How To Avoid Hiring The Wrong Master of Ceremonies by Kafui Dey

Let’s face it.  When you goof, you know.  You don’t need anyone to tell you.  If you are a professional wedding planner or you are even planning your own wedding, you’ll have to think about the MC who will host the reception.  You don’t want to make a very public mistake in hiring the wrong person.  So how will you know what to look out for?

Cast your mind back to the weddings you’ve attended.  Can you pick out the reception disasters?  More often than not, the MC would have been in the thick of things, contributing his (or her) quota to messing up one of the most important days in the lives of a new couple.  Let me give you five things to look out for so you can avoid these MC mishaps like a plague when you are making a decision on your MC.
Let’s set the scene.  You’re at a wedding.  You know the couple.  You just know they hired the wrong MC when…

1. The bride and groom ready to begin the reception but nobody can reach the MC because his phone is off;
2. The MC turns up in an all-white outfit and steals the limelight from the bride who is supposed to be the star of the event;
3. The MC makes crude comments about the groom just because they went to the same primary school 30 years ago;
4. The MC pokes fun at a particular ethnic group to the absolute shock of the bride’s father who storms out of the reception in protest; and
5. You find the MC in the buffet queue instead of him making sure your guests are being served.

All these illustrations are from real life.  They actually took place.  True, the odds of all of them occurring at one event are slim but even one of them happening could mar your day.  So now you know what to look out for.  Go ahead and make sure get the right person for your reception.  If you are a wedding planner, the couple will love you for making the right decision.  And if you are planning your wedding yourself, you’ll enjoy your special day knowing that your event is in capable hands.  Is there a better way to make your wedding reception goof-proof?

Do You Have These Questions About Public Speaking? (II) by Kafui Dey

11.  Should you be selective about accepting invitations to speak?

Absolutely.  From a business point of view, you want to be seen and heard at events that enhance your company’s brand and values.  For example, it makes sense for top executives in Ghana to speak on the Springboard Road Show which focuses on personal and professional development in young people.  The Springboard audiences (the kind of people those executives could one day employ) will associate the speakers with the positive work Springboard is doing, a perfect illustration of ‘show me your friends and I’ll show you your character’. 

12.  What is the relationship between speaking and temperament? 

Do you remain calm even under pressure?  Can you analyze your mistakes and draw lessons from them?  Would you describe yourself as a positive, upbeat person?  Are you sensitive to the moods of people you talk to?  If you answered yes to these questions, you have the kind of temperament which, with determined effort, would turn you into an effective speaker.  And what if you think your temperament falls short of the ideal?  No worries; just as people can go from being shy to being confident, you can work on your temperament to make it more suitable for public speaking success.

13.  Is it advisable to answer questions from the audience immediately after you have spoken? 

It depends on the kind of speech you have been asked to deliver and the format of the speaking event.  If you are the guest of honour or keynote speaker, you will most often not answer any questions at all from the audience.  You speak, they applaud, and you sit down. 

Some conference organizers may give an individual speaker an amount of time which includes time for questions immediately after the talk.  Others prefer to have all speakers deliver their addresses one after the other and then take questions at the end.  Make sure you know well in advance what kind of structure you will be working with.

14.  What is the difference between a moderator and master of ceremonies? 

A moderator manages a discussion or a debate involving two or more speakers often with different perspectives on a particular subject.  The moderator introduces the speakers, sets the guidelines for the interaction, asks questions of the participants and if the format permits, invites questions from the audience.  It is important for a moderator to have a probing mind as well as good grasp of the issue being discussed.

The main responsibility of a master of ceremonies (MC) is to ensure that the event has energy and flows smoothly from beginning to end.  The MC works with the event organizer to manage the contributions of various people who are key to an event (venue owner, security, entertainment providers).  It is not enough as an MC to know how to introduce speakers well; you must have solid managerial skills and be able to plan for unexpected changes to the programme.

15.  What do you do when the electricity goes out? 

If there is a generator, be calm as you wait for it to kick in.  If there is no generator, get closer to your audience and speak louder. 

You are not responsible for a power failure but your reaction to it is within your control.  I recall a garden reception where no provision had been made for backup electricity. We tackled the lack of illumination by convincing guests to shine their car headlights all around the venue.  Problem solved.

