How to Be an Effective Emcee

by Chris King Once you are known as someone who handles him or herself well in front of a group, you will be asked to lead a meeting and/or introduce the speakers. If you have ever been introduced by an ineffective emcee, you know how important this position is to the success of a program. When you accept the position of emcee, you will want to not only present the others on the program professionally, you will want to orchestrate the occasion in an exemplary fashion. In the following article, I will share some ways that will guarantee your success as an emcee. Be aware of what your role is. Yes, you will be the host and facilitator for the program. And your job is to warm the audience and prepare them for the speaker(s). Your part is extremely important to the overall flow of the meeting, but you must remember that you are not the show. You should not tell a joke, as I have heard many emcees attempt to do, or give a minipresentation. It is your goal to make the speaker(s) look good. And, this leads us to the next topic of introductions. Smooth introductions that are succinct work in everyones favor. Many professional speakers will bring you and/or send you a written introduction. Take time to read it over (aloud in private is an excellent idea) and check with the speaker on the pronunciation of any of the words that our unfamiliar to you making notes on the pronunciation. I cant tell you how often an emcee has incorrectly pronounced the name of my college, even when I have pointed it out beforehand. If the speaker(s) you will be introducing hasnt handed you an introduction, conduct a miniinterview and write down what you plan to say. Just winging it or going on and on about how long youve known old Joe and what a good guy he is, will start him out at a disadvantage. The word succinct is incredibly important. At a recent evening presentation by a well known speaker, I saw the energy in the room take a huge dive when the leader of the group that was sponsoring the event droned on and on about the group, about the speaker, and other information that was uninteresting to everyone. By the time this revered speaker got up on the platform people in the audience were practically dozing. Fortunately, being as expert as he is, he soon rescued us from boredom and saved the evening. It was a shame, however, that he had to start out at a disadvantage, and others might not have been able to pull it off. Smooth transitions are a necessity. A proficient emcee realizes the importance of transitions and handles them with ease. When there are two or more speakers and/or other parts included in the program, the emcee must work to keep the mood on an even keel. For example, if the first speaker ended his or her presentation on a moving and emotional note, the emcee needs to bring the audience back to a neutral frame of mind before the next presenter, otherwise the next speaker will start at a disadvantage. Transitions dont need to be lengthy. They can consist of a positive comment, a quote (have many ready), a short story that relates, or if the program is long, a chance for everyone to stand up and stretch. It is the emcees job to keep the program moving on time. Even though the speaker(s) have been given a time schedule, not every presenter stays within the limit. It will be your responsibility as the emcee to keep everyone on time. Before you start, tell them that you will give them a signal when they have five, three and one minute left, and stress that the time schedule is important for the success of the program. If they start going way past their time without paying any attention, you might have to gracefully take to the stage not pleasant, but everyone in the audience will thank you. And, as the emcee, keep your comments as short as

possible. I remember one evening when an emcee wanted to tell us one short story before we took our break. He went on for more than half an hour and has been remembered ever since for his rude behavior. Remember that being asked to be the emcee is an honor. Yours is probably the most important function of the program keeping every part moving smoothly. Take it seriously, prepare well, and be proud of the part youve played, and you will be asked again and again. A good emcee is hard to find, so be one!

Emcee Do and Don'ts

DO: 1) Project a cheerful, upbeat image (if it fits the gig!). Obviously, this won't work if you are playing a funeral. "Howdy, folks, and welcome. We are really excited to be here, and I'm sure Charlie would have been, too." 2) Speak clearly and slowly if necessary. Many festivals, indoor shows, and clubs have problems with echo. Make sure the audience doesn't hear "Hhooddyyffoollkkss aanndd wweellccoommee." Your best joke will flop if they can't understand your words. 3) Eliminate unnecessary delays in the show that require talking to cover. Arrange several songs together that don't require capo changes or special tunings. This way you can just start the next song. Prepare a solo or duet number and save it for the time when a major retuning is required or when a string breaks. 4) Cover any unavoidable delay in the show with talking. This is the time for special introductions. Since you probably know the names of your fellow band members and the names of the instruments, this shouldn't be a problem. Fill the time until the banjo player has changed the head or the fiddler has reset the soundpost. 5) Have a purpose for each speech. Ideas of what to talk about: a) introduce a bandmember, b) share something special about the next song, c) point out something that might otherwise be missed by the audience (the really high tenor part, the harmony between the guitar and mandolin, the fact that the bass player and lead singer just filed for divorce.) 6) If it's good, tell them. Most audiences are not as musically sophisticated as performers. They don't know your banjo player moved into a chicken coop and lived there for six months just to work out a killer version of "Little Rock Getaway." If you are about to play something really good or really hard--tell the audience to listen for it. Maybe even cue them with a wink when it happens. Chances are, you'll get some applause for a job well done. 7) Be entertaining and funny, if you can pull it off and if it fits the gig (see #1). Nothing is more uncomfortable for an audience than a jokester who isn't funny and doesn't know it. Years ago, I saw a country comedian who wore tennis shoes with springs attached all over them. Once he was on stage he announced, "These are my new spring shoes. How do you like them?" When no one laughed, he continued, "SPRING shoes, get it?" Still no response. I was afraid this guy was going to go into the audience and explain the joke personally to each

