How Much Should I Charge (Part 1 of 2)

Emceeing is a lucrative business, some people say. "You open your mouth and you get the money," another claimed. To me, opening your mouth is easy, knowing what should come out from your mouth is the key that makes the money.

I remember a story about a great technician. Once upon a time there was a navy ship which has a loose bolt and nut. Everyone on board the ship has tried but failed to repair it. It seemed to be a very simple task to do. Who can't tighten a loose bolt and nut? However, NONE on board the ship could find the problem to make the engine starts. The great technician, being over 30 years repairing ships and always seen in dirty clothes just like any mechanics will wear, was summoned to the ship. He took a good stare at the parts, took out a tool from his tool bag, gave the bolt a knock, the nut a turn and ta da! The engine works!

The next morning, the technician sent a USD5,000 bill to the ship. Angered by the amount which the Captain thought is a rip-off, he called for an itemised billing of the repair. The great technician wrote back and submitted:
Knocking and screwing      USD5
Knowing where to knock   USD 4,995

This story always remind me to learn and relearn, practise again and again to be a great emcee. As I mentioned before, everyone is a GREAT emcee even when you are just trying to start the trade. No one can emcee without first having self confidence and when I say you are a great emcee, yes YOU ARE A GREAT EMCEE!

Back to how much to charge
1. Raise your standards
Raise your standards as a great emcee. Try emcee for free or for what people say "you set the price" rate. After emceeing, take a sneak at your red packet (in Malaysia, people call this angpau which literally means red packet which contains normally a sum of money as a token of appreciation). If you have done a good job, normally the red packet should be fatter. Then you will know your standards. If you were paid RM300, do not take 300 as your standard, aim for 500 the next time, 1000 the next and so on....

2. Emcee for free.... never
Professional emcees are professionals meaning they get paid for what they do best. Emceeing for free perhaps  for a start or maybe for a good cause or social organisation, but ensure there is an angpau to cover or subsidize your expenses. I encourage volunteerism but be sure to have something in return which could raise your standards. Volunteering to emcee is good as a practice, getting to know more people so you widen your networks for future clients, getting the opportunity to show your talents and market yourself. If you think these are valuable to start, take these experience as your angpau. But never emcee for free because once you start, you are a free emcee most of the time. I did, been there, done that.

.... to be continued

Emceeing - The Different Genes in YOU

There are many different emcees but all are still GREAT emcees.

Oh! What I mean is.... there are emcees for weddings, entertainment, annual dinners, formal functions and in some countries royal functions are common.

Being an emcee for weddings, annual dinners - formal ones, annual dinners - fun and wits ones, formal functions, launch of products, royal functions, association and corporate events are all different. At times you will need to entertain, at times you need to joke but at times the program is a solemn one. Oh yes, talking about solemn, you also need an emcee for funeral.

Depending on the expectations of your hosts, an emcee's job can be very challenging.

However, the KEY things to all emceeing in all events are:
1. Flow of program
2. Important persons to address
3. Date, time, venue and duration of event - VERY IMPORTANT although is a minute, small little matter to some. You will not want to turn up after or before the event start and find no one in the function hall.

The rest is just what you say, and how you present it.

For weddings, it is utmost important to know the couple(s) (yes, there are mass weddings these days) before the actual event. Ask questions like how they know each other, how long ago and what makes them love each other so much. It is best to have short interviews among their friends to find out their characteristics and history. At times these information is so sensitive that couples normally get a close friend to emcee their weddings. This also means that an emcee should get to know your host very well before the wedding.

For formal functions, there are times where the hosts want some fun and humor albeit formal. Formal functions are the easiest to emcee because everything must follow strict flow and procedure. If you have mastered your voice, presentation and skills in emceeing, handling a formal event is normally just following the program.

