#impromptu speaking

hey, impromptu kids, and also extempers maybe, but mostly impromptu kids. we are currently in the middle of the state series here and I imagine elsewhere it’s soon approaching. im gonna talk to y'all about canning.

canning is going into a limited prep event with a speech memorized word for word. it is also constituted, depending on what exactly it is you do, of using the same exact examples in the same order. anti-card culture and high pressure has normalized canning, but it’s extremely unethical and rude. sometimes it goes unnoticed, but if one stays for both rounds, it can get real pissy real quick. it’s limited prep, gosh darn it! however, it’s hard to not be scared that others think you’re canning. here’s what canning is and is not.

canning is:

memorizing examples word for word

preparing speeches in advance that you can pull from your brain, example by example

using an old card (DON’T DO VERY ILLEGAL. i don’t know how you wouldn’t get caught but let’s cover all of our bases)

canning is NOT:

practicing your examples - please do! it’s beneficial to have smooth cohesive ideas in your mind and to relate it to stuff, just don’t script it

using an example more than once - it happens. try to avoid it, but if you feel it fits your prompt, go ahead!

thinking of a few jokes you can relate to your example. again, it’s the scripting.

being good at what you do. someone will accuse someone of canning just because they thought it was too good to be true. and trust me, that hurts. it’s demeaning and makes it feel like all of your hard work is brushed to the side. no matter what you want to believe, yes, there are some awesome high school limited prep kids out there. if you don’t have proof, don’t accuse of canning.

im sad to say that last year at state i saw a lot of canning - in the state winner, too. know that the timers are watching you. i had to time both rounds and it sucked to see speakers I liked repeat their examples word for word. i think that in my circuit we’re starting to see a reduction in that because people are a little less afraid to use their cards. if you can go off card, feel free - but the pressure to be off card only encourages canning.

“so, what can i do to reduce canning?”

keep up with examples. it’s hard work, but it’s part of the event. try to find as many as you could need for the weekend at hand; and if that’s too many, try three a week. my typical tournament would have 2 prelims and a final. AGD + 3 examples = 4. 4 x 3 = 12. sometimes that’s too much for me but it’s good to keep in mind. this way, you have a wide variety to choose from.

study your examples. don’t script and memorize, but get familiar with them so you don’t find yourself turning to the same stuff.

talk to your coach or other impromptu speakers about card method. it’s better to be on card and good then off card and bad. however, if you feel you can pull it off, then talk about ways you can go off card instead of feeling like the only way to do so is to memorize.

call out others on it. no, don’t make a tumblr post about it, and don’t be rude, but it’s important that we don’t normalize it. if you see someone canning, ask them what happened. was it a fluke? panic? or if not, talk with them about why they chose to can. make sure to let them know that that’s uncool. you don’t need to do anything big, just don’t embolden those who are not following the criteria of the event.

know the judges have no legitimate way of knowing someone has canned; if someone is good, they’re good. if a judge who has never seen you before says you’ve canned, if you’re not willing to complain to tab, talk to your coach about it. don’t get mad at a judge for choosing a competitor who canned. it’s best to operate under the impression that no one is canning - as I said before, just because someone is good, doesn’t mean they’re canning. don’t make that accusation without substance.