What makes a winning speech… and a winning speaker?

The PSASA's annual Speaker Factor Competition is an excellent opportunity to find out.

The Speaker Factor Competition is the PSASA's platform for new and emerging speakers to hone their speaking skills, make their mark and emerge as a winning speaker.

(Yes, although there is only one trophy, any speaker who can take on this demanding challenge is clearly winning already.)

The good news is, you can experience it, wherever you are, in our next Virtual Chapter meeting where contestants will compete in the regional round. We will also host the Virtual Chapter's AGM in this meeting, so it is a key meeting for our members.

First, here's what you need to know about the Speaker Factor Competition:

The competition rules bind contestants to gruelling rules:

• Speakers have only 5 minutes to deliver their talk.
• Speakers may not use any slides or visual aids, including special outfits, objects, or virtual backgrounds.
• Regional winners must deliver the same speech in the Semi-final and Final as they gave in the Chapter competition.
• Presentations should focus on what the speaker's key topic of speaking is and what they can offer to a prospective client with some form of call to action.

The judges will look for overall quality of the presentation, judging the entrants on four main criteria:

• Stagecraft / Screencraft (20%) – how well the speaker uses the platform and stage or screen area
• Script (20%) – how well the talk was scripted, constructed, and worded
• Delivery (20%) – how well the speaker delivered the talk, including vocal performance and body language and audience interaction
• Bookability (40%) – is the speaker likely to be booked, is their talk likely to be paid for based on their topic, call to action and relevance to the proposed audience? The 'bookability' of a speech is defined as being something their intended market would pay for, not as a preference of the Judge.

This gripping event is the ideal opportunity to support and learn from our Virtual Chapter Speaker Factor contestants.

Next, this is why you will benefit from attending the AGM in this vital session:

The Virtual Chapter AGM (Annual General Meeting) is where Chapter members can have their say in the future of the Chapter, specifically by electing the next Chapter President. Chapter leadership plays a significant part in your experience as a member. This is your opportunity to have your say, so do join us to make your voice count!

Register right away to share in PSASA history in the making… and up your Speaker Factor along the way.