2) Shoot your video in a clearly lit room with decent audio. Absolutely no video edits are allowed. No jump cuts, fade cuts, cuts of any kind, effects, or music. Raw footage of the 3-minute talk is required. Otherwise you will be disqualified. You wouldn’t tell a live audience “pause, let’s do that last section again” would you? Treat this video submission the same way: as if it was given live. You of course can practice as much as you want, but send us your best 3 minute video (again, not one second longer). 

3) Submit your video no later than 11:59 pm, pacific standard time on May 1st, 2019. 

4) Submit your video using this link: Speakoff Virtual Round Submission. 

5) How to get a link to your video:

     - 7am to 8am: Registration. 

     - 8am - 12 pm: Semifinalists get coached on your 3-minute talk by our expert Signature Talk coaches. All other VIP’s are invited 

     to observe the coaching so they can glean from the coaching as well. Everyone getting coached for this round must be in the 

     room by 8am for instructions and coaching assignments.

     - 1:30 pm - 7:00 pm: The Semifinal Judging round where you’ll present your 3 minute speech live in front of a panel of judges. If 

     you make it to the semifinal round, you will be emailed a link to schedule your time slot. If you are late for your time slot, you will 

     forfeit the competition. 

You will be in a room with judges on the right and left with the video camera in the center with lighting. The judges typically won’t look up much from writing things down. Yes, this is intimidating, but if you can make it past this round, the Finals are a piece of cake!

3) Professional Video:
Your semifinal round will be videoed as an added bonus. You will be “mic'd" in the queue area as you wait for your turn with a countryman or lavalier mic: make sure you wear something that can accommodate a battery pack and ladies, no dangling earrings that could make feedback noise for the mic. A timer will also be provided. You will receive a video copy of your preliminary round talk within 4 - 6 weeks after the event.

Feedback will be provided both verbally, by Pat Quinn immediately following your preliminary round talk, as well as in written form by the judges within 4 - 6 weeks after the event. 

5) Making the Finals: 

You will be notified on whether or not you qualified to move on to the Final Round of the Speak Off, in front of the entire conference audience and dozens of meeting planners! An email will be sent by Pat Quinn to you no later than the morning of Thursday, May 16th by 10:00 am. Ten (10) contestants will advance and they will receive 5 minutes on the main stage on Friday evening between 7 - 9 pm (MST).   

to participate in the 5-minute Final Round held Friday, May 17th in Denver, CO.