Tips for Emcees

Better Emcees Deliver Better Events

Here’s a free – and easy – way to boost the quality of your next event: Level-up Your Emcee!
 
An emcee should provide continuity…fluidity…make attendees feel the event is polished and well-crafted.

• A strong emcee keeps momentum going, maintaining energy from one presentation to the next.
• A weak emcee is like a first-time driver with a stick shift: awkwardly bounding between presentations, distressing the audience.

 
Most groups simply tab their current President to be emcee, regardless of whether he or she is a good public speaker. And that’s OK…because you don’t need to be a good speaker to be a solid emcee. But here’s the mistake too many groups make: Choosing an emcee and then failing to provide any guidance.
 

• To adapt an old phrase…If you fail to train your emcee, you train them to fail!

 
Here’s the great news: A few basic guidelines is all your emcee needs to deliver an excellent event! So let’s give your emcee a job with framework…not a burden without direction.
 
Regardless of the emcee you’ve chosen – be they shy and soft-spoken or the cocky side of confident – these guidelines will ensure your next emcee and event are engaging and polished.
 

• Quick transitions. Seems obvious, but the emcee must be on stage immediately after a speaker finishes. The emcee’s #1 job is to ensure there’s no awkward dead time between presentations.
• Over-prepare. Have speaker bios ready and printed in advance. (Otherwise, you risk the next bullet.)
• Limit the improvisation. None of us is as funny as we think we are. Ask your emcee to stick to the script.
• Stick to the schedule. Start on time; don’t wait for everyone to enter the room. Emcees must be comfortable speaking while the audience is still finding their seats.
• Avoid inside jokes. Events must engage 100% of the audience. But long-time industry insiders (who often serve as emcees) love to make inside jokes. But these comments only engage their friends – 5-10% of the audience – while alienating the other 90% of the audience.