Entertainment events are a little challenging but if you are an entertaining person, games and tricks come into your mind quickly, then entertainment functions are suitable for you. At times you will need to think of a game or trick spontaneously. Reading on short games, learning how to get your audience participate in games and perhaps some surprises will help.

Royal functions have strict protocols and it is very important for the emcee to know and understand the right protocols. Not that other functions do not need adherence to protocols, it is just that you will need extra care at royal functions. Having said that, there are also royals who do not want functions to be too stiff with protocols and prefer to relax the rules. Reading on protocols will help. However, it is best to gather information and ask for protocol list from the Information Ministry before emceeing for such event.

Annual dinners are combination of formal with entertainment. Say for example a company wants to have an annual dinner organized - at times that was the only time the employees get recognised, have fun and be with everyone in a company in one night. Some annual dinners involve social organisations raising funds and some may include finance report or an annual general meeting within a night.

Choosing the ONE
Although a GREAT emcee means you can master every event, it depends very much on your own talent and genes. For one, I prefer formal functions and like protocols because for me, it is a challenge to get things done right and perfect. I have a friend who loves doing entertainment events and never emcee for formal events as he loves fun and never like politicians, he said.

Get on to try emcee for each function if you have the chance or even attending one such function will already get you the "feel" of emceeing the events. Choose those you are suitable at and do work and focus on ONE type or two. DO not sell yourself as an emcee for ALL sorts of events covering every nooks and corners.

Just like a general physician earns lesser than a specialist, do specialise in your field(s).

You only have the first minute to impress

I have learnt this soon enough when I start emceeing.

Just like any news headlines will make people read the news further, as a great emcee, you only have a minute or two to tell people why they need to listen to you. When you are not a reputable emcee yet, and often using the stage as training grounds, you will encounter mistakes and people will not listen anymore. But a great opening will help you gain respect first and when mistakes happen, people tend to accept. If your opening is bad, most of the time people will not listen.

So, how do you make an impressive opening!?

Example 1:

In Malaysia, we have multi culture and language. Learning another language well could be a good opening. I am a bangsa Malaysia but my parents are from Chinese descendants. Being a Chinese, if you can speak very fluent Malay is an added advantage. If you can do even better, it is a great opening.

During my initial emceeing - as I used Malay most of the time due to functions with government and with government officials, I often open with a verse or two of the Malay pantun. What more is self written pantun (poems). The first minute of reciting the poems is already enough to awe the audience and gain consequent respect.

Example 2:

After some time, I want to be really a bangsa Malaysia.... I have learnt and can speak a little Tamil since school days but I do not know what to say as opening for emceeing.

In one of the walkabouts with Dato Sri Ong Tee Keat during the candidate's general election rounds with him, we came to an apartment with almost 80% Indians. I quickly grab a close friend there and asked how to welcome people in Tamil. As I spoke, though not too well at that time (being the first time speaking!!), Dato Sri was quick to ask someone next to him if I have spoken correctly. From then on, I have used three languages to address the people in Pandan in all the walkabouts I was emceeing.

My opening often start with

GREAT morning (not good morning - GREAT morning is my standard greetings and it makes people feel great, too)

Salam sejahtera dan salam perpaduan

各位来宾早上好！

and then I learnt and perfected my Tamil in greeting the welcome remarks.

Now I even add on "Salamat Datai" and "Kopibosian!" - from Sarawak and Sabah respectively.

By the time I speak Tamil, most of the time I will already receive loud applause and I sometimes need to stop speaking for the applause to carry on. Not to boast but once you show respect to everyone in the hall, you are connecting to people and that's the gist of a great emcee.

Indians, being a little marginalised in Malaysia, seems to respect you better if you can speak their language when you are not an Indian. I have an Indian man looking around for me high and low after an event, just to come say, "Thank you for addressing the Indians, too!"

Do sit down and think of a good opening and make it unique to you!

