| Professional conference speaker John Bell offers | | | | about whom they are prepared to recommend, as |
| some essential tips on sourcing a quality MC, | | | | their own reputation could be on the line. |
| Toastmaster or Compere, (Compère) for your | | | | 10. Can They Do The Job? |
| event: | | | | This may sound obvious, but the most important |
| Have you ever witnessed a quality orchestra | | | | traits required by a Master of Ceremonies is to have |
| performing without a conductor? It rarely happens | | | | a masterly understanding of the management and |
| and there are good reasons why that is the case. | | | | mechanics of an event, with an advanced ability to |
| Imagine the orchestra to be a motor vehicle - the | | | | communicate effectively. |
| engine may be a Rolls Royce but without the | | | | It is worth noting that membership to some Emcee, |
| fine-tuning and skill of a top class mechanic it will | | | | Master of Ceremonies and similar organisations is |
| eventually misfire badly and create the totally wrong | | | | usually open to all people aged 18 and above, who |
| impression to your audience or guests. How | | | | may have little more than a desire to improve their |
| important is your event? If your answer is | | | | communications skills and learn the basics of public |
| ‘very’, the tips that follow will help ensure | | | | speaking. |
| you choose your Master of Ceremony / Compere | | | | The skills provided by a top MC or Compère are |
| wisely. | | | | carefully structured and based upon a science that is |
| 1. Why Choosing the Correct Master of Ceremony or | | | | studied by few, practised by even fewer, and |
| Compere is so Necessary | | | | mastered by even less. |
| By spending a little time now to source a Master of | | | | Ensure your choice of Master of Ceremonies has |
| Ceremony or Compère, who has a proven ability to | | | | proven credentials. The best associations are very |
| provide a quality service, and you can be virtually | | | | selective about who is entitled to wear their |
| assured your event will be a great success, whilst | | | | ‘Badge of Office’. With a red coated |
| freeing up your valuable time to actually get on and | | | | Toastmaster this is seen in the medallion worn, with |
| enjoy the day. | | | | a ribbon, hung around the neck. |
| A good Master of Ceremony, with the knowledge, | | | | For those top Compares, Emcee etc who prefer not |
| skill, and ability to manage proceedings, can turn an | | | | to be associated with such organisations, and there |
| 'average' event into something that is seen by those | | | | are many, one great way of checking their |
| attending as an amazing delight, and leave them with | | | | credentials is by establishing whether they have work |
| memories they will recall with affection for years to | | | | that has been published, through a reputable source, |
| come. | | | | on public speaking skills, professional Compere |
| 2. Be on Your Guard for the Pretend Professional | | | | techniques etc. Use the method described in Tip 8 |
| Compère or Master of Ceremony | | | | above to obtain a quick and easy result to your |
| It is important that you understand from the start | | | | research. |
| that anyone can give himself or herself the title of | | | | Ideally, watch videos of the MC or Compere / |
| ‘Master of Ceremony’ or | | | | Compère performing, and listen to the audience |
| ‘Compere’. So simply finding someone listed | | | | reaction to determine whether he or she has |
| as such on a website, or in a business directory, is no | | | | established a noticeable rapport with the audience. |
| guarantee as to his or her ability to facilitate | | | | Study the footage carefully to establish if the style |
| proceedings at your event in a professional and | | | | of delivery displayed by the MC, is that which you |
| efficient manner. Fear not – for help follows! | | | | require for your event. Personal preference is |
| 3. Here’s How to Start Your Search | | | | established through a subjective test! You pay the |
| Using a computer search engine type the title Master | | | | piper therefore you can call the tune. |
| of Ceremony or Compere or Compère and begin | | | | 11. Cost Issues |
| your quest. My search engine of choice provides over | | | | Ideally you should have some idea of a financial |
| 700,000 possible hits for Master of Ceremony. This, | | | | budget, allocated to hire a MC or Compere, before |
| of course, only partially helps you in your quest for | | | | commencing your search. The costs in hiring a Master |
| the perfect manager for your event! | | | | of Ceremonies can vary dramatically and are |
| 4. Narrowing Down the List of Possibles | | | | dependent on the location of venue, numbers of |
| You may already have noticed that there are | | | | delegates attending, the duration of the event and |
| thousands of ‘potentials’ on offer under the | | | | the quality and popularity of the Toastmaster or |
| ‘Compere / Master of Ceremony’ umbrella | | | | Emcce. My advice is this - if your event is worth |
| and so you will need to do a little more. | | | | holding, it is worth investing in an experienced and |
| Narrow your searches down further by describing the | | | | proven Master of Ceremonies. |
| type of event you are to hold e.g. wedding, | | | | You should be seeking a person who has presence, |
| corporate event, award ceremony, formal dinner, etc. | | | | poise and a professional ability to take charge when |
| Choosing a short list of potential candidates from the | | | | and where it is necessary. Sometimes paying a |
| first two or three pages of a search engine listing | | | | relatively little bit more speaker fee often produces |
| seems, and is to some extent, a logical way to | | | | an immensely worthwhile investment that will give |
