very superstitious

[popper2014]

anyone have any odd or peculiar superstitions before going to a speech tournament?

I know my friends and I have a few...

[justine]

Ha ha, yes. I have quite possibly the WEIRDEST superstition. It's actually a good luck charm. I have this burgandy tassel (yes, a tassel) that I bring around with me in my bag for tournaments. There's really no reason why, but it's my lucky tassel.

[Cinderella]

In high school, if I made it to semis I'd never allow myself to be there for the posting of finals. It somehow really did work out that every time I was in the bathroom or someplace for finals postings I made it, but if I was ever in the room for postings I'd drop.

I also used to have a couple of lucky objects, but my bag started getting really heavy from all the random trinkets :)

I don't think I have anything like that anymore.

[Aelfric5578]

It never really brought me any more or less luck, but I used to superstitiously keep several things in my binder.

You know when you draw for order and the judge writes down numbers on little strips of paper, well I kept all the ones that the judges didn't ask for in the back pocket of the binder. And all my intros from my fours years lived in the front pocket.

Also, the sheet protectors contained my entire Prose/Poetry career, that is four years worth of cuttings of every prose and poetry I'd ever done (including multiple cuttings of some). I've never actually counted, but I think this amounts to something like 11 sheets of paper per sheet protector. It was very embarrassing when at one tournament right as I closed my binder at the end of a performance, a third of the pages in my binder fell out. (I doubt it, but I wonder if anyone noticed that there were way too many pages on the floor, considering I only had 7 protector sheets in the binder.)

[Meho]

i have a lucky timer :D

[Meho]

heh, just thought about this, but i usually wear the same suit as well.

8)

[ssuhag]

I have a lucky...feeling. I don't know if that's weird or not, but I have one and I know if I feel a certain way then I am going to do really well and if I don't feel "IT" then I am not.

I don't think it's like confidence or ambition or anything I can place. It's not nervousness or peace either...it's a feeling I cannot describe and it's lucky whatever it is!

[Abbey7]

1. My intro in my Oratory has to do with Brownies (the Girlscouts, not the food) We were cleaning out our garage this year and I found my old Brownie Sash- my troop number happened to be 2006... the year I wrote the speech. Eerie? Yes. Good luck? Oh yes. It lives in my messenger bag.

2. My friend Luke Fernandez calls me Panda Bear. I don't know why, he just does. And before the UT tournament we gave eachother presents, and his gift to me was a plastic figurine of a panda. I rub its head for good luck in semis and kiss it for good luck in finals. It was really crazy when I saw another competitor at a tournament have a plastic monkey, just like my panda...

3. I dance to 90s rap music before Oratory finals with Churchill girls that are more pimp than I am. I know OO- Get Low. Don't hate- Orate...

4. I always say this little prayer in my head that I memorized after hearing that they pray it at the St. Judes hospital. It goes:
God, I need you.
Carry me when I'm weak.
Hold me when I'm tired.
Love me when I cannot care anymore.
And when I huddle, lonely and afraid,
Cover me with your strong protective hands
Guard my sleep, and wake me in the morning,
Rested and strong
And ready to try again.
Yes, I know it is a good night poem, but I don't care. Sometimes I say a bible verse right before I go into my character.

5. Secret handshakes at UIL districts. We'd do our thing and say the word "Activate." Activate what you might ask? Everything. Everything we got.

Yay. Good topic. I type too much. The end.

[tysoncoy_pwnduo]

[quote="ssuhag"]I have a lucky...feeling. I don't know if that's weird or not, but I have one and I know if I feel a certain way then I am going to do really well and if I don't feel "IT" then I am not. quote]

i totally concur.

[theatrix04]

anyone have any odd or peculiar superstitions before going to a speech tournament?

I know my friends and I have a few...

This is interesting and no one has posted in it for quite some time....

anyone have any other ones to add....



I always wear a guaridan angel pin.....always

[Broskis09]

i don't take my small little backpack off until rounds.

[mooseontheloose]

I always have to drink exactly half a bottle of water between rounds.

This generally leads to the superstition of using the bathroom between every other round as well.

[Cinderella]

This generally leads to the superstition of using the bathroom between every other round as well.