Turning adversities to GOOD

A great emcee is expected to control situations and rectify any errors that the organizers make. A great emcee could turn adversities into opportunities. In fact, there are a lot of opportunities from "misfortunes" and glitches in any event. You cannot make anyone feels bad or put blame on people. You can't revealed, "Oh I am sorry, there is a terrible mistake...." although this could be the last resort - saying sorry and apologize could be the last thing to do if nothing else comes to mind.

Remember that an emcee is representing the organizer. Though a "backdoor figure", a great emcee has VERY VERY IMPORTANT role. Since you are representing the organizer you will need to apologize on behalf of them when things really go wrong. You cannot say it is the organizer's fault and that you are not responsible for it. You are the organizer, the organizer is you, period! This is where you will need to bring yourself to earth and be humble at times. Saying sorry and apologize is the noblest thing and not everyone could do that in front of large audience.

Let me share how I turned adversities into laughters for my audience....

Example 1:

I was emceeing for a seminar and when someone on the floor wanted to ask a question, a runner quickly pass him a microphone. However, he patted again and again and find no sound. The technicians who were just by my side got panic and tried a few buttons but did not work.

As I always love to get my audience to give rounds of applause - I said, "Sometimes not only the speakers on stage needs a round of applause.... A person asking question should also be given encouragements. Let's give him a round of applause!"

The floor clapped; lol and behold, the mic worked! All you need to do in situations of "technical errors" is to DELAY TIME. Eventually if the mic does not work, what you say will allow time for the runner to pass him another mic that work. You may not want to say, "The technician is having a bad mood today" or "I think the mic is spoilt". Never EVER put others down or look bad in front of the public. I do not want to be embarrassed in the public, neither will I do that to another.

Wonderfully, another person asked a question, patted on the mic and did not work again! Guess what my audiences did? The clapped AUTOMATICALLY without me announcing anything! And lol and behold it works and I simply said, "See! Works all the time!!"

Example 2:

The settings of one event were done last minute and they did not think of the possible results during the event. The stage was right at the front and VIPs were all facing the stage. However, during the flow of event was a video presentation. The projector and screen were right at the BACK of the hall! Panicked, the event manager said there was no more time to shift the screen. They thought that the screen was just for viewing of an ongoing video and NOT used during the opening ceremony.

The simple thing to do and it is an opportunity to turn it into something good. It was a spa and health center opening ceremony. So I asked my audience to follow my instructions... "Since today marks the opening of XXX health centre, we encourage our visitors to have some exercise! Please follow me - turn your heads to the left, right, look up... down, left again, right, up and down and now... turn to the back for a video presentation! I wanted to find out if you guys have good necks. If you can't view the presentation from the front, you can always stand because sitting too long, we need to stand and exercise a little."

Immediately, the hall was like an exercise room/ health centre and it matches because it was the opening of a health centre.

No one knew it was the mistake of the event manager. The event manager was so impressed with me and did not feel guilty for his mistakes; the boss respected me for controlling situations and that his guests were all happy; and the audiences find it fun to have an emcee like me. Everyone wins! Guess who they will call next time to emcee for their events?

Example 3:

An organizer did a special surprise for lucky draw of the grand prize. They wanted to show on the screen a phone number and the person who is the first to connect successfully to that phone gets to win the grand prize!

We were all not given any clue about the number and no one knows it except the floor manager. So the floor manager spoke to the person controlling the screen where everyone stared with anticipation and their fingers on the number pads of their handphones.

The number came out... but the floor manager told me, "Wrong number!" He was very angry with the person controlling the screen and I started my sentence, "Ladies and Gentlemen... " Everyone around me was so panicked and afraid that I will say "It's wrong number!" but of course I didn't! If you said is the wrong number, it will make the technician feel guilty and bad, the floor manager failed the audiences and as a great emcee, you are not so great after all.

Again, your role here is to delay time. So I simply said, "Ladies and Gentlemen, that was only a trial. We wanted to test if your fingers are quick enough!" And the floor laughed and of course boo-ed at me. But it added fun.... and the correct number was out again and one winner gracefully walked to the stage to receive the grand prize.

