Have you ever encountered one of those moments when you thought something was really, really funny, and when you shared the joke, nobody laughed… but yourself?
Malaysians call this embarrassing phenomenon “syok sendiri”.
Last Saturday, at the Area B4 Toastmasters Humorous Speech Contest, I administered a painful and concentrated 5.5 minute dose of it on myself. And being the previous year’s Division Champion (one level higher than the Area Level), this is NOT a good thing. In fact, it’s downright humiliating.
For non-Toastmasters, this is how a Toastmasters Humorous Speech Contest works.
You start at the Club level. When you win, you move on to Area. Win that, you go to Division. Clinch that, you go to District.
In a nutshell…
Club > Area > Division > District
Actually I already had a speech prepared for the Area contest. In fact, I used it to win at the Club level. But I didn’t think it was good enough for the Area level, so trying to be smart, I changed it at the very last minute.
With less than 12 hours before the contest, I wrote about the virtues of doing last-minute work, thinking others would find it as funny as I did.
While writing my speech, I laughed so hard at my own jokes, my belly ached. There was even a moment while I was drinking water, I thought of a joke which I felt was so funny, I almost baptized my computer screen with my unholy spurt.
I tweaked, and tweaked, and tweaked my speech leaving less that 1 hour for me to rehearse. It’s a guaranteed recipe for disaster, and strike it did. Relentlessly.
During the competition, I opened with my first line of funny…
Ahhh… It’s competition time again. It’s a special time. I feel the adrenalin rush. I feel the stress. I feel the tension. Sometimes I get sleepless nights. Why? Because of the special way I write my speeches… last minute.
… and nobody laughed.
Okay… Maybe they need some warming up. They’ll laugh at my next joke:
I have been chastised, “Why do you always do things at the last minute?” I used to give reasons like, “I’m busy”, “no time”, etc. etc. etc. But now, I realize it’s really because… I am efficient!
… Nothing but blinks and stares. I heard someone donated a pity-laugh.
What’s going on?! [Sweats]
Ok ok… Maybe my next joke would be more successful…
It’s simple logic. When you have lots of time to finish your work, you can’t say you’re efficient. When someone prefers to have lots of time to finish their work, you know what it’s called?… It’s called lazy!
NOTHING! That was when I panicked and the worst thing that can happen to a speaker happened to me. My mind went blank, and I forgot my speech.
Crap…
Reached into my pocket for my lifeline – a folded piece of paper – my speech. I unfolded it, took a quick glace, regained composure, and tried to continue as if nothing happened.
Nobody was fooled though. Everything went downhill from there.
Now when you’re efficient, you’ll find you have lots of time to do other things. And it becomes a problem when you don’t know what to do with all that time. That’s why Microsoft invented a solution for such a problem. It’s called Solitaire.
It’s a game installed on almost every computer. Even at work. Now we know why! To improve efficiency.
Every joke was welcomed by more blinks and stares.
Drat, drat and double drat! I’m doomed…
I wished the ground would be my saviour and just swallow me up. Or the ceiling would collapse on me. Or the room would catch fire. Just something to take their attention away from me.
So there you have it. Even a “champion speaker” can have embarrassing moments borne of utter stupidity and hubris. Thinking I was smart enough, I exposed my dumbness, and wrecked my chance at a free trip to BALI.
Sigh… Lesson learned, albeit painfully.
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
Yes yes! I’m familiar with the – what was it? Syoking Sendiri – syndrome! Wahahaa!
Have you tried vetting your speech with someone?
I did run it by my sister.
She laughed, but I think it was because of how silly I was laughing at my own jokes rather than the actual funniness of my jokes. She mentioned she didn’t get my sense of humour, which was a red-hot warning signal, but I thought I’d take the risk and ignore it anyway.
My bad. Should have listened.
Eu, my opinion on this is that: They ain’t ready for you, bro!
Just pat yourself on your shoulder, you’ve done your best!
These guys usually turn up to speeches worrying about rents, bills, expenses and stuffs!
Eh? I thought you joined a Humorous Speech contest? Those guys who were there to evaluate humour obviously were too serious for that job! Cheer up Eugeney! (>__<)”(^__^)”
Thanks for the words of encouragement
But frankly, I didn’t do that well. I really made a wrong move changing stuff at the last minute. Should have stuck with my original speech, which quite a few people commented was better.
It’s okay. There’s another contest next year.
Hey! Bro,
I can understand how you feel when your humour doesn’t work. I’ve been through the same experience. You are still a winner because it’s the stage time that counts for a speaker. You did very well in your earlier speech “a stronger pair”. I enjoyed your speech.
I went blank in my division contest last year. I panicked when my stories fail to tickle the audiences’ funny bone. This year I managed to be the Club champion and counting my days for area contest on the 12th Oct. I hope I can do the best in this contest.
So cheer up… man. You had the courage to participate in the contest, thats the most important thing. All the best in your future contests.
Regards
J.Kannan CC
Johor Bahru Toastmasters Club
Somehow, I think it came across as a bit sarcastic…I didn’t really laugh either except at the part where Solitaire is for improving efficiency. But since I only read your excerpts, can’t really judge. Think it also comes across as conceited, i.e. “my speeches are good even though I don’t spend much time on them, and I’m really really efficient! And you who spent so much time on your speeches… you’re inefficient.” That’s what I ‘heard’ lah.
Think the idea was good, but the approach could be less ‘arrogant’. I think lah. Should have used a different example instead of your speech, I think. Now I know, get them at the start and that’s half the battle won d.