Platform Guidelines

GENERAL GUIDELINES

Students appearing in any platform events should observe these important points, as they will enter into the judging process. Carelessness on these points could detract from an otherwise excellent presentation.

APPEARANCE

Dignity and good grooming should be apparent. Clothing should be clean and neatly pressed. Uniformity of dress is recommended for groups but not required. School uniforms are usually proper.

BOYS: dress pants and button shirt (tucked in), and tie should be worn. Jackets are encouraged but not required. No white socks, blue jeans or running shoes are allowed.
GIRLS: appropriate attire would be a nice dress of the proper length (below the knee); dress shoes are required. Running shoes are not allowed.

POISE / SELF-CONFIDENCE

Approach - the approach is one of the most important elements of speaking, public recitation or singing. The participant should walk, confidently and briskly, to the podium or the front of the audience. They should establish good eye contact, pause for 5-10 seconds, and begin their presentation.

Eye Contact – the student should establish a rapport with the audience with good eye contact. They should avoid looking down often at their notes or Bible, at the ceiling, or out of the window. Eyes should move up and down, back and forth over the entire audience, slowly and naturally.

Posture / Gestures – the rule for posture is DO NOT SLOUCH! The student should stand straight, but not lock-kneed. Gestures should be free and flow naturally from enthusiasm.

Natural movements are more effective then forced gestures.

Delivery – the speaker should project his voice, using the diaphragm. Recreate the mood, experience, emotion and feelings of the author. Employ voice variations and tempo.

PREPARATION

Preparation and study are prerequisites for all speaking, reading or musical performances. Research, organization, outline, and familiarity are the elements of preparation. Students will receive poor marks from the Judges if they are not properly prepared.

PLATFORM PRESENTATION

Introduction of entry before the Judges: students in platform presentations are to give their first and last names and title of their presentation (My name is John Doe and I will be reciting...). For entries involving more than one person, a spokesman should be selected. ‘

The introduction is not counted as time against the presentation.

All selections and scripts must be memorized. Preachers do not need to memorize their message and may use paper or notebooks.

Material should be carefully chosen or written for Platform Events to ensure that evil characters are not glorified and that the student rehearsing (or the listener) would not be forced to dwell on negative or harmful thoughts or idea.

Please note: all authors / writers for all Platform Event scripts must be given proper credit.

Hints from Public Speaking Judges:

In public speaking, the key word is CONVINCING! Whether you present a dramatic monologue or a recitation, your task is to convince the listener that these are your words, your thoughts, and your feelings. If you are portraying a specific character, you should make the audience believe you really are that person.

Many factors contribute to a convincing performance: gestures, posture, voice inflection, and emotion. Match each carefully to your script and character.

Perhaps the most frequent comments from Judge’s deal with “emotion.” Emotion should be carefully balanced. If you portray too little emotion, your performance will appear bland and colourless. If you portray too much emotion, you will appear harsh, phony, and overbearing. Also, be careful that your emotion does not detract from clear, crisp, easily understood diction.

The key – preparation and practice! Practice in front of a mirror and use every opportunity to perform before others.

Checklist for all Platform Events:

Two copies of outline, script, speech, sermon, or story must be brought to Convention. All copies are to be typed and double-spaced, with the student’s name and the school name, address, phone number, and contact sponsor clearly visible on the front of each copy.
Two Judge’s Forms, properly filled out, are required.