As the Table Topic Master (or “TopicsMaster”), you take charge of one of the most dynamic parts of the meeting. Your role involves preparing impromptu speaking topics and encouraging people to speak up. By creating an engaging and supportive environment, you encourage participants to think on their feet and develop their communication skills.

<aside> 💡 Table Topics® is a long-standing Toastmasters tradition intended to help members develop their ability to organize their thoughts quickly and respond to an impromptu question or topic.

• Table Topics begin after the prepared speeches.
• The Toastmaster of the Day introduces the Topics Master, who gives a brief description of Table Topics.
• Table Topics are designated for short (1:00-2:30) unprepared improvised speeches, with extra 30 seconds for preparation.
• Each table topic response should express respondent’s thoughts clearly and succinctly, as in a mini-speech (with opening, body and closing). </aside>

Guidelines:

Prior to the meeting

• Confirm any scheduled meeting theme with EasySpeak or directly the Toastmaster of the meeting. If one has been selected, choose 5-7 topics that coordinate well with that theme.
• Avoid repeating topics from recent meetings.

During the meeting

• When introduced, state the purpose of the Table Topics session (practicing improvisation, quick thinking).
• Highlight that guests are also welcome to participate in the session.
• For the benefit of the guests, explain how it works: volunteers are only given the theme once on the stage, then they have up to 30s to think about it, and subsequently they have up to 2:30s for the speech. At 1min, the timekeeper will signal green color, at 1:30 amber and at 2:00 red, at 2:30 they will hear the sound of the gavel signalling overtime.
• First, give chance to the club members to come on the stage. If no one is volunteering, pick them (but avoid the Table Topic Evaluator). Then, expand the opportunity to the guests.
• Have a person choose a question. Your method might be numbers, or pulling a slip of paper (in that case, make sure the text is easy to read). Some Table Topic masters are very creative, for example bring tarot cards to choose from etc. However, creativity should have boundaries in a sense not to make the task way too difficult for the speaker.
• Ask person to read the topic twice. Alternatively, you can read the questions out yourself, without giving a choice. It is a less frequent and not so common method, but also valid.
• Write the name of each speaker on the board (if the club does QR-code voting, this is optional).
• Once the speaker starts their speech, make sure to be seated during their presentation.
• Consult with the Toastmaster about how many table topic speeches does the agenda allow. Do NOT check this with the Timekeeper.
• Table Topic Master usually lets volunteers come on stage. A less typical method is for the Table Topic Master to choose specific people to come on stage. It is not that common, but it is not an invalid choice. If you decide to choose people, always start with a member, and do not forget to choose guests. Some might be too shy to come to stage, and that is why this method is not frequently used.