Over the last six months, I have been the Master of Ceremonies (MC) at seven events, all of which have been person to person (so, not virtual).
Attendances at these events have varied from 60 to 200 people and have included:
· Awards Ceremony (60 people)
· Celebration of client trading for 21st years (70 people)
· Life Celebration (200 people)
· Two Networking lunches for London Business Clubs (70 people each time)
· Rugby Club Lunch (70 people)
· Charity Winter Ball (150 people)
So, why is it worth employing a Master of Ceremonies / Mistress of Ceremonies or “Emcee”, as it is known in some parts of the world?
Below are seven reasons - and next week, I shall outline seven reasons where a MC needs to prepare and the following week, I shall give you seven things that went wrong.
So, here goes - Seven reasons for having an MC.
1. As anyone who has run an event will know, there is much to do and much that can go wrong - so, to employ a professional MC to do all that “behind the scenes” work makes a good event an exceptional event. A good MC will add value.
2. Event organisers will know that there are different types of MCs - perhaps a comedian is required to entertain the attendees - in my case, I categorise myself as a humourist, someone who can warm up or control an audience. Hopefully, I am like a referee - I am not the star of the show but get the best out of others, who are speaking or performing. Please note that if you require an auctioneer, that requires completely different skills.
3. At the end of the day, attendees have to leave the event having enjoyed it - and a good MC will ensure this will happen. Arguably, the MC is the most vital cog of the event.
4. An MC is the glue that holds the event together - a good MC will solve problems that the organiser and attendees will not even know existed.
5. In business, good preparation is essential - similarly when organising an event, the preparation shared by the organiser and MC will result in a top- notch event.
6. It was Mike Tyson, who said that “Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face” When holding an event, it can be guaranteed that it will not go to plan - but having a good MC will ensure good preparation makes it easier to adapt and sort out problems on the day.
7. In conclusion - is it worth hiring a good MC? - Answer - Yes - next question please!