At time, a great emcee is judged by his ability to control situations well especially during times of adversities. Do not fret if you do not know how to handle these situations... yet. APPRECIATE every adversity because it allows you to learn another way to handle such situation in the future. Always evaluate your performance after every emceeing - so you know when you did mistake and think of a few ways to rectify the situation in the future. I record my voice during emceeing and I will listen to them after the event. More about evaluation in later blogs!

Practice makes perfect and start practising now! Take the stage, grab the mic and be the emcee the next time you are given a chance.

Being a Great Emcee (Part 3 of 3)

Voice Control

This is the MOST difficult thing to share. I have a strong bass, near husky voice. It was because in school, I was the commander for the St. John Ambulance foot drill team. It was a drill also for my voice and I appreciate it.

Well, everyone has a voice, a unique voice! So do not say that your voice is not good enough or not strong enough. YOU have the voice!

If you are at an event for the whole day, do not just speak from the throat. It is difficult to explain but just like singers use the energies from the abdomen, it is the same skill that you must learn otherwise you may be out of voice by the time it reaches half the day.

Connecting with Audience

When speaking, do not just read scripts or talk to the wall. Use eye contact to talk to your audiences. Look at the VIP, guest-of-honour and other guests. You may find it nervous when you look at people but there are people on the floor who will nod and smile at your speech so these give you assurance you are doing well.

If you see frowns, try to smile yourself and when looking at one audience, smile to him or her. It is common that everyone will be looking at you when you speak so when you smile, that person will smile back - straightening all the nerves!

When connection with large audience, I will always do this. "It is difficult to say hi to everyone of you. You are just too many but please help me! Please look at the person next to you - whether is left or right or even both - and say "Hi, thanks for coming!""

This way, everyone starts to network, connect and YOU are connecting with them even before the show starts.

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One book I would recommend is this How to Be a Great M.C. or How to Be Master of the Ceremonies and Not Be Mastered by the Ceremonies

Keeping Audience Up

While there could be speakers who have hypnotized your audience to sleep, it is the duty of the great emcee to keep the audience up! I normally requires audience to clap, give louder applause - each time I mention a name, someone walking up stage, starting a speech, walking down stage, after I summarise the speech, even when someone on the floor asking a question. While applause are intervals, it is the best way to keep your audience work on something (to clap their hands) and keep them up.

It is also good to have a list of clean jokes for your events, something more related to the speaker or event. Example, I have Master HP Tan speaking about Sun Tsu Art of War in a private seminar organised by SAP. It is an IT event and earlier speakers spoke about BI (business intelligence) and gave information about CRM (customer relationship management)... so I related to say that "Today, we have a master who has decided to realign with our organizer today... we have heard BI, CRM, SAP... so Master Tan thinks is cool to have his name HP Tan - Hewlett Packard - maybe we could ask for some advertising fees from HP later."

** Bear in mind when you speak about someone's name, always ask the person first. In this case, Master HP Tan has nodded in agreement when I suggested this.

Know your Stage

Always know your stage and where you will stand. If there are two rostrums, be sure to take the lower one. Most of the time emcees are required to be on the floor while rostrums on stage are for VIPs and speeches to be made. Reason being emcees will use the rostrum more often so the hassle of going up stage and down stage repeatedly is eliminated.

If there is only one rostrum, you can request one from the organizer or hotel (ask about this EARLY, a few days before the event).

Will there be a microphone stand or will you be using a handheld mic? If you are using a handheld, you are down to one hand so make sure your scripts have words bold enough for your reading comfort.

I am also a paperless emcee and I use a laptop for my script. This ease the hassle of rewriting scripts due to last minute changes and throwing a lot of papers at the end of the event. Using a laptop also helps me type, amend and reorganize my script easily. For this, I will always make sure there is source of power for my laptop. You must be prepared if power runs out or the script is missing so be very well prepared before the event is utmost important.

