It’s a Sunday morning, and you’re watching a major national final round. The first speaker comes out with a question on natural disasters: “let’s give 5 big booms to the victims of flooding in Malaysia!” The crowd shifts in uncomfortable laughter. For an event that relies overwhelmingly on humor for entertainment value, something about that AGD feels… wrong.
Unfortunately, this story is based on real events. It did not go well for the speaker. Ultimately, not even perfect content and delivery can save a tone-deaf speech. In this article, we’ll dive into what you need to stay pitch perfect. (A disclaimer: this article will not explain the basic tones of extemp, but instead how to decide when to rely on which ones; you can learn more about the different voices of extemp here).
What does tonal variation in extemp look like?
The “tone” of an extemp speech goes far beyond the delivery pitch of your voice. It’s the overarching feeling your audience walks away with at the end of your speech. Without a clear tone, you risk losing the emotional impact that separates a great speech from an average one.
Generally, the tone of a speech will fall under the umbrella of either funny or serious, depending on the subject matter. However, as speakers become more advanced, there are further subvariations; some of the best advocative speeches are markedly angry rather than sad, and funny speeches about great power diplomacy can benefit from a court-jester approach. Successful use of tone in speech often looks like a secondary, implied thesis that tells your audience not only what to think but how to feel about it. For example, a speech on the Russian invasion of Ukraine might carry the tonal thesis of “it’s funny that Vladimir Putin’s ego is so big, but we should be worried about the lives in danger.” While the tone of a speech is most immediately clear in the introduction and transitions, it also presents itself in word choice and expression throughout the speech.
Why does tone in extemp matter?
A commitment to tone makes a good speech great. But tone is most important (and dangerous) when done badly. Nothing kills a speech like a discordant tone. So how do you avoid it?
It starts with understanding the right tone to pick. Generally speaking, it’s easier for novice extempers to pull off funny extemp than serious extemp, so the impulse to make all speeches funny is common. At the same time, the first rule of comedy is to always punch up. That is, it’s important that your jokes are targeted at those in power rather than disadvantaged groups. When speeches start punching down for a quick laugh, the audience and the judges quickly become uncomfortable.
At the same time, serious extemp can feel just as out of place. The world is dark enough as it is, and inflating impacts for emotional value can feel forced. For example, a judge walks into a speech on the Ohio senate race not expecting a story on the family in Ohio who can’t afford groceries. Your judge knows groceries are expensive. The solution is to do a little bit of therapy in the beginning of prep. How does the question make you feel? Trust your gut; you’re just as human as the judge. A serious speech kept serious is always better than a serious speech contorted into a funny one. Ultimately, the best speeches know when to laugh and when to cry. The clearest path to the 1 is to master them both.