16.  As a master of ceremonies (MC), are you responsible for the kind of music that is played at a function? 

The MC is part public speaker, part event manager and as such is responsible for a host of things including the music (see Question 14).  On more than one occasion, I have had to suggest that a DJ adapt his music selection to suit the occasion (for example, no songs of marital infidelity at a wedding).  The trick is to get on friendly terms with the DJ before the event begins.  When you have to step in to change the music, do it in a non-confrontational manner and offer 2 or 3 alternatives. You objective is to help create a great ambience at the event, not disrespect the DJ by trying to tell him how to do his job.

17.  What can you do to prevent regular clearing of your throat? 

Avoid eating or drinking anything which has is made from dairy products because it will produce excess phlegm.  So that means no yoghurt and no milk.  Drink room temperature water.  Cold water will only irritate your vocal cords and cause you to cough in order to relieve the scratching sensation.

18.  What do you think about co-MC’ing? 

Event organizers generally prefer male-female combinations when they need hosts for awards and fundraising events.  I have had the pleasure of working with Jocelyn Dumas, Kokui Selormey and Ofie Kodjoe, all very professional MC’s.  In all cases, the formula for success was simple; introduce the event together, take turns in handling the ensuing segments and end the event together. 

Co-MC’ing becomes a nightmare when both hosts want to speak at the same time or when one wants to hog the limelight. The art of co-MCing requires smooth co-ordination, preferably at a pre-event meeting.

19.  How do you deal with eye contact from a particular person in the audience? 

If the eye contact is friendly, that should be good news for you; it means someone is interested in your speech and so from time to time, you should look at that person.  If the eye contact is indifferent or unfriendly, you should not be overly concerned.  It is unreasonable to assume that 100% of your audience will be following your address.

Eye contact is an important part of public speaking as your audience will connect better when you look at them as you talk. Here is one technique I use for maximizing eye contact with my audiences.

Imagine the room as one big square.  Now divide it into four equal squares.  Start your address by looking down the middle line of the room as if you were addressing the person at the point where all the 4 squares meet.  Shift your eyes to the bottom left square and deliver one idea or point to those seated there.  With subsequent ideas, concentrate your eyes at those in the top right corner, then top left square and then bottom right square.  Return to the middle and repeat the process making sure you end your speech in the middle where you started.  This technique will ensure that you do not starve any audience member of your eye contact.

20.  Should you answer your phone when you are on stage? 

No. 

Put your phone on silent mode or turn it off before you get on stage.  Your audience deserves 100% of your attention, don’t you think so?

Do You Have These Questions About Public Speaking? by Kafui Dey

1. How do you control yourself if you are on stage and you start shaking?

Shaking is a sure sign of nervousness.  It happens to a lot of speakers, even the ones who appear super-confident.  But you can control it. 

Breathe in slowly and deeply.  The extra air will calm you and make your voice sound stronger when you open your mouth to talk.  Then smile.  If it’s because you’re in a room with unfamiliar faces, relax.  Believe it or not, most people in the audience want the MC or speaker to succeed so you have the majority on your side even before you say a word.


2. What should you do when you are speaking on a topic and you realize your audience is not so excited about it?

You are responsible for getting your audience excited about your presentation.  Maybe you are reeling off a list of statistics or dry facts?  Boring, boring, boring.  Who is going to be interested in that? 

Tell a story related to the topic.  You can actually start off by saying “Once upon a time…” and launch into your story.  People think in pictures so make sure your story is full of striking images and appeal to the other senses of hearing, taste, touch and smell. 

You could also ask your audience a question or tell them to repeat a phrase after you – these are ways to engage them in your talk. 


3. What are you supposed to do when you walk on stage and get nervous?

Tell yourself you are going to do a great job and your audience is going to be entertained.  Think in terms of excellent customer service – satisfying your audience and speakers.  Focus on them and that will take your mind off yourself.  Remember, it’s not about you; it’s about the speakers and the audience.


4. If you pronounce a word wrongly and the audience starts laughing, how should you deal with this situation?

Laugh with them, crack a quick joke and move on.  Don’t make too big a deal out of it.


5. What are some of the qualities you need to become a very good Master of Ceremonies?

You need to have high energy levels and a great sense of humour.  You also need to think on your feet and anticipate potential problems in order to maintain the flow of the event.  It also helps if you like people because you need to get along very quickly with the people who you will be working with to put together a successful show.


