An Event Host MC is responsible for the smooth running of an event. They do this by casually adopting the most appropriate 'hat' to help the audience understand what's going on and make it easier for them to feel part of the event. Each new hat is similar in style to the one the MC wore before, and the audience should never notice the change. Switching hats is like changing gears on a bike, achieved through smooth transitions known as segues (pronounced "seg-way"). These transitions are often performed with dialogue called ‘patter.’ A successful segue depends on how adaptable the MC is in wearing different hats—sometimes even two at once! Let’s explore some of the many hats an MC wears and their unique purposes: 1. HousekeeperThe MC announces essential details—like restroom locations or coffee breaks—to keep the event running smoothly. A well-organized MC makes everyone else look efficient and prepared. 2. CommunicatorEvery event has a purpose. The MC is the client’s mouthpiece, responsible for communicating the event’s intent and leaving the audience with a clear understanding of the message. 3. EntertainerA functional MC gets the job done, but a great MC adds spice and entertainment, making the event memorable. As Pete Miller puts it, “He’s spruiking for sponsors, entertaining the audience, and appears to be having a good time while doing it!” 4. ActorAn MC adopts the culture of the company they represent, just like an actor adopts a character. Acting skills help them improvise, stay in the moment, and adapt to the audience’s energy. 5. ComedianWhile comedians aim for belly laughs, MCs aim to maintain a “mile of smiles,” keeping the audience engaged and in good spirits. 6. MotivatorThe MC’s energy and enthusiasm inspire and uplift the audience, creating a positive and motivating atmosphere. 7. CookLike a chef adding the right mix of spices, a great MC knows how to liven up proceedings with just the right amount of flair. 8. LeaderAn MC is a charming “sergeant at arms,” maintaining control over the event and guiding the audience seamlessly. 9. Arbiter of StyleFrom their attire to their tone of voice, an MC sets the mood and style of the event, influencing how the audience perceives it. 10. Program Link or Mood ChangerAn MC acts as the glue that binds the segments of an event together, ensuring smooth transitions and adapting their energy as needed. 11. Journalist and ResearcherPreparation is key. Researching the company’s history and culture helps the MC understand the organization and align their performance accordingly. 12. Onstage InterviewerA good MC anticipates the audience’s questions, guiding interviews naturally and keeping them engaging and informative. 13. FiremanAn MC is often the event’s “insurance policy,” ready to put out fires and handle unexpected challenges with calm professionalism. 14. Public SpeakerThe MC’s polished public speaking skills ensure clarity and confidence on stage. 15. Facilitator or ModeratorWhile an MC works to a defined structure, a facilitator allows for more flexibility, adapting to the audience’s flow and guiding discussions organically. 16. ConductorLike an orchestra conductor, an MC ensures every element of the event harmonizes to create a cohesive and impactful experience. 17. SalesmanThe MC is constantly selling the objectives of the event, the organizers, and the sponsors, all while keeping the audience engaged. 18. DiplomatTact and diplomacy are essential skills for navigating sensitive situations and maintaining a positive atmosphere throughout the event. SummaryEach hat an MC wears ensures they’re perfectly suited to the role. A compere is deeply involved in every detail, acting as a mouthpiece for the client’s purpose while creating memorable, cohesive experiences for the audience. Turning Functions Into Memorable Experiences A plane needs a pilot, a car needs a driver, and an orchestra needs a conductor. Similarly, a successful event cannot thrive without an Event Host MC. As the MICE industry (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions, and Exhibitions) continues to raise the bar, the role of an MC has become an essential piece of the puzzle. A modern, professional MC ensures an event runs smoothly, connects with the audience, and elevates the occasion into something truly memorable. The Evolution of the MC Gone are the days of the stereotypical wedding MC—an older man with tired jokes and a tacky bow tie. Today’s audiences expect polished, professional hosts with excellent communication skills and a commanding stage presence. The modern Event Host MC isn’t just a facilitator; they’re a dynamic communicator who brings energy, structure, and engagement to an event. The Art of Public Speaking Public speaking remains one of the most powerful tools for inspiring and motivating people, but it’s also a common fear. A skilled MC uses their expertise to make audiences feel at ease and ensure the event flows seamlessly. This includes everything from keeping the program on schedule to managing unforeseen challenges with poise and humor. What Sets a Great MC Apart A standout MC makes an event "come alive." They don’t just introduce speakers or announce programs—they create an atmosphere that