After-Dinner Speaking

After-Dinner Speaking (ADS) is an individual speech event in which a student aims to entertain an audience about a worldly issue. The speech is meant to be original with an underlying sense of seriousness but aims to make the audience laugh. Traditionally, formal dinners have included speeches which 'toast' something or someone. In essence, the speech is a toast. The speaker wants to make an impression on their audience. ADS is shorter, no more than six minutes in length, and should be entirely memorized. Physical costumes or props aren't allowed. The speaker introduces the piece before performing it, focusing on delivering with vocal inflection, facial expression, gestures, and movement to enhance their interpretation and the overall mood of their speech. The delicate balance of seriousness, humor, and influence in this speech requires careful planning, organization, and practice. See the above PDFs for the event rules as well as a sample ballot a judge uses to evaluate a round. View the below videos for performance examples.