Top Tips for Being a Great Emcee From a Keynote Speaker!
When you’ve been part of over 500 events as a meeting professional, keynote speaker and emcee like I have, you’ve seen some things.
Some good things… and some really, really bad ones.
And one of the consistent highlights at a conference, annual summit or sales kick off is the emcee. The master of ceremonies who ties it all together - theme, energy, community and even manages to keep us on track, on time and engaged.
Then again - I’ve seen an emcee also make jokes in poor taste, make the event all about them, be rude to speakers, mispronounce names and more.
What separates the great emcees from the not-so-awesome ones? Part of it is experience but I believe an even larger part of it is the lack of training and event host knowledge out there - especially as you begin as an emcee!
I know that when I started emceeing, I wish I had someone to help me - hence why I am writing this blog today - for you, brand-new emcee! Whether you are a keynote speaker like myself that is emceeing to help an event with energy and thought leadership or a board member who has been volun-told into emceeing your annual awards, this guide should help you be the emcee your event needs!
PICTURE IT
You’ve just been asked to be an emcee at a conference. What are some things to keep in mind when you want to draw an audience in?
ENERGY MATTERS
Understanding what energy you're bringing into the group is super vital. Understanding that you can bring up the energy, you can lower restlessness, and create psychological safety which is always a vital aspect of innovation, collaboration and impact.
KNOW THE EVENT GOALS
Understanding the goals and fears of a client is crucial so that you can navigate around it. This includes what's very important to the client and what challenges they've had in the past.
What's their fear or past experiences they want to avoid?
What does engagement at this event look like?
Do they want people laughing?
Do they want people taking a ton of notes or is the focus connecting with others?
Is there a theme to the event or any special taglines / slogans?
Who are the VIPs?
What do you want the emcee to do, specifically?
Do you have a Run-of-Show (ROS)?
As the emcee you get to say stuff that other people would not be able to say, and people actually listen to you - hooray - and that means you can work collaboratively with the meeting planner to make sure they’re achieving their goals through you, your words and energy on stage.
AV TEAMS ROCK!
Behind the scenes, ensuring the AV team is your best friend is always a good emcee thing to do. AV is running a tough job, and as the emcee you are really an extension of them.
However, always be so prepared that the AV doesn't matter. What does that mean? If you're relying on a conference monitor for notes, know your speaker names and organizational names at a minimum - be prepared NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS! That way, if the screen goes black or it's not on the right screen, you look like a professional and not say the AV team screwed it up.
Events have so many moving pieces - taking the extra care to have each other’s backs in the tough moments and succeed together goes a long way!
BECOME A RUN-OF-SHOW EXPERT
Another tip from flow perspective is looking over the Run-of-Show (ROS) and ask questions from the outsiders perspective - attendees, VIPs, sponsors - and the emcee / event host perspective!
Common ones I ask can include:
Will there be question and answer sessions after speakers or how will that work?
Where’s the break going to be held so you can direct people to it?
Is there an app? What's the hashtag?
How does the client view success on social media?
How do people give their feedback?
What are the housekeeping tips folks need to know like breaks, meals, etc?
Is it people posting photos, using hashtags, etc.?
Do you need to thank sponsors? If so, how often and individually or together?
KNOW SPEAKERS STUFF
If you're going to be introducing professionals that are part of the organization or leaders, ask to see their slide decks or notes. What they're going to talk about is important too, because you don't want to say, “thank you to our sponsors”, and then have the CEO say, “thank you to our sponsors”, and then have the CIO say, “thank you to our sponsors”. All the sudden, you realize, “a ton of people just thanked the exact same person. I guess I didn't really need to do that.”
Plus it helps give you a sneak peek into what the content, messaging and big reveals might be for the event, helping you prepare as an industry expert emcee well before you get on site!
REMEMBER THE WHY
When you get on stage as an emcee, it is NOT ABOUT YOU! It’s not about your book or your coaching program or anything else you want to promote - it’s about the audience, the event and their experience. So ditch anything that sounds like selling from stage and create an experience that makes people feel, think and act in ways that serves their best selves - their highest good - and the goals of the event and meeting planner.
HAVE FUN
The true core and key of emceeing is that you're prepared, you’re confident and you sincerely show up excited. If you are having a good time, other people can feel it - and you can charge up thousands with your bright light, energy and smile. The same is true if you are stressed or nervous or unsure - the audience will react and not engage at the level they’re craving most.
Own your energy, be prepared and have a great time! I hope these have been some helpful tips. I'm excited to hear how it goes for you - drop me a line anytime at hi@rachelsheerin.com!
Rachel Sheerin is an award-winning keynote speaker, emcee and burnout expert. Want to book Rachel for your event? Contact us today!