audience member. Actually, now that I think about it, it is kind of funny. SPRING SHOES, get it? 8) In an introduction, save the performer's name until last. If you say the name and then jump into a long list of their accomplishments, the audience doesn't know when to clap. Say everything you are going to say about the individual and then say, "Please make welcome, Malcolm Velcom!" Notice I told the audience what to do. I said "make welcome." Audiences know this means either cook them a big chicken dinner and invite them to spend the night or...simply clap. 9) Collect clever or humorous lines that fit situations that are likely to occur. Toastmaster's books are filled with this kind of stuff. Look in your local library. Once, I was playing in a small club. We band members could see that the couple at the table just below the stage was preparing to leave. The couple, of course, was not really listening to the band as they collected their coats and purses. Just before they stood, our banjo player, Gerald Jones, announced, "We would now like to ask one couple to leave the audience." The couple, still not listening, got up and began to work their way to the exit. The audience howled as Gerald continued, "Ah, volunteers. It's so nice not to have to grab people at random and throw them out." 10) Know what's going to happen before you walk on stage. This one is self-explanatory. Set lists and rehearsals are your friends. 11) Find out what you can about the place, the next band, the group you are playing to, and make appropriate adds or cuts to your stage patter. For example, you wouldn't want to launch into your "Why I Hate Little Kids In Bluegrass Bands" speech right before the Finkle Family Five hits the stage. Likewise, you may want to drop "Oh Death" from your set list at your next nursing home gig. DON'TS: 1) Don't share problems with the audience. "These are new strings and I can't keep them in tune." "We're a new band and we haven't had much rehearsal." "We drove all night and we are tired." "Bubba's a really bad guitar picker, but we can't find anybody better who will play with us." Sorry to burst your bubble, but audiences just want to have fun. They don't care. Just suck it up and do a great show. 2) Don't apologize for real or imagined shortcomings. "We used to have a fiddler and this song sounded real good. I hope you'll like it." "Darrell's just been playing banjo for three months. He's no Earl, but we love him anyway." 3) Don't repeat requests over the microphone if you don't intend to do them. I've seen it too many times. One audience member yells, "Rocky Top!" The band heard it and some of the people around the guy heard it, but that's all. The band emcee (we'll call him Dufus) thinks this is a bad request and uses his mic to respond, "ROCKY TOP!?" Now the entire audience hears the dreaded name and begins to chant it rhythmically. Don't use a 200,000 watt P.A. system to announce the name of a song you don't want to do. Just play the next song on the list. 4) Don't acknowledge hecklers unless it is really disruptive and obvious to the whole audience or you have a snappy comeback. (This can backfire on you.) Luckily we don't have too many

hecklers at festivals, but those of us who have played bars know them well. Generally it is a good idea to let the audience be the police. In most audiences there is at least one former Marine (6'7", 280) who loves bluegrass music. Do a Stanley Brothers tune and let him take care of things. 5) Don't fall into an introduction style. "Mary does a fine job on the banjo, Pepe does a fine job on the bass, Joe does a fine job on the fiddle." If these folks are individual and special enough to play in your band, they at least deserve a special individual introduction. "Jane is the only seven-fingered-style banjo player in the Tri-City Area." Share something unique and your fellow band members will love you. Maybe you will even get introduced. (Good idea, by the way. Don't introduce yourself.) 6) Don't tell tuning jokes. Okay, we have all told them, so let's stop. They aren't funny to musicians and audience members don't get it. "I bought it in tune." "I'm gonna weld 'em in place once I get it there." "You can tuna fish, but you can't tune a banjo," and the worst: "Here's a Chinese song called 'tu-ning.'" 7) Don't use off-color, racist, sexist, hurtful, you-know-what-I'm-talking-about material. You never know who might be in the audience. (Remember the story of Carlene Carter playing a New York club and not knowing Johnny and June were in the audience?) No audience member leaves a music show thinking, "They were pretty good, but the emcee just wasn't nasty enough." 8) Don't show your ignorance. When playing in Canada, for example, never say, "Ontario...I always thought it was just more of the United States!" (This really happened.) 9) Don't tell jokes among the band members. You know, "inside" jokes. You are laughing, but the audience feels left out.

I hope these are helpful suggestions. Good emcee work is really like polite dinner conversation except you have a microphone and they don't. And, oh yeah, there isn't any food. Okay, so it's not like a dinner conversation. It's more like...well, standing on stage and talking to the audience. Be pleasant, entertaining, and never offend...The Audience is Listening.