Know WHO is the Boss

Most of the time emcees will receive many "instructions". Someone comes running to you saying you must announce a car blocking the way or someone will come running taking opportunity to announce their company in the VIP list. Whatever happens, know WHO is your boss. Always refer to the boss whether or not things can be announced.

I have had an event where there were sponsorships and at the last minute while I was announcing the prize winners, someone came to me to announce his company's sponsorships. Apparently the organizer did not inform them that there are opportunities for sponsorships. And upon announcing prizes, he took the opportunity to tell me everything he is sponsoring. I had to stop him although he was a good friend, made a quick missed call to the "boss" (the organizer and floor manager) and when he was looking at me, I politely asked him to come near me. I directed the person to talk to the boss instead.

I have people running up to me for many announcements but every single announcement to be made, I always ensure the boss knows. In fact, should there be any consequences later, the boss will be the one responsible.

Also know your boundaries. You are an emcee, although a great one, you are NOT a VIP. If there are lunch/dinner area for the VIP, ask first if you are allowed to dine along at the VIP area. Most of the time I opt for the dining area with members on the floor - to network and know my audience. This helps because most of the time people will listen to a friend and when you have enough friends among the audience, you have less hassle of gaining respect for them to listen to you.

I also had event where they have a party after the speeches. I will also humbly ask if I am allowed to join in the party (if I want to). As I love networking and getting to know people, being an extrovert, I normally like to stay till the end. However, these days recently, I discovered my introversion and normally leaves an event after my job is done.

Protocols

One of the most important in Malaysia. Sometimes the boss or organizer also do not know the right one to use. While they are the boss, I always tell them the right address politely because they are the boss and they think they know best. While they are the boss, if I speak wrongly, it affects my reputation. Audience from the floor will say "This is an experienced emcee, how come she address wrongly!"

Therefore, my homework in my "Emcee" folder on my computer is to find out all sorts of protocols.

Some basics:

- Datuk are referred as Yang Berbahagia Datuk if he or she is not an elected representative of the government. Notice a lady could be a Datuk as well. I have seen an event during a women's seminar where most are all women, those called to be on stage were all women except one man.... and the emcee announced, "We have another man to be on stage, he is Datuk....." and the woman Datuk came up with sour face. And is not nice to change a person's gender.

- Elected government representatives (Dewan Negara and Dewan Negeri) are called Yang Berhormat Datuk/ Yang Berhormat Datuk Sri/ Yang Berhormat Tuan. NOTE: If the recipient gets his datukship because he got the SPMJ award, he is addressed as Yang Berhormat regardless. So if someone has a name card putting "Chew Hoong Ling, SPMJ, DSIS, PJN, SMS, PJK, PPT", do not think that she is arrogant to put all those title abbreviations. Those abbreviations ease your duty in announcing the correct address.

- Yang Arif is for judges; Yang Amat Arif for federal chief judge

- Yang Berusaha can be used for others

- From the royal blood, Tengku, Ungku, Ku, Tunku, certain Raja - addressed as Yang Mulia; Syed and Sheikhs - Tuan; Royals have different addresses, the King and Queen addressed as "Seri Paduka Baginda" and each state has its addresses ie Duli Yang Maha Mulia, Kebawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia, Duli Yang Maha Mulia Baginda, Duli Yang Maha Mulia Paduka Seri. Recently TheStar published a short note http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/7/24/nation/6729168&sec=nation

IT HAS been pointed out to us that “Tunku Ampuan Negri Sembilan” is the title of the reigning Yang di-Pertuan Besar Negri Sembilan Darul Khusus’ consort, and as such it cannot be used by a widow of a Yang di-Pertuan Besar.