Haha! But that's probably less of a superstition than a necessity :)

[Josiahzacks]

it's been a while, but I used to try my best not to be the first person in the room before a round. Not sure why.


Most of my superstitions or habbits are based in practicality:

-Coffee is good, but only in a brief and concentrated dose (ie espresso). Too much caffine over too long a time can dry out the throat, as can soda.

-No pizza for lunch. Always the chance to mess up the suit or upset the stomach. Stick with a bananna (also sucks up the acid from the coffee). AFTER you've finished your last round of the day, eat whatever you want.

-Drink lots of water to keep the voice in shape (although this does mean knowing where the bathroom is at all times).

-Be professional as possible at all times. Introduce yourself to competitors you don't know; be friendly but not overbearing. Be the kind of competitor you wish your opponents to be.

-Warm up in the morning. Vocally, physically, mentally.



I guess I've used the same nalgene bottle since forever, but that's more a factor of me not wanting to waste money on water bottles.

[torn]

some guy on my team used to eat his improv topics after rounds if the judge didn't collect them. I always thought he was crazy.

As luck would have it, he became state champion lol.

I find myself doing the same now

[Steve Perry]

I have a few little superstitions that I always seem to abide by. First and foremost, I refuse to wear my red shirt anymore. Each time I wore it things don't go my way. The last time I wore it I accidentally took the wrong medicine before I left for the tournament, and ended up hallucinating during the tournament (I still managed a 1-3-2).

In the mornings I always drink a mouthful of water, followed by a shot of cranberry juice, and then I take another dose of water. After that I have a smoke in the car on the way there to calm nerves. This odd combination puts my voice in great shape; I have no idea why.

[Ryan]

After that I have a smoke in the car on the way there to calm nerves. This odd combination puts my voice in great shape; I have no idea why.
If were to go to a college forensics tournament, you'd find a very large number of competitors smoking outside. While I'm not advocating smoking at all, cigarettes do have the forensics-related benefits of calming your nerves and drying out your throat of excess phlegm.

[RiseAboveReality]

I wear a friendship necklace a few forensicators and I got at last year's state tournament. They're a pair of handcuffs.


Yeah, I get some comments, but hey. They've brought me luck thus far.

[GFan]

Oh man, I am SO superstitious. At tournaments where there's semis and finals, in the past, I've overanalyzed all the little actions I've made..

I came to the conclusion that if we go to the mall and I buy a shirt or something, I'll break to semifinals but then not break out.

And then .. at Myers, we didn't have time to go to the mall, so obviously I didn't buy anything -- and I broke to finals! So.. that's what I'm going to do. Sorry American Eagle and Hollister in random states, you just lost my business.. :D

[insightful]

i always listen to the same 3 songs on the way to a tournament with a buddy of mine... and my duo partner and i have a secret good luck hand shake thing... lol

[Topo]

Definitely have some!

First of all, my duo partner and I's first Novice tournament ever, he dotted the "i" in my last name with a heart. I'm a guy so it was a little out of place, but we just kept doing it.....I'm a senior now and we still do it. Even in ASU finals we did!

Also, we both always fung shway (I know that's not how its spelled but if you sound it out you'll know what I mean) the things in our pockets on the desk. I always have my phone in the middle my keys to the right with all of them pointing different ways and my wallet to the left......it's kind of weird but I've done that since my first tournament ever as well

[Steve Perry]

I have given up on my past superstitions. This past Friday night I pulled in the worst ranks I have ever received, precautions and all. It was my bad luck that I just happened to have 3 crazy (if you saw the speeches that took 1's you'd have to agree with me) judges in a row.

I'm going to Districts without any precautions. I'll be doing what I want to.

[cseg]

i have this one tie my friend tied for me and i never untie it and i always have to wear my blue shirt on the first day and i have a lucky gavel

[LightningAnkh51]

i bring my ankh and sankofah chains to every competition for luck.

(Ironically, in one round i got slammed for having on my chain while performing)

i also absoulutely need to listen to rock music before a round. Who knew Linkin Park could be so inspirational?

[Humor's Hand]

British accent for 10 minutes before round. Makes me feel smarter than my competition.

[FuturusVollus07]

when i did debate, id just beat my opponent.
worked EVERY time i did it.

[KrispyKreme]

I have a few...