7 Quick Tips for Comedy Emceeing

Welcome to our convention! We have a great agenda, but first, Ive got a few dozen announcements. . . And youre off to the races with a great event hosted by a not-so-great emcee. As a corporate comedian who has mastered the art of keeping a conference moving, I can show you how to grab the audiences attention and keep it for the entire event. 1) Take the bullet! - This is ancient comedy club wisdom. The emcee is not just hired to be funny, shes also there to sacrifice herself by going first, or taking the bullet. More important than just being entertaining, she has to focus the cold, chatty, drink-ordering crowd, so that the OTHER acts do well. If youre not comfortable with jokes, then dont do them. Instead focus on your first few tasks, which are to welcome your guests, tell them about the great experience theyre in for, and whats on the agenda. Sure, slip in some

housekeeping details, but dont focus on the bathroom locations first, unless thats the highlight. 2) Come Prepared - Nevaeh is one of the top one thousand popular names for girls in the U.S. You may have to pronounce it. Practice the speakers name out loud several times fast, so it rolls off your tongue, and write it out phonetically. The same goes for titles and intros. I do office humor as The Work Lady, but have been introduced as The Working Girl. Thats not good. (FYI, spell Nevaeh backwards!) 3) Tie It Together - Thanking the last speaker is a dismissal, not a wrap-up. Transition by mentioning something you learned, repeating a website, giving a personal fact about the speaker, or taking a silly survey. You should tie the event together, not run speakers through on a conveyor belt. I once polled the audience, after the president gave a long analogy between the Super Bowl and life, by asking how many people hope, during next years game, Bill just drinks a beer like the rest of us? Of course I had permission to be funny. Dont get yourself in trouble! 4) Plan To Stall - There are a million things that can interrupt your perfectly arranged session, but you still have to keep things moving. Have a plan for power points crashing or the group next door setting up a petting zoo. You can stall like a pro by highlighting a sponsor, taking a few questions, listing five great area restaurants, asking people to shout out one thing theyve learned, or inviting everyone to go pet the goat next door. Plan B shouldnt include staring at the banquet manager until she fixes the problem. 5) Change The Energy - In comedy clubs, if the first act dies, the emcee tells a couple jokes to change the mood so the next act has a fighting chance. You, too, need to help the audience switch gears from funny to serious, serious to high energy, and so on. One quick line can do it. I once followed a CEO whose depressing speech focused on how the company was, quote, toning down the glitz & glamour. I came back with great, youre toning down the glitz & glamour. . .and then Im introduced! Like Im the blandest speaker you could find! It gave the crowd a license to laugh and helped them to move on. 6) Make Them Want To Listen - People will listen if they like you just ask Oprah! Be personable by sharing details about your family, hobbies, hometown, or pets. You can even have a recurring theme, such as mentioning your cat frequently. Every time you go back on stage, the crowd will think I wonder what shell say about Rover now? 7) Have fun - Its YOUR party. If you have fun, they will too. Use top ten lists, funny quizzes, and silly slide shows to keep things moving. And close with something memorable like an anecdote from the conference or a challenge for next year. Then take a bow, youve just given the event some glitz and glamour!

Master of Ceremonies Tips

Sheryl Roush

Ive been an emcee for a few gigs and being a female doesnt always put me as a first choice in the stereotyping! I do wear a black tuxedo (womens style classy) with red bow tie and cummerbund, with heels. Tips: Look the part to begin with! (whether male or female) it ADDS to the show ambiance. Interview people in the audience about this event that night they are already there dressed up and ready to have fun! I did this at a large retirement roast for the big wig. During the happy hour, I walked around and interviewed his friends and colleagues, asking: "If you could describe Greg in one word, what would it be?" People loved it got them in the mood for the event and were thrilled how those words (quoting the individuals) were used throughout the presentation and introductions. What doesnt work? Like ANY presentation, to show up unprepared either by not knowing your subject (or roastee), your audience, or not knowing your material!

Ronald P. Culberson I speak on humor and I often do "master of ceremony-ing". I have found several things that work well: Research all of the people/programs you will introduce. Find out anything you can so that your introduction is not canned but sounds more like you know the people well. Plan to use humor and interesting comments as segues from one person/program to the next. I have a database of jokes/stories/quotes and I find the ones that fit with the topic or person that I am introducing and then use it as a segue. Comment on what just happened. Nothing is worse than for something to happen on stage and the emcee goes right on with the next introduction as if he/she missed the point. I make it a rule to find something humorous or meaningful about the previous person/event when I come back on stage and I use that to begin my transition to the next introduction. Keep it short. If the emcee takes too much time, it takes the focus away from the event. That doesnt mean that the emcee cant be funny and meaningful but it should always support the main event.

Michael D. Lee, CSP Most speakers calendars are pretty empty around the holidays while mine is fully booked because I emcee corporate holiday parties earning as much or more than I usually earn for a keynote speech. I believe that the job of the emcee is to be invisible. We should make everyone else the stars, make the event fun and keep the program on schedule. Know your audience and be as helpful as possible to the company you are working for. Al McCree Probably the biggest tip for emcees is to tell the client that as emcee, during the event, you will only answer to one person and you will only make changes in the program if that one person

approves. This reduces confusion and makes life a lot easier for the emcee. Every single emcee program I have done has gone smoothly as a result.