encourages participation and excitement. Their role is to lead, guide, and inspire the audience while ensuring everyone involved knows their role and feels supported. This unique combination of leadership, charm, and adaptability makes MCing both an art and a learned skill. Skills of a Successful MC - Warmth and Professionalism:Balancing approachability with authority. - Adaptability: Handling surprises and adjusting to audience dynamics. - Clarity and Brevity: Speaking with purpose while maintaining audience interest. - Engagement: Keeping energy levels high and ensuring audience connection. While public speaking skills transfer to MCing, they aren’t always enough. MCing requires a specialized skill set that can only be developed through experience, preparation, and practice. Building Your MC “Kitbag” No one is born a great MC—it’s a learned skill. Preparation, coaching, and experience are crucial. Over time, successful MCs develop a “kitbag” of techniques and insights that evolve with each event. These tools allow them to balance authority and charm while keeping the focus on the event, not themselves. Why the Role Matters
The MC is the glue that holds an event together. They ensure the program runs smoothly, the audience stays engaged, and the speakers feel supported. Without an experienced MC, even the most meticulously planned event can fall flat. A great MC transforms a good event into an unforgettable one, delivering value and prestige to the organizers and leaving a lasting impression on the audience. In today’s fast-paced, high-expectation world, having a skilled Event Host MC isn’t just a nice addition—it’s a necessity. Speaking and MCing share similar skillsets. You will find that the people who deliver a one-hour speech on stage or just simply introduce a brief segment, share the same backgrounds, passions and mindset. They have both earned the privilege of the platform by their study and respect for clear, concise communication. Many speakers have used MCing as a way to sharpen their public speaking skills without the pressure of delivering a deep and meaningful keynote message. Many speakers have graduated to be top MCs because they get to practice and rehearse and refine their speaking stories in small bite size segments and craft special spontaneous fun-filled humorous moments; which then becomes their gold one-liners when they're delivering their main speech. Here is a list of the similarities that MCs and Speakers both have in common. They share:
And as we know, a genuinely funny keynote speaker is a rare species; but they are the speakers who always get re-booked - and at a higher fee.
If you are a speaker who wants to introduce humor into your talk, then working as an Event Host MC will give you the space and time to develop your humor skills. The easiest entry is via wedding MC work. The criss-cross of skills make Event Hosting an ideal career for a speaker who wants to work on bring funnier and more entertaining. *The old-fashioned and out-dated term 'Master of Ceremonies' and 'Master of Ceremony' is not used anymore (thank goodness). Show you are modern and current and only use the term 'Event Host MC'. This short article gives a clear idea of what is expected of the evenT host mcA good MC will reassure an audience who are looking for guidance and friendly leadership. The guests want to relax and not made to work too hard - so the the MC will make it easier for them to be involved in what is happening on stage. If there is no stage manager directing traffic behind stage, then the MC is the person responsible for making sure everyone with a job to do knows what to do and when. Because it is a live situation where anything can happen, the MC must calmly steer the program through problem areas involving different people with various levels of skill. The MC carries out their duties with humor, flair, confidence, style, charm, and wit. In other words, to inform and entertain at the same time – not unlike simultaneously tapping your head and rubbing your tummy. This may sound like a tall order. We don't want you to think that MCing is difficult - because it's not rocket science. But like any new task, the learning curve is steepest at the start and, like riding a bike, becomes much easier quickly. Everything mentioned here is ‘do-able’ by anyone with a desire to see a function succeed. Competencies require no great leap of faith to accomplish. Unlike singing, the performance of an MC is not regimented by a strict tradition or clearly defined by technical proficiencies like musicianship. In other words, there is no one single way to MC an event. It's a creative task and is driven by the individual personality of the guy or girl on stage leading the group with a microphone in their hand. THIS IS IT IN ONE SENTENCE: Understand what's expected, research, and use a runsheet and microphone technique. Too easy. Eventually, your 'antenna' will be activated. Besides running the show to schedule, you will learn to observe and assess the changing mood of the audience, anticipate what may occur based on past experience, and ensure that it comes together without any gaps or ‘dead air.’ What skills are needed? MCs are evolved people. They have a natural affinity and curiosity about how human beings react. They are interested in the dynamic interface between groups of people and are inquisitive enough to enjoy watching an event unfold and seeing the different relationships develop within a short space of time. A hallmarks of a good MC is to say a lot in a few words. Brevity is welcomed by everyone; especially an audience eagerly waiting for the next segment on the program to begin. One reason why good event hosts are highly respected by many organizations is due to their ability to be both warm and personal - while simultaneously being assertive and professional when needed. It is important for the MC to assume the leading role without being pompous or obtrusive. Like the unbiased mediator, the best MCs are remembered for their deft control of the event, rather than the power of their personality. MCing and public speaking share the same skillset. The difference is the ego. A speaker is supposed to be the star attraction whereas the MC makes everyone else feel like a star. The best quality an MC can have is an attitude to serve. A good MC performs the role well by making the task look smooth and easy to do. They are able to hide all the hard work that has proceeded the event. This makes it difficult for a speaker to know how much preparation is needed to do the MC role with equal grace and charm. A high self-esteem (aka your self-image) will give you the inner confidence to be yourself up on stage. You must believe that the person you are – the personality that you present – will be sufficiently interesting to hold an audience’s attention. Courage comes before belief; so, take heart if you are feeling a little deficient in the self-esteem stakes. We all feel unconfident at times and doubt our own ability, but a good dose of courage (sometimes in the form of a motivating self-talk) can restore our sentiment of personal worthiness. Trying too hard often causes failure. You must start from somewhere, so go ahead and ‘fake it till you make it’ if you must. We do not want to give the impression that MCing is a super-human task requiring an advanced sense of humor, loads of cool confidence, a set of bright white teeth and a disc jockey’s deep voice. The terms mentioned here are only words to describe a competence in that area. These skills can be learned; no one is a born MC. MC abilities are sharpened through time on stage aka experience. So grab every opportunity you can. However, far from being ‘thrown in the deep end,’ following these Event Host MC tips with a dose of common sense will get you off to a flying start. MC Pete Miller comments ‘When a good MC performed the role properly, the customers enthusiastically received the artistes. The audience enjoyed the performance more because the MC had aroused their anticipation, and the performers also rose to the occasion. The combination of a great MC and the creative performer was a wonderful cocktail. The MC had an important responsibility to present the performers in the best possible light.’ We each have a different range of skills at our disposal, and it is an important part of being human to know which skills are our strongest. Ed Phillips, a television presenter, says, ‘If you’re good at something, a crowd won’t affect you’ (Sydney Morning Herald). This is welcome news to an MC who is aware of their best onstage assets. Peter Holmes, a journalist writing about television game show hosts, mentions many of the attributes you would expect in an MC: ‘… there is a skill involved in hosting a game show. You need the look and the sound, but also timing, grace under pressure, and the ability to put at ease everyday folk who have never taken a pick at the [game] board’ (Sydney Morning Herald). Furthermore, Tony Squires, host of ABC-TV’s ‘The Fat’ and channel 7’s ‘110% Tony Squires’, wonderful corporate MC and ex-television critic for the Sydney Morning Herald, remarks about legendary game show host John Burgess ‘… haven’t ever noticed Burgo, really, which is his terrific skill.’ Squires was making the salient point about all good MCs – they are not the celebrity, the show is. It is easy to forget this fact when you have a microphone in your hand; hearing your voice over a PA can give anybody a false sense of power. What the guests do not want is an MC who is there to steal the limelight. The ability to be in charge but remain neutral is a tremendous advantage in any situation, but is crucial for an MC. This tactfulness is like a referee at a sporting event or a judge in court – you cannot afford to show bias. If the audience sense that you are weighed too heavily in favor of any one area, you may lose their trust and attention and never be able to get it back. Australian International cricketer and television personality the late Max Walker was well known as an archetypal MC. He has written about what it is like to be a MC in a book called Ladies & Gentlemen: tales and misadventures from the microphone. Max likens the role of a MC to that of a cricket umpire ‘A good umpire at a cricket match always goes unnoticed. But without them being firm, fair and honest the contest would turn into a shambles.’ |
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