Table topics - what are they and why are they so named? Reading and choosing topics in contests

Glossary
Table Topics - are impromptu speeches on a subject written on a piece of paper.

Contest Topics
In a contest the topics are usually selected at random from several concealed inside a sealed envelope.

In some clubs in England I have seen the topic chosen at the last minute by a visiting VIP, related by phone to somebody who types it out, such as the Sergeant At Arms. In other situations it could be the Area Governor, (maybe this was because we/they discovered at the last minute that nobody had brought the topic, so sometimes it is even written out by hand.

Picking out the topic
In a contest to promote the appearance of fairness where there are several topics the folded piece of paper with the topic written inside may be picked out of the envelope by a visiting VIP. Alternatively it is selected by somebody not competing in the contest such as the Chief Judge?

Reading out the Topic
The topic is read out to the first contestant (who is in the room). The topic is read out by the table topics master or in a contest by the contest chair (person), named table topics because in the early days and occasionally still today the topics written on slips of paper are placed face down on a table.

Where Does The Contestant Stand?
In a recent contest the first contestant was in his seat in the front or second row and the contest chairperson was about to read out the topic. Somebody in the audience called out that the contestant should move to stand at the edge of the stage. (Therefore he would not have the advantage of the extra minute taken to step forward but would be seen to be treated fairly and equally with other contestants brought in to stand just inside the door at the edge of the stage.)

I have been a judge in several contests and in the audience at several more.

Angela Lansbury, BA Hons, CL, ACG speaker.

CL = Competent Leader
ACG = Advanced Communicator Gold