I tend to listen to the same song that I identify with a particular speech (i.e. this year, my info topic was about Neanderthals and Early Humans interbreeding... so, my song was "Caveman Rejoice" from the first Guitar hero by The Bags.)

I also wear my undershirts inside-out... mostly due to the fact that I have no proper undershirts so I wear white t-shirts with stuff on them, therefore, I have to wear them inside-out... but it's become more of a superstition now.

I also don't look at postings when they drop. I turn away from postings until they are dropped.

And I also have a prayer I say... it goes something like this:
"And Shepherds we shall be for thee my Lord, for thee. Power hath descended forth from thy hand so that our feet may swiftly carry out thy command. So we shall flow a river forth to thee and teeming with souls shall it ever be. In nominee patris, et fili, et spiritus sancti."

okay, so I was kidding about the prayer... but I should probably start doing that... it'd be cool.

[nirorivers6]

debaters should say this out loud before their competion and judges in a round:

"The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides by the iniquities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men. Blessed is he, who in the name of charity and good will, shepherds the weak through the valley of darkness, for he is truly his brother's keeper and the finder of lost children. And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger those who would attempt to poison and destroy my brothers. And you will know my name is the Lord when I lay my vengeance upon thee."

[cseg]

samuel L jackson in pulp fiction is one of the best quotes ever!!! you should put that in the movie quotes thread

[johnnn]

umm for some reason i always seem to wear this shirt i have that says "how about a nice hawaiin punch" or whatever. im sure everyone has seen that shirt. i always wear it as an undershirt.

and i always feel weird like in Duo about like who writes the title on the board. like if my partner writes it round one and we do well. i like him to write it down for the rest of the tournament. if not......i feel very superstitious.

[Schadillac]

Several:

- Lucky rabbit's foot in my bag at all times (it's red :D )
- I don't eat before my first round, besides a granola bar
- I never, ever, ever, ever drink soda on the day of competition. Or wear a hat.
- I walk around the entire school before the first round.
- I think happy thoughts :)

[RiseAboveReality]

I recently started toting around my lucky squeaky ferret. It's so amusing to play with between rounds/pet during rounds.

[RayNesrym]

I think my school is goingto start laying off teh rituals a little.
This year the week before state one of our seniors was having a bad week and on Wednesday decided it was because he hadn't changed his socks, he apptly named them the bad ju-ju socks
He decided to wear them the rest of the week until State. Then during team warm-ups when we do our negative energy out thing (we all say negative enrgy out and "channel" it into some object) we were going to put all the negative energy into the socks. Thus when we left for State we had a little baggy of 100% black cottton, smelly, bad ju-ju.
However we arrived at the Tournament late and didn't have time for our warm-ups, so as we left for our rounds, my friend went over to another team's deserted table and just left the bad ju-ju socks there.
When we returned from our rounds we found some competitor was sitting at this table reading a book holding the socks in his hand! We later confronted the competitor and found out that he had actually forgotten his dress socks that day and ended up putting the socks on before one of his Discussion rounds.
Sadly only one person from our school broke Semi's
the guy wearing the bad ju-ju sock made it to finals.

[RayNesrym]

I think my school is going to start laying off the rituals a little.
This year the week before state one of our seniors was having a bad week and on Wednesday decided it was because he hadn't changed his socks, he apptly named them the bad ju-ju socks
He decided to wear them the rest of the week until State. Then during team warm-ups when we do our negative energy out thing (we all say negative enrgy out and "channel" it into some object) we were going to put all the negative energy into the socks. Thus when we left for State we had a little baggy of 100% black cottton, smelly, bad ju-ju.
However we arrived at the Tournament late and didn't have time for our warm-ups, so as we left for our rounds, my friend went over to another team's deserted table and just left the bad ju-ju socks there.
When we returned from our rounds we found some competitor was sitting at this table reading a book holding the socks in his hand! We later confronted the competitor and found out that he had actually forgotten his dress socks that day and ended up putting the socks on before one of his Discussion rounds.
Sadly only one person from our school broke Semi's
the guy wearing the bad ju-ju sock made it to finals.

