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.