Mastering the Ceremony

Needless to state, that opening statement set the tone for the entire event. Alternatively, have you exited an event commenting how smoothly the flow of the proceedings progressed? Many of these conversations are based essentially upon the mastery of the Master of Ceremonies.

The yuletide season brings with it a number of end-of-year celebrations and recognition events. One of the key factors of hosting a successful event is that of selecting the ideal master of ceremony. A master of ceremonies, abbreviated MC, also called comp?re and announcer, is the official host of a ceremony, a staged event or similar performance.

It is important to note that the role of the master of ceremonies is pointedly different to that of a speaker at an event. Before the event, the proposed MC, must make it his or her responsibility to understand the nature of the event for which they are preparing. For example, if the MC is hosting a corporate event, it is definitely not acceptable to quote its competitors in the opening, or worse, to mispronounce the Chief Executive’s name. The devil is in the detail, which means that MC rule 101, dictates that a significant level of pre-event preparation is required, including, research on the organization, its greeting and salutation listing, the correct elocution of names, and ensuring that the persons being recognised are actually present.

Understanding the tone of the event also provides the MC with the desired manner with which he/she should conduct the event. In other words, if you are not a comedian, then it may be best not to attempt to add a comedic sequence to your spiel.

Likewise, it would help to confirm before the event what are the expectations of the Master of Ceremonies, as this will provide you with the guide required to set your tone. In addition to event tone, two other very important responsibilities of the MC include the management of the speaking time of the line-up of other speakers, and the management of the transition between speakers.

Timing and transition management ensures the smooth flow of the event and provides other event speakers to understand their roles within the event matrix.

It goes without saying that the personality and projection of the Master of Ceremonies sets the tone for the event, and therefore, it is imperative, that the person undertaking this role appreciates the importance of voice projection, pitch, engaging in eye contact, audience panning, all with a positive attitude that transcends into the event space. It’s a tall order; however, the equation is simple, and preparation is key.