[RayNesrym]

opps...my bad

[Jolt]

Several:

- Lucky rabbit's foot in my bag at all times (it's red :D )
- I don't eat before my first round, besides a granola bar
- I never, ever, ever, ever drink soda on the day of competition. Or wear a hat.
- I walk around the entire school before the first round.
- I think happy thoughts :)

Haha, I think I do that too... I never considered it a ritual though, just a way to kill time because my team always finds a way to be at least 2 hours early[/b]

[sjscott12]

I have a "Speech tournament" or a variation of named playlist on my iPod I have to listen to on tourney days.

I always go to the school's courtyard or outside area and soak in the sun, the fresh air, and peace and quiet. Basically the antithesis to congress, so I usually get that one in before the 3 hour long rounds.

In extemp, I spread my arms, look up to the ceiling of wherever draw is held, pray, and I try and 'absorb' the extemp energies. haha. I'm weird like that, but one time, I was in such a great mental state I absolutely killed the final round. I picketfenced.

I also lead a team prayer. It's not religious, because even though we do pray to god, I ask to have like the tongue of cicero and the fire of the founding fathers and passion of mlk. Yeah, stuff like that.

I also try and warm up things. Like start dancing, meet some people, talk to the other teams.

Plus, if they're selling either Nachos, Monster, or Meatballs, I have to buy them, all three if their there.

:D

[rkrboi]

some guy on my team used to eat his improv topics after rounds if the judge didn't collect them. I always thought he was crazy.

As luck would have it, he became state champion lol.

I find myself doing the same now

That's so lovin hilarious!

1. Lucky bowtie.
2. Drink tons of water, but pee before every round
3. Try 2 get to the room first
4. Pray

No, I'm not actually supersticioous, but its fun to have your own little rituals. I'll definently come up with a bunch more this year, though!

[sjscott12]

some guy on my team used to eat his improv topics after rounds if the judge didn't collect them. I always thought he was crazy.

As luck would have it, he became state champion lol.

I find myself doing the same now

so I'm NOT the only one who does that... erm...

though extemp topics give me bad heart burn, so I've cut that out.

hahaha

wow, that is thoroughly RIDICULOUS.
but strangely... well I don't know. I suppose consuming impromptu topics would help you out in some ritualistic way or another.

[rkrboi]

Oh, and the Lucky Stars!


Before every competition (not counting the debate day), our lovable coach Nobles hands out stars, which are supposed to be lucky. They glow in the dark, and one of these days, I'm gana hang them up on my fan, so it looks sweet at night!

[OO Storyteller]

I feel that if I eat before and in between prelim rounds, there is a greater chance of me not breaking to the next round.

[jaikes101]

I feel that if I eat before and in between prelim rounds, there is a greater chance of me not breaking to the next round. For some odd reason I never eat between rounds. If there's time after prelims, I'll eat...but usually I just pick at my food. I usually am so anxious I 'forget' that I'm hungry. I also always say to my friends "I don't think I'm going to break [to the next round]..." I always have to balence optamism, and negativity (not get too big of a head, or get too down). Not really superstitious just habits.

[oHIo]

I feel that if I eat before and in between prelim rounds, there is a greater chance of me not breaking to the next round. For some odd reason I never eat between rounds. If there's time after prelims, I'll eat...but usually I just pick at my food. I usually am so anxious I 'forget' that I'm hungry. I also always say to my friends "I don't think I'm going to break [to the next round]..." I always have to balence optamism, and negativity (not get too big of a head, or get too down). Not really superstitious just habits.

Okay that is my MANTRA. "I'm not gonna break." "I wanna break, that would be fun."

It works though, I break.

[sjscott12]

my goodness, I totally forgot about this. this isn't superstition, but it's become routine. I can NEVER ever say I had a good round. I don't break if I do. I usually have extreme negative thoughts about how I did, virtually after every round of every tournament I've said "I won't break." This, in turn, has given me a very poor reputation for trying to garner attention, since I usually do break even after saying that. It's sad, but true. I don't do it to be pretentious looking, it's just the way I express myself. I should probably work on that... :oops:

[OO Storyteller]

my goodness, I totally forgot about this. this isn't superstition, but it's become routine. I can NEVER ever say I had a good round. I don't break if I do.
Yeah, I don't like how that happens. Usually if I say, "I had a good round" or better, I usually do worse than if I say, "I had an okay round" or worse. So I make it a habit to force myself to say my rounds are okay or they sucked just for good karma.