According to the office of the Yang di-Pertuan Besar Negri Sembilan, the correct form of address for Tunku Najihah Tunku Besar Burhanuddin — the widow of the late Yang di-Pertuan Besar Negri Sembilan, Tuanku Ja’afar Tuanku Abdul Rahman — is Tunku Ampuan Najihah Tunku Besar Burhanuddin.

When Tuanku Ja’afar passed away on Dec 27, 2008, Tunku Najihah ceased to be the Tunku Ampuan Negri Sembilan.

The state, however, has changed the title of the reigning Yang di-Pertuan Besar Negri Sembilan’s consort to “Tunku Ampuan Besar Negri Sembilan”.

That title is now held by Tuanku Aishah Rohani Tengku Besar Mahmud, the consort of Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Muna wir, the present Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negri Sembilan Darul Khusus.

Accordingly, the title “Tunku Ampuan Negri Sembilan” no longer exists.

- Yang Amat Berhormat for Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, Menteri Besar/ Chief Ministers, Yang Amat Berbahagia for Tun (if they are no more in the government). DMN (Darjah Utama Seri Mahkota Negara) holders, although higher than Tun but does not carry any title will use Yang Amat Dimuliakan.

- Datukship from states is "Dato'" while from the federal government, Sabah, Sarawak and Melaka is "Datuk"

**NOTE: This is only a guideline and correct at time of writing. Protocols may change from time to time so please refer to the Prime Minister's Department for a complete and updated list.

For a good book on protocol and correct forms of address, click on the picture of the book cover. 

Well Prepared

Be always prepared. I know I am paperless and use a laptop so I always ensure they have a power point. But if the source of power is too far, it will mean I can't use the laptop. I will use my PDA (backup a version of script at the PDA!) or I will bring an extension wire.

I also ensure the microphones are good and test its noise reduction functions. Most of the microphones are very good in quality unless it is meant for concerts. I like mics from Kuala Lumpur Tower and I praised the technicians saying the mics were superb and they explained that those are really good mics.

I am contemplating getting my own personal mic for emceeing too! :)

Do not be nervous when your script is missing. Just speak spontaneously. The thing you cannot forget is the flow of event. So if you can't say anything, just say, "Next...." "Let us hear a speech from xxx." Two sentences will not ruin your nerves. And remember to SMILE! It is sometimes funny to lose the scripts so smiling at my own mistake is cool... and the floor smile with you not knowing you lose your script... And since losing my script once, I have been emceeing spontaneously for some time without script now and practice makes perfect.

So, while the VIP is giving a speech, I will retype my script on the spot. Imagine if you are using paper and pen.... Pen runs out of ink? ..... :) SMILE!

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Ending this part 3, I hope it gives enough information and tips for you to start as a great emcee! I will continue to update this blogs with current experience and share tips on turning adversities into laughters and how to handle difficult situations.

Hoong Ling is an experienced emcee with more than 10 years of experience as freelance emcee before she starts emceeing seriously in the past 6 years. To have her emcee for your event, please find out details from www.hoongling.com.

Being a Great Emcee (Part 2 of 3)

Script Writing

As an emcee, hosts will expect you to write your own script although they should provide you a short draft. There are events which are very well prepared so the hosts will give well-prepared scripts and all you need to do is to follow the script.

However, very often, you are required to write your own script.

First thing first, you will need an event flow or a program for the day. This is the most important ingredient for good script writing. Without it, you will not be able to write a script because you do not know what will happen. Do take note that the program flow normally comes very late - reasons being VIPs were not confirmed, guest of honour may not have confirmed their attendance or last minute changes making everything changed or a prize giving ceremony awaiting confirmed list of recipients.