6. As an MC, is there dress code you should follow?

Dress code is straightforward:  for every event, make sure you dress at par with or more formally than your audience.  Remember the C in MC stands for ceremony which implies that the event is a special one.  You want to look the part.


7. Can you create a brand for yourself as an MC?

Absolutely.  Being a brand means you differentiate yourself from the competition, making you a personality MC instead of a commodity MC.  A friend of mine called Ken Carbonoo specializes in playing the keyboard and singing customized songs as well as MC’ing – he’s the only one who MC’s like this.  Ken is a brand and as a result, he’s got zero competition for the type of work he does.  Wouldn’t you love to be in Ken’s position?  Then develop your brand.


8. How is MC’ing for parties and weddings different from that of a talk show?

Parties and weddings are relatively more formal events.  There is a running order to follow and speakers to introduce.  As a party or wedding MC, you will be on your feet coordinating with other people (caterer, DJ, band) to manage the flow of the event A talk show is really just a conversation between friends.  Presenting a talk show requires advanced questioning skills and you normally sit down to conduct it.


9. In my presentations, I normally make gestures with my hands but I often use my left hand.  How can I develop a new way of using my right hand more?

As long as your hands don’t get in the way of your message, it’s really not a problem.  Just make sure you don’t point with your left to a member of the audience, especially in Ghana, because of the negative cultural associations with the left hand. 


10. What are some of the things that you should not do as an MC?

Don’t arrive late to the event.  It only puts pressure on you and the event organizer.  And you may never be hired again because of your unprofessional conduct.  Be ahead of time by at least half an hour.

Don’t make fun of the audience or the speakers.  It’s disrespectful and it can ruin the event.  I know of one wedding MC who made a bad joke about a particular ethnic group and caused the bride’s father to storm out of the reception.  Remember a joke is truly funny only if everybody finds it so.  Don’t risk alienating anyone.

Don’t spend too long in making a transition from one part of the show to the next.  You are not the star of the event; your job is to make the event flow.  Your motto should be “Less talk, more action!”

Qualities of an Outstanding Master of Ceremonies by Kafui Dey

Have you been asked to MC a wedding or a party this weekend? Are you wondering if you have what it takes? Could you really be an outstanding master of ceremonies? You can find out right now. Test yourself for the following nine QUALITIES and see if you make the cut. Ready? Let’s begin.

A great MC should:

1. Have a QUESTIONING mind

Do you ask relevant questions? As soon as a professional MC is engaged for an assignment, he asks the event planner lots of questions about the venue, audience, speakers, purpose and running order. Even as the event is unfolding, he or she continues to enquire: Is the guest speaker ready? Who’s popping the champagne? Should we bring the launch forward because of the tight schedule? A master of ceremonies who is constantly asking questions is unlikely to be ambushed by unexpected occurrences (see point 3 below)

2. Be UNFLAPPABLE

Do you function well under pressure? Sometimes things go wrong. The microphone stops working or the guest of honour fails to turn up. Do you panic and start sweating? A great MC handles unexpected situations with quiet confidence and finds solutions to maintain the flow and energy of the event.

3. ANTICIPATE problems

Do you have a backup plan in case plan A fails? It is great to be unflappable in the face of a crisis (see point 2 above) but you need to have thought through your next line of action so you can deal with the problem. As a master of ceremonies, sharing a humorous story to liven up a ‘dead’ moment in the programme or having your notes in hard AND soft copy just in case are two examples of how to plan for problems.

4. Be a quick LEARNER

How fast are you in acquiring new knowledge? In one week, a professional MC may be called upon to coordinate the launch of an advertising company, chair a debate at an energy summit and host an insurance awards night. To be successful, he or she needs to quickly become familiar with industry terminologies to communicate effectively with these different audiences. Does that sound like you?

5. Be able to IMPROVISE

Are you creative? Can you think on your feet? Improvising means using what is available to get the desired results. It means focusing on outcomes and using unconventional methods to achieve them. Like convincing wedding guests at a garden reception to use their car headlights to illuminate a dark venue when the power fails and there is no backup generator. Not an easy sell but definitely workable. If you can come up with solutions like this, you are on track.

6. Be TIME-CONSCIOUS

Do you value time? A great MC is ruthless with keeping to time. If the master of ceremonies arrived late to your wedding, would you be happy to pay his full fee or even recommend him? A successful MC starts an event on time; he or she agrees in advance with speakers on what signals will be used to get them off the stage when they have used up their allotment.

