When your boss or friends ask you to be the master of ceremony at any event like award functions, seminar, concert, wedding, conference or product launch, a strange new fear will start daunting you if you have never done this before. Even if you have spoken at public events, being an emcee is miles apart. While most people may fail under pressure, we have tips to help you in becoming the most engaging Emcee.
- What is your role
Remember that your role is not solely to declare the announcements on a mike. You are there to engage the audience and keep them informed on every aspect of the event. To emerge as a great master of ceremonies, you need to first understand what is expected out of you during the event. The roles of an emcee can be variable depending on the event’s nature. As we have discussed already an emcee must keep the audience engaged and keep their energies high. The audience must never feel bored or unwelcomed.
A successful emcee helps the speakers and the sponsors feel proud of getting involved with the event. Being a master of ceremonies does not make you a star of the event, you must always keep in mind that you are there only to maintain the flow of the event and celebrate the winners or the sponsors. If any problem arises during the event, an emcee covers it up without letting the audience know and cooperates completely with the hosts and the sponsors to make the event a success.
- Prepare the launch
No show is interesting if it suddenly starts with the mundane details. When you hold the mike as an emcee, you must collect all the details about the show and the winners, guests and sponsors to choreograph an ideal opening. If you open with an engaging story, you immediately hold the attention of the audience so that when you continue on to the mundane parts they still feel engaged. You can also open up by welcoming the core groups in the audience and welcome them individually. Even Public Speaking – the art of giving presentation focused on some shared agenda – requires the basic emceeing skills.
- Setting the right tone to your personality and the show
If you choose to button up and stick to a spot like a pillar in the whole show, you can expect the audience to be bored and the show to be stiff. Likewise, if you choose to be all over the place, the event easily looses focus and direction, especially if this is a professional event. A healthy balance between the two can help you become the best emcee in India. Strike a happy medium and keep a high-energy vibe throughout the show.
Do not try to be overly funny. Humor is important but it is wrong to think that cracking jokes continuously will set the tone at ease, especially if you are not a professional comedian.
- Prepare the ideal script
If your organizer has provided you with the script and you think it’s horribly boring then do not refrain from making amends to it. If you think that keeping the script the same will result in a flop show then you should not continue with it. Remember that the organizer will blame you if the event is boring and not the script writer. If you have your guests and speakers list, try to gather material on them to add to your introduction. This change in the script will help you fill the gaps between the announcement and the guest’s appearance on the stage.
You can also recap with a basic summary of what the speaker has just concluded before you proceed to the next guest. An important thing to remember is to give the guests time to comprehend your questions or remarks before you hand over the microphone.
An important role of the master of ceremony is to make sure the event goes by the set schedule for which you may require to speed things up sometimes or cut short lengthy scripts.
- Conclude with style
Without a great end, no story is worth listening to. As hard as you have worked on the opening, try to prepare a great concluding speech where you can recap the major highlights of the show as well as challenge the audience in some way. Without a good ending, the whole event will end promptly with nothing to remember about later.
Summary
When you are handed the microphone to host an event as the emcee, you have to be quick on your heels and start preparing. A great master of ceremonies ensures that the show is successful and the audience leaves fully energized.
