topics master says "Two minutes of silence for the judges to score. Timer, please give me a green at two minutes. Judges, p lease remember to sign your ballots, rip off the coupon at the bottom of the ballot, hold up your ballot when you're ready. Ballot counter, please collect the ballots."
- When the ballot counter has all the ballots, the topics master returns control to the contest chair, who announces a brief bathroom break. Chief judge and counter go to the ready room to tally up. Contest chair calls humorous speech contestants to the lectern to draw for order.
- The area governor asks everyone to reconvene, introduces humorous speech contest chair, if a different person. Contest chair introduces Chief judge, who reads the rules, returns control to the contest chair.
- Chair announces the speaking order. At this point, contestants not present are disqualified.
- Contest chair introduces the first contestant by saying the contestant's name, speech title, speech title, name, shakes hands, and sits down.
- Contestant 1 has between 4½ minutes and 7½ minutes to speak. Timer raises a green at 5, yellow at 6, red at 7, which stays up until the end of the speech.
- At end of the speech, contest chair goes back to lectern, shakes hands with contestant, contestant sits down. Chair says "One minute of silence for the judges to score. Timer, please give me a green at one minute." When the minute is up, chair says "Time. Does any judge need more time?" Wait until all the judges have scored.
- and so on, until all contestants have delivered their speeches. Chair says "Two minutes of silence for the judges to score. Timer, please give me a green at two minutes. Judges, please remember to sign your ballots, rip off the coupon at the bottom of the ballot, hold up your ballot when you're ready. Ballot counter, please collect the ballots."
- When the ballot counter has all the ballots, the counter and Chief judge go outside to tally. The contest chair introduces the interviewer, if different. The interviewer asks each contestant which club they represent, how l ong they've been in toastmasters, and one or two questions from their bio. The interviewer gives contestants certificates of participation. The counter gives the results to the area governor. The interviewer returns control to the area governor. The area governor asks the division governor to announce when and where the division b contests and district conference will be. The area governor reminds clubs to file their semi-annual renewals, and makes other announcements, if any. The area governor compliments all the contestants, and thanks the judges, Sergeant at arms, counter, timer, topics master, Chief judge, and host club. The area governor announces results and awards trophies. We adjourn and clean up.