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What to Do When You are Asked to Emcee
Steve Adubato, Ph.D.
Emceeing an event sounds a lot easier than it really is. If you
have ever had to do it, you know what I mean. There are professional
emcees who have dedicated their professional lives to mastering
this challenging craft. But most folks, be it in business or social
settings are asked to emcee events without any training, coaching
or the most basic advice.
By the way, being a great public speaker or presenter is not the
same as being a great emcee. The next time you have to emcee an
event, keep these tips in mind:
--Being an emcee doesn't mean you are supposed to do most of the
talking. Your job is to keep things moving and put the attention
on those the event is recognizing. Keep your introductions brief-1-minute
or less. People hate long introductions. Don't you?
--Speaking of introductions, it would be good to actually know
something about who is being recognized or honored at an event before
you show up. Read about their backgrounds and understand why they
are being singled out by the organization asking you to emcee. It's
terrible when you see an emcee reading and fumbling over an introduction
because he or she is clearly not familiar with the material or the
honoree.
--Make sure that you are clear on the overall objective of the
event. Once you do that, get into the spirit of things. Touch base
with event organizers and make sure you are all on the same page.
--Create a relaxed, informal mood. Don't be afraid to smile when
you open up things. Talk about why everyone has gathered and how
great the event is going to be. Stay upbeat and positive. It will
have a big impact on your audience. Your genuine enthusiasm will
be appreciated.
--While your job is to be informal, you are not there to be a comedian.
Avoid joke telling. It's too risky. Instead of telling jokes, the
best kind of humor involves reacting to the things that happen during
the event. That way, there is a common frame of reference for everyone.
--If someone who has the microphone is going on too long, you as
the emcee may have to at some point pass a note to the speaker asking
them to "wrap it up." If that doesn't work, you may actually
have to stand and move closer to the speaker. Sure, it is a little
awkward, but it is a lot better than letting a person go on forever
and ruin the event.
--If a presenter or speaker is especially flat or dull, your job
as emcee is to pick up the pace and energy level in the room. Don't
let things spiral downward. Too often, emcees allow the boring speaker
to bring an entire event down. They don't understand the power they
have to turn things up a notch.
--Keep your eyes on the audience and observe how they are responding
to things happening at the podium. If you see people in the audience
you want to recognize or make reference to, do so. The more personal
and customized your comments, the more intimate the event will be.
--At the end of the evening, just don't let people walk out because
the program is "finished." Take 30 seconds or so to wrap
things up and once again congratulate everyone who was recognized
or honored at the event. Thank everyone for coming and keep things
on a high note.
Dr. Steve Adubato coaches and speaks on the subjects of communication
and leadership and is the author of the book "Speak from the
Heart." Write to him at The Star-Ledger, 1 Star-Ledger Plaza,
Newark, NJ 07102, visit his Web site at www.stand-deliver.com,
or e-mail him at sadubato@aol.com.
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