Here are some information items, reminders, etc. for the coming days and weeks.
1. Any of the interpretation events (this includes declamation; you have event info sheets now, so please consult those before you ask us if you are in an interp event or not) require a 30-second or so introduction that is prepared by you and memorized. It should let the audience know what is going on in your cutting and why its important or thematic. Make sure that the combination of your intro and the piece are still under 10 minutes but over 5. Ideally, an interp piece should be 8-10 mins in length. You are to cut your books, plays, etc. to 8-10 minutes with context, good moments, and other quality literary devices in place.
2. There will be NO PRACTICE or MEETING next week, which is your Fall Break.
3. Most interp events that are scripted require you to cut, shrink, or somehow fit your material into a 5 X 7 binder. Binders will be ordered for you as soon as your dues are paid, your piece is cut, and you are ready to practice with a binder. If you are still going off of 8x11 scripts, we will not order you a binder.
4. After fall break, we will be practicing on Wednesdays and Fridays but will be suspending Monday morning meetings until either October 12 or October 19.
5. Dues are due by Friday, October 2. If you ordered sweatpants and haven't paid your dues, your order will not be processed.
6. Piece selection should be done by Friday, October 2 as well. During Break, please cut and time your pieces and have them practice ready by the week of October 12. This is imperative as we will start practicing in earnest and you will need to memorize sooner rather than later if your event is memorized.
Finally, a word about practices and etiquette during practices. Anna and I truly love coaching and working with you and it is always a privilege to add new members to our team. We love having a place available for you all to be yourselves and feel safe in doing so. Its great that your friends enjoy hanging out and seeing what the event is all about. However, you are ultimately responsible for your success or lack thereof. And if you have friends that distract/detract from what you are trying to accomplish, you need to be able to tell them that you are trying to work.
You are ultimately responsible for your pieces, events, and attendance. If you are interested in being successful in speech, then you need to make the most of your practice time. You have to be ok with little supervision during practices, because the reality is you will have little supervision during meets on Saturdays at strange high schools not named Columbus East. And if you, for some reason, don't make it to a round, you will be disqualified and dropped from tournaments. It makes for a long day if you don't get your four rounds or eight rounds of speaking in.
Thanks, and see you tomorrow or see you later this month! Matt