With a program flow, go through what is in the list and close your eyes to IMAGINE what will happen at every instance of the program. Example, a program flow may queue this way:

8.00am - Arrival of guests and registration

8.30am - Arrival of Guest of Honour

9.00am - Welcoming Guest of Honour

9.05am - Opening speech by Chairman of XXX Association

9.20am - Keynote Address by Guest of Honour

9.50am - Launching of XXX Products

10.00am - Award Presentation ceremony

10.30am - Token of Appreciation to Guest of Honour

10.40am - Photo moment

11.00am - Event ends

The above can be considered a very good flow of event - giving information of every flow to minute accuracy. There are a lot of questions to ask if you just close your eyes to imagine the event.

8.00am - Arrival of guests and registration

Are the guests given any goodie bags? (I will explain why you need this)

Are the guests given name tags and do these tags have security purposes? (ie only those with tags will be allowed entrance to restaurant for lunch)

Who are the guests? College students, corporate, association heads?

8.30am - Arrival of Guest of Honour

Who? Exact title? Minister or Head of Organization?

9.00am - Welcoming Guest of Honour

A standing ovation to welcome or just a stand up or just an applause?

9.05am - Opening speech by Chairman of XXX Association

Who? Full name? Full title? Any introduction needed?

9.20am - Keynote Address by Guest of Honour

What is the theme of the event and any introduction needed?

9.50am - Launching of XXX Products

What products? Explanation?

Is the event meant for the launching of products? What gimmicks or significance used?

Are all the music, products, items ready?

WHO will launch the product, accompanied by who?

10.00am - Award Presentation ceremony

Who present, accompanied by who?

Who are the award recipients?

What are the awards given? (Must explain so that audiences will not feel blank or left out)

10.30am - Token of Appreciation to Guest of Honour

What gifts?

Who will give the token?

10.40am - Photo moment

Who will be on stage and who will the organizers want to be in the photo?

11.00am - Event ends

Any refreshments prepared? If yes, where will it be served?

DO NOT assume anything. Some may just say, "Oh! Of course it will be the chairman giving the token of appreciation to the Guest of Honour. Why should I ask?" Remember, you are going to be a great emcee. A great emcee finds out things - some organizers may want to give the honour of presenting the token to sponsors.

(Will write on a topic on script writing but for now, imagine the flow and what to speak during the flow of event)

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One book I would recommend is an easy step-by-step guide on emceeing The Art of Emceeing (Emcee-ing): an Easy to Follow Step-by-step Guide for the Aspiring Hip-hop Artist

Backup

At times things may not go as flow and you may need to speak a little longer or a little slower to allow preparations. One example was when one of the speakers next in line had a wrong powerpoint slide. I have to speak or explain things before his session to drag time for his preparation.

Remember, a great emcee will not blame others for things went wrong. Remember, a great emcee is a conductor and you control the event. A great emcee is always in control and never panic when things went wrong. So you can't say, "The speaker is so not well-prepared and he brought the wrong slides. So let me tell some jokes while we wait for him."

A great emcee always say speakers are great, organizers are great and everyone is great! If you put the blame on the speaker and pull a sour face just because he screwed up, just imagine how will he face the audience when he comes out to speak later. You will not want to be in that position so make a good backup.

Example, is there anything given as goodie bags? Or door gifts? Explain the significance of these. Most often people throw or not appreciate these free gifts. They are free anyway but if explained, the items could be valuable. In one occasion, an organizer gave out table calendars as door gifts - nothing special. But upon asking, the organizer actually have gotten the calendars from overseas just for the significance of the event - if not explained, I bet most of the audiences will leave them behind or just throw them away.

If your eyes could look around, it does not take long for you to notice more things. Are the curtains red - could it be connected to the event? ie. curtains red for a Chinese New Year event will make me say, "Look around you - for the sake of Chinese New Year, we even have red curtains to surround you. Red is a significance of luck and Chinese like red and often decorate their houses with red colour to welcome the festive season." And then I will go on to say things about red packets, red fire crackers, red used in dumplings....