[Schadillac]

"Set low expectations and you'll never be disappointed." That's how I think in terms of forensics - I shoot just to make finals at every meet, no matter how small or large, and then go from there. Even if you have the best round of your life, you still have something to prove the next round - that you can do it again. Don't ever dwell on a previous round - whether it was good or bad.

[sjscott12]

My expectation is the same going into every round. Break to the next one. I don't compete and say alright, I better break to the final round in two events! I say, I want to break to the next round, so I can continue to compete in something fun. That usually works well for me.

Occasionally, when my state of mind is in high gear and I feel sharp and on top of my game, I will say I am going to break to the final round, and win it. I'm all or nothing on that one. I've only done it twice in my history of forensics, and both times I completed my goal.

Speech is REALLY a mental game. It's just as important to be sharp of mind as it is talent. Being a long distance runner, I know how true it is to put your mind to the task at hand, running 10 miles a day will do that to you. You have to go think before every round, I can do this, It makes me happy to do this, I can be confident, I can be crip, I can be sharp... This isn't superstition, this is SCIENCE. The point I'm really focusing on, is think that it makes you HAPPY. When you do that, your body (mind) releases endorphins. That's basically body hormone-code for "happiness" or a natural high. If you create a natural high when you compete, not only do you relax, but you have fun, and you're sharper and mentally a machine. Eventually, it'll become second nature, you don't have to think it makes you happy, like an animal you get routine, but this is a GOOD routine.

food for though, try reading up on the science of the mind and how it affects performance.

[rkrboi]

Bump. ````~~~~

[MiniMills124]

I have 2 pairs of lucky boxers that I wear. If the tournament is 3 days then I stay up debating whether I should risk it and not where the first day or what to do.

I wear my school ring and my school's senior retreat necklace and when I walk up for a performance I tuck in the waffle (our school's nickname for the necklace) under my shirt, kiss the ring, and place in my left pocket.

For duo, before we go up me and my partner do our school's duo handshake handed down from the main duo team to another each year

[jaikes101]

Deep breaths.
While I sit in a round waiting to perform, I try and remind myself of two things.
1. Concentrate to make this performance better than the last one.
2. This is supposed to be fun. (I do HI, but it applys for everything) Enjoy it.

[SageShadows]

I have a habit that's really weird.
After my prelim rounds, I offer a long justifcation on why I DON'T want to break to my friends (Homework/Tired/Screw Extemp/Screw Extemp a lot). Then when some butt yells "POSTINGS!"
I rush to the place. I'm the only person in the crowd that groans if I break and cheers if I don't.



I've been groaning a lot. ._.

[shiny_happy_people]

My team has a tradition that before we leave on Fridays we always have to play at least one game of hangman.

[ndunn]

I dont really carry anything, but i do pray and breathe before a round starts. i mean i want to be as relaxed as possible so that i can go in with a clear head and not forget my piece or my blocking.

[hgarsen]

i always pray and when people ask to see my HI i always say "don't watch me until finals" so it keeps me optimistic and saying i will make it to finals, and i always do.
and then before HI finals i always drink a dr. pepper, then water so i can get really hyper and in the zone for HI.

[Broskis09]

20 minutes prior to an important round.
I drink a coke and smoke a cigarette.
Then do a quick run through of the piece.
Then go buy a water and prepare to own.

[SkeLo]

I bring a diamond cross piece, a Hulk trading card, :biggrinz:
and a key. to everyone round i go to.
and i lay them out a certain way every time. haha

[thebellmuffin]

if it's before a prelims and semis round, i usually drink a diet coke and relax a little bit.

for finals: i drink a diet coke, and listen to my iPod. usually Kanye West, or classic rock, unless I want to get into the mood for a piece. then it's usually something pertaining to what I got to finals for.

either way, diet coke is always involved.





also, i pray that people don't say mean and terrible things about my performance when i am in earshot.

[ljalba]

i carry a rubber duck a toy soldier i got at nationals my nintendo ds my ipod a bouncy ball in my pocket and take them out just before my performance...
and just recently i carry a blck bandanna

[rkrboi]

Huh... Why were my two posts removed? Weird...