| proceed. However, there are further issues that are | | | | you greater peace of mind and the opportunity to |
| worthy of your consideration: | | | | actually sit back and enjoy the event! |
| 5. Do I Need a Toastmaster, Compère, Master of | | | | Deciding whether you deal with the MC direct, or |
| Ceremonies, MC or Emcee? | | | | through an agent or bureau is normally purely a |
| Although all the terms listed above tend to refer to a | | | | matter of choice. In theory the fees quoted from an |
| person with some responsibility towards the general | | | | agent, bureau or direct with the Compère should, be |
| proceedings at an event, there are some subtle | | | | more or less the same. |
| variations in role you should consider. | | | | If, during your search for the ideal person, you are |
| The term Toastmaster is often associated with | | | | interested in hiring a celebrity Compere or Master of |
| Toastmaster International, a not-for-profit educational | | | | Ceremony you are unlikely to find any direct contact |
| organisation with regional clubs now situated | | | | details and your only line of enquiry will need to be |
| worldwide. The main purpose of the club is to help | | | | through an agent or bureau specialising in the |
| members improve their public speaking. You can also | | | | provision of such artistes. |
| find listings under the National Association of | | | | Agents that actively promote a Master of |
| Toastmasters. These are the officials often seen at | | | | Ceremonies or Compère have a good idea of the |
| larger weddings, formal dinners and the like and are | | | | fee normally required to secure that person’s |
| usually dressed in bright red coats and act as the | | | | services and will share that figure with you when you |
| protocol officer. They are often required to bring | | | | make your initial enquiry. It is always wise to obtain |
| those at the event ‘to order’ and to | | | | an all-in-fee from an agent. |
| provide the necessary formal introductions etc. | | | | A bureau's commission is normally obtained direct |
| A Compere (Compère) is normally engaged with the | | | | from the Compere. This commission can vary but |
| specific task of providing links and introductions for | | | | normally falls between 15% and 30%. If they do not |
| speakers or entertainers on stage, radio, television | | | | have a particular MC or Toastmaster on their books, |
| show, conference, convention and seminar. | | | | they are usually happy to trace them and make any |
| Comperes generally keep the event on track and | | | | necessary arrangements on your behalf. |
| heading in the right direction. During links, a good | | | | There are few of the top Masters of Ceremony or |
| Compère will often use humour and witty | | | | Emcee who work with only one agent or bureau. If |
| observations to entertain and inform the audience. | | | | there is no mention of exclusivity on promotional |
| They also have a very special ability of being able to | | | | material or a website you can assume there is not. |
| quickly build rapport with an audience. | | | | This, in effect means, that if you come across a MC |
| The Master of Ceremonies has additional | | | | or Compere of your choice, and he or she supplies |
| responsibilities to that of the compare. They are | | | | contact details, this is an implied permission for you to |
| responsible for ensuring that the whole event runs | | | | contact him or her direct and independently negotiate |
| smoothly. This means a much greater ‘hands | | | | a fee. Your aim should be to obtain the best value |
| on’ and carefully prepared approach to the | | | | for your money with a Compère or MC that is the |
| proceedings. MC is nothing more than an abbreviation | | | | best suited to your event and most professional |
| of Master of Ceremony and is sometimes used with | | | | speakers are prepared to negotiate their fee. |
| the spelling Emcee. | | | | 12. The Information Normally Required by a Master |
| The MC has a difficult role in that, despite their bright | | | | of Ceremonies |
| red uniform, they are expected to regularly fade into | | | | If you are contacting an MC or Compere, and you |
| the background until their skills are further required. | | | | have researched him or her carefully, as advised, you |
| Being successful as an MC requires flexibility, a | | | | can be confident in knowing you are speaking with |
| friendly disposition, temperate habits, and ability to ad | | | | the right person to present at your event. The |
| lib when necessary. | | | | Master of Ceremony should be a perfect fit in the |
| 6. Do I approach a Master of Ceremony direct or via | | | | large jigsaw puzzle that makes up an event. By way |
| an Agent or Bureau? | | | | of example - a formal red coated Emcee, indicating in |
| If you search the Internet you will discover that | | | | promotional material, that they prefer, or tend to |
| Speaker Agents and Bureaus represent the majority | | | | work locally, may not be the ideal person to act as |
| of the best, Comperes and Masters of Ceremonies | | | | Compere / Compère and to appear on stage during |
| working within the professional circuit. | | | | the worldwide launch of your new product. |
| Generally, agents are only interested in someone who | | | | Should you decide on taking the agent or bureau |
| is already established as a top MC or event Compere. | | | | route in your search, the first thing you will need to |
| They proactively promote the individual, putting their | | | | make perfectly clear, for the reasons described in Tip |
| name forward to conference, convention, large | | | | 8 above, is that you are seeking a Compere or a |
| wedding organisers and the like. They charge a fee | | | | Master of Ceremony for a specific type of event. |
