Being A Good MC ^^

MC (Being an MC)

1.      DEFINITION OF AN M.C.

Being a Master of Ceremonies (M.C.) or giving a speech can be fun if a person understands what is expected of him and has the knowledge of what to say, as well as how to say it. A master of ceremonies or MC is an individual who functions as the facilitator and host of an event. Generally, a master of ceremony will perform several functions, with some related to interacting with guests and others associated with others working behind the scenes. In general, an effective emcee exhibits a warm and inviting personality, is articulate, and has the ability to relate and work well with people.

Not everyone is capable of being an effective master of ceremony. Since much of the work involves conveying information to other people, the MC must be articulate in both the choice and pronunciation of words. The successful MC will also exhibit a warm and accessible personality, making it easier to connect with everyone in attendance at the event. A master of ceremony must also have excellent organization skills and a well-defined sense of timing, since those attributes make a huge difference in how much attendees enjoy the gathering.

2.     VOICE

The prime tool of an M.C. is the voice and the method of presentation. An excellent way to practice is to use a cassette recorder and tape yourself in front of a full-length mirror. After you tape yourself several times you'll soon become accustomed to how you sound and obviously how you sound and look to others. Proper breathing will help you to relax and gain confidence. Speak clearly and as briefly as you can. Monotone is a danger to guard against. Make you presentations dynamic, sincere and pleasing to the listeners.

3.     MICROPHONE TECHNIQUES

A microphone is an expensive instrument and is a necessary tool for the caller. When a person is asked to make announcements, ask your caller to show you where to hold the mike and how far to hold it from your mouth. A caller is knowledgeable about this own equipment and can quickly demonstrate how to use it. Check to see if the mike is on, one of the easiest ways is to ask someone ahead of time to let you know if he can hear you. Banging or even tapping on the head of a mike may damage it, and even snapping one's fingers in front of it can be disconcerting.The purpose of a mike is to amplify the voice, so there's never a need to shout into it. At the conclusion of your talk, hand the mike back to the caller or lay it down very gently, preferably on a protective padding or in its case.

4.     RESPONSIBILITIES

It is an honor and a privilege to be asked to perform as an M.C. at any function. The first responsibility as an M.C. is to the audience. The M.C. should never perform in any manner that might discredit them. An M.C. needs to be prepared. One secret of public speaking is for the announcer to sound as if he is talking "off the cuff" while knowing exactly what he intends to say. The M.C. may not be responsible for the sound but he should monitor the floor for first hand knowledge of sound problems and if necessary aid in the adjustment of speakers, etc. An M.C. sets the stage and pace of the program, welding it together so the audience has the feeling of attending a well-planned presentation.

5.     KINDS OF MC

a. Formal : The event has a set of rules and each rule must be obeyed by the audience or the people who come .

# Example formal event : flag ceremony , public worship , blessing ceremony , graduation , inauguration ceremony , ceremonies , seminars and ceremonies of state.

b. Semi formal : The event rule in it is not too formal , but the language used is the                            language of good and polite .

# Example of semi-formal event : Performing arts school , The award ceremony awards , musical performances , school anniversary , inauguration of the building , the company 's birthday , Independence Day celebrations , etc.

c. Non formal : The event has not  a set of rules.

 # Example event : Birthday Friends , Talk show , reality show gathering , competitions , private parties , music events , events and music concerts .

6.     TIPS BECOME A GOOD MC

Here are ten tips for hosting any function in which we’ll be introducing other speakers. As host, we  play a critical role in setting the tone for the event. We have a very large influence on the success of the event in general. The key thing is to prepare properly. Unless we’re a professional and do this all the time, we need to spend some time to reflect on our  role, get a few notes together and do some background research on the people you’re introducing.If this were a film, we’d be the Director. The position of Master of Ceremonies is a management position, to a certain extent. We responsible for getting the best out of the cast, as well as making sure the audience is happy.

1.   Know your role.

The role of a master of ceremonies is to keep an event flowing, to keep the energy of the audience up, to ensure that everything runs smoothly, to help the audience feel welcomed, to help speakers feel appreciated ... and so the list continues. It is not simply to watch the clock or to give information.

2.      Identify the core groups in your audience. Welcome individuals and groups, not just by title but with specific information. For example, "To those of you who have travelled all the way from Newcastle, a big welcome."

3.      Mention the audience's needs
Show you know where the audience is at. For example, if you are the master of ceremonies at a breakfast seminar you might say, "I know some of you are hanging out for your first coffee of the day, so we are going to start with breakfast."

4.      Mention the viewpoint of the audience
The audience may be listening to a speaker at a function and have cynical views or objections in their minds about what may be presented. Sometimes if you, as the master of ceremonies can bring that objection out into the open, they can let go of it. You might say something like "You might be sitting there thinking that this is all very well but it will take too much time. You'll enjoy our next speaker then, as Ian has some fascinating statistics on how quickly the task can be done".

5.      Be confident in keeping to time.
Some master of ceremonies I have worked with have found it very difficult to stop speakers going over time. In advance decide how, as the MC, you will let people know when their time is up. Then do it! Do not be scared, it is your job and speakers expect you to do it. At one event I spoke at, the mistress of ceremony was adamant, in advance, that I didn't need to worry about time as she would tell me when I only had 5 minutes to go. But she never told me about 5 minutes or when my time was up and I was left wondering how long I'd spoken for. It was a 15 minute speech and after (I discovered later) 22 minutes, I finally gave up waiting for her and stopped. It was very uncomfortable and I will always time myself in future. You are there, as the master of ceremony, to keep the time.

6.      Keep your audience's energy up
If your audience has had to listen to a dull or boring speaker, you need to bring their energy back up. It is your job to warm them up and get them enthusiastic for the next speaker or event on the program. Using humour by telling funny stories or getting the audience involved in an activity can help here.

7.         Thank the speakers specifically.
Thank the speakers by picking up on what they've said and feeding it back to them. Don't just say "thank you" or "thank you for your time" or "what a wonderful speech". Instead be specific. For example, "Jane, those stories you told about how Michelle's exercise program saved her life have helped me understand just how important it is that I exercise more. In fact, I'm going to make sure I go for a walk when we've finished here today. Thank you for being so inspiring".

8.      Help motivate the audience to want to hear a speaker.
Your job as the master of ceremonies is to explain to an audience the benefits they are going to gain from listening to a speaker, so that the audience is motivated to pay attention. This is good for the audience and good for the speaker. For example, you might say, "Some of you have come especially today to find out what the mediation program is about. Sun-Lee, who will be talking next, will explain all the steps so that you can use them to sort out any problems you may be having at work." Making it amusing can also help here.

9.         Talk personally to the audience.
Avoid overuse of the third person, and instead talk personally to the audience. For example, instead of saying "People are killed everyday on the roads because of driver fatigue", you might say, "As a driver, you may be killed not because you have made a mistake but because the person in the car next to you was tired and dropped off. Would you rather live? Is there any danger that you might be too tired to drive safely?"

10.     Sound welcoming.

Some masters of ceremonies read a sheet of paper to announce and formally welcome guests. Please do it from your heart and with a sincere and genuine sense of welcoming. Smile, name people personally, say why it's good they are here, look people in the eye and have warmth in your voice. Welcome people rather than announce them, and do it without reading it word for word. Connect with your audience. being a master of ceremony is a hard job but done well can make an enormous difference to a function. Do it well and enjoy the success.