..... to be continued

Being a Great Emcee (Part 1 of 3)

I start this blog to compile, consolidate and share information I have on being a great emcee, or otherwise known as master of ceremonies or in short, MC. It will also share my bits and pieces of being a MC in Malaysia.

Being a great MC is more of what you see yourself as, not too much what others see you as. Really, in fact YOU are a great MC. Everyone is a great MC! If you see yourself as a great MC, you are already in the first step to becoming one. In fact, it is the first most important step to become one!


What is a Master of Ceremonies?

A master of ceremonies, MC or emcee is a conductor of an event. Dictionary.com defines a master of ceremonies as a person who directs the entertainment at a party, dinner, nightclub, radio or television broadcast, or the like, acting as host and introducing the speakers or performers. In other words, just as a director of a movie directs a movie, as a MC, you direct the event! It is the most important role to play DURING an event.


What is the role of a Master of Ceremonies?

A master of ceremonies directs and conducts an event. You control the time, performers, speeches, directs people to go on or off stage, and ensuring the smooth flow of an event. Thus, it is very important that you know exactly the flow of the program as well as the people involve in each slot of the program. You cannot call the VIP on stage for a speech when everyone (including the audio controller, lights technician, stage curtain assistant and floor manager) is expecting a dance or performance.

It is also important to liaise with all parties involved BEFORE the start of an event. If you knew that you are going to have performers on stage after a certain speech, ensure that the audio, lightings, curtains, performers and microphones are all ready for the performance. You may say, "Oh I am a MC, not the event manager" - remember that you ensure the smoothness of the program flow and you will not want your audience to stare at you blankly or wait for 15 minutes when things are not ready. There are events with experienced floor managers - it is always good to go through the list of items in the program flow with him to ensure everything is in line.

If food is part of your program - ensure you have spoken to the captain or supervisor to have the dishes ready, let them know what is the signal of getting the food out or even get someone ready to quickly inform the captain to ensure dishes are ready. I have experienced this before - even after telling the supervisor my signal, dishes need to be ready right after the speech and during the speech I even sneaked to the kitchen to inform the dishes must be out right after the speech, the dishes came out 10 minutes late, despite the supervisor boasting to me that they have done so many events and have so much experienced with all these events before - I was lucky to have prepared some jokes and things to say to keep my audience entertained while waiting.

You are also expected to represent the host and it is very important to ask the host what exactly they expect from you and what would they like you to say on behalf of them. You will need to go as low as to apologize profusely when things go wrong. In cases where an event gets sour before the event starts, such as a low turnout, wet weather or even a guest who is dissatisfied with the reception, you still have a chance to help rectify the matter during the event because YOU control the event when you grab the microphone. It doesn't matter if the host is very arrogant to apologize. The fact that if there is someone apologizing on behalf of them, he or she is even much happier because you save their "faces".

As a representative, you should also thank audience profusely for spending their time attending the event. In fact, without a good turnout, an event is normally consider unsuccessful.

Convey to the audience the objectives of an event. Do not assume everyone knows why they are there. In fact, conveying the objectives makes sense because it is also partly helping your host to promote what they have. For example, a business networking event could be to bring together a company's staffs, trade unions, and their clients together so they could exchange ideas and knowledge. It is a noble objective but if it is not conveyed, no one knows the meaning behind the event. Knowing the objective of an event also helps participants feel important at the event, and feeling that they have spent their time more meaningfully.

As a MC, you are the entertainer of the event. No one likes boring events. Even an event with royal attendance which sounds solemn and boring could be turned into a happy, meaningful and well-entertained event. Who says royals do not like entertainments or a laughter or two? Unless you are emceeing for a funeral, be entertaining! But I would love my funeral to be entertaining and fun, not a solemn one please!

Keep a list of clean jokes and scripts relevant to the event. Although you are an entertainer, it will never be a good idea to say, "Hey, you people must be very familiar with Tarzan because this place is really a jungle!", although what you may want to say is that you appreciate the nature around you.


...to be continued