| to the MC for this service, usually based on a | | | | Next supply the date of the event. A top MC or |
| percentage of the Compere’s fee for the | | | | Compère are usually very popular and you can save |
| occasion. For effective 'numbers' reasons, the choice | | | | yourself a lot of time, and disappointment, by |
| of MC, Toastmaster etc, found through an agent, | | | | establishing their availability early in the proceedings. It |
| can be somewhat limiting. It is always wise to enquiry | | | | is perfectly acceptable to ask if you can provisionally |
| with more than one agent. | | | | hold a particular Emcee or Compere for a few days |
| Those bureaus offering the services of a Master of | | | | until a final decision is reached. |
| Ceremony tend to be dedicated to providing | | | | An efficient, professional quality, MC for a wedding, |
| wedding, conference and event organisers with a | | | | will have a whole host of questions they will want to |
| large selection of professional Comperes, MCs, | | | | ask you to help them to prepare for your event. If |
| Toastmasters etc from which to choose. Too much | | | | they don’t ask lots of questions you may not |
| choice can be the biggest disadvantage when using a | | | | have the right person for the job! |
| bureau. | | | | The best event organisers will always provide a |
| A Master of Ceremony or Event Compere, good or | | | | thorough description of the objectives and the |
| bad, experienced or amateur, will also often | | | | purpose of an event or conference. They will also |
| represent their own interests, and so it may be | | | | provide venue, size, type of audience, and the |
| useful if I now provide a few tips on how to identify | | | | duration of the talks etc that will be provided by |
| an established, professional MC, Compère or | | | | other guest speakers. |
| Toastmaster, of quality from the large pool of the | | | | Professional Comperes link the presentations given by |
| Johnny-come-lately brigade you will find out there. | | | | each of the speakers. They will often provide skilful |
| 7. How Do I Locate Quality? | | | | comment on content from previous speakers and |
| Using search engines, top position for a ‘Master | | | | highlight relevancy to the next speaker. Proceeding |
| of Ceremony or Compere’ usually fluctuates | | | | should run smoothly with the delivery of effective |
| from one day to the next, so compose a short-list | | | | ‘joins’ between talks, etc. The MC’s role |
| of names from the first two or three pages, and | | | | is to make others at the event into the stars of the |
| you are ready to begin you quest for quality. | | | | show. |
| By way of caution, it is worth considering that | | | | The best event Master of Ceremony or Compère |
| sponsored links for Compère and Masters of | | | | will skilfully use humour, and have the ability to adlib |
| Ceremonies are there because someone is prepared | | | | where and when required. Laughter makes |
| to pay, sometimes-large amounts, to jump to the | | | | uncomfortable situations more comfortable. It allows |
| front of the queue of other MC’s etc. Whereas | | | | individuals at the event to laugh no matter how grim |
| this is an admirable indication that they are prepared | | | | living may be away from the event. |
| to invest in advertising, it does not necessarily follow | | | | Laughter is such a nice feeling people, will pay money |
| that you will receive the best value for your money. | | | | to others to make them laugh. It is that powerful! It |
| Here is an easy way to narrow down your short list: | | | | is cathartic; it encourages an individual to purge their |
| 8. Establish Experience | | | | problems and painful emotions through the joy of |
| Using your computer, retype that which you originally | | | | laughter. Great Masters of Ceremony often make |
| searched for, into the search engine, and add one of | | | | skilful stand-up comedians and may, showing |
| the names you have recorded in your short list e.g. | | | | admirable versatility, and may occasionally provide, |
| Master of Ceremonies or Compere / Compère plus | | | | professional quality after-dinner speeches at other |
| His or Her Name. | | | | events. |
| By doing so you can better determine whether that | | | | They are also skilled at time keeping and will ensure |
| particular MC, Toastmaster etc has the expertise you | | | | that speakers at the event don’t overrun their |
| require. You will also have an indication as whether | | | | allotted time by too much. A minute or two is |
| or not an agent or bureau represents them. | | | | acceptable whereas twenty is not! |
| 9. Research Testimonials | | | | Following the introduction of an invited speaker, the |
| Experience has shown that any Compere or MC, | | | | MC or Compere will lead the applause of welcome, |
| worthy of consideration, will have a selection of | | | | and will initiate an appropriate appreciation at the |
| testimonials from previous clients available for you to | | | | conclusion of the speech. |
| view on his or her website. Ensure companies and | | | | Which brings me to a timely end. I wish you every |
| individuals are named. Descriptions such as ' The | | | | success in your search for the perfect Master of |
| bride’s father said, or a senior manager at a | | | | Ceremony, MC, Toastmaster, Emcee or Compere / |
| large well-known company said....', are of little to no | | | | Compère, and can reassure you, that by following |
| value, and should start alarm bells ringing. Look for | | | | the advice I have provided, you will have the |
| named sources from respected individuals of quality | | | | opportunity sit back on the day and enjoy the |
| companies. Such people are usually very selective | | | | justifiable rewards obtained through your endeavours. |