7. Be INTERESTED in the event

Are you fully engaged in whatever you do? Do you care enough? I once heard a complaint from a new client about a master of ceremonies who spent his time taking phone calls when he should have been coordinating the event. Not a good sign and clear evidence that something else was more important to that person. An MC who pays attention to what is going on, makes remarks about previous contributions and leads the applause when appropriate demonstrates that he is engaged with the event.

8. Be ELOQUENT

Are you articulate? Do you express yourself clearly? Remember, this is not about ‘big English’ or long sentences. Why say ‘That would appear to be an accurate representation of veracity’ when ‘That’s true’ would do nicely? Your aim is to communicate with meaning, not impress anyone with your verbal output.

9. Be SOCIABLE

Do you like people? And do they like you back? The work of a master of ceremonies depends on co-operation from lots of people; audiences, event planners, venue managers, security personnel, caterers, entertainment providers. Your ability to quickly form strong working relations with all these stakeholders will determine your success in the job. Being sociable is not hard. Often just smiling at your audience in a genuine way does 50% of the work for you. The quality of being sociable is the glue that will bind you to people and make every event a pleasurable experience for all parties.

That’s it. Test over. So how did you rate yourself? And if you were asked to be the MC for a wedding or dinner this weekend, would you do a great job? Do you have the qualities of an outstanding MC?

How To MC An Event At Short Notice by Kafui Dey

Has your boss suddenly asked you to MC a high-level event?  It happened to a friend of mine last week.  As I was preparing to host a corporate dinner, I got a call from this friend.  She’d been ‘ordered’ to handle the launch of a new product and her total experience in such matters was nil.  She was worried and she needed help.  “No problem”, I reassured her, “once you can speak and you are organized, you can do it!”  I asked her to get a copy of the programme and read it out to me, which she did.  For every element, I told her specific things she needed to know or do.  A day after her baptism of fire, my friend called to inform me that her boss was full of praise for the way she handled the launch. 

With my friend's permission, I’ve summarized the telephone consultation I had with her.  It should come in handy if you find yourself with little experience but under huge pressure to MC an important corporate event.

1.    Arrival of Guests

This is probably the most important part of the event.  You should arrive at the venue in good time.  This means 30 to 60 minutes before the stated time for the arrival of guests.  This gives you an opportunity to go through your checklist of what will be done and allows you to familiarize yourself with the space you’ll be using as Master of Ceremonies.  Get the event organizer to assign you one person with whom you will communicate about the running of the programme.  This way there won’t be too many cooks trying to spoil the broth.  Know where the washrooms and exits are.  Find out which of the key personalities have confirmed their attendance.  Position yourself at the entrance to welcome guests and introduce yourself.  Any good host would do so and as the MC, you are in charge of providing warm hospitality.  As you’ve probably noticed, your work begins long before you say your first words into the microphone.

2.    Opening Prayer

You should confirm the name of this person as you go through your checklist.  In case the person to pray is late or fails to turn up, do you have a replacement?  You show a lack of professionalism if you announce for someone to come up to the microphone when that person is not at the venue.  

3.    Reason for Gathering

This is where you start talking.  You have many options if you want to begin on an interesting note.  A proverb, a famous quotation or a reference to a current news headline are just some of the ways to grab the attention of your audience.  Just make sure what you say is relevant to the event.  Go ahead to introduce yourself and tell the guests why they have gathered to listen to you.  Be brief.  You’re not the main event.  Be entertaining and funny but don’t be under pressure to crack jokes – leave the comedy to Funny Face and his professional colleagues who do it for a living.  

4.    Introduction of Key Personalities

If you do your homework before the event begins, you’ll have a list of personalities who are present (see point 1).  Try to acknowledge as many of them as possible.  If you have any chiefs in the audience, make sure you get their titles right.  If you don’t know how to pronounce an unfamiliar name, go up to the person in question and ask, “Excuse me madam, what is the correct pronunciation of your name?”  They’ll be grateful you enquired – nobody enjoys a public butchering of their name.  To effectively introduce someone, the formula is ‘Audience – person’s title – person’s organization - person’s name’.  Simply say with enthusiasm, “Ladies and gentlemen, we’re pleased to have with us the MD of ABC Bank, Mrs. Osei.”  Then you smile at the person who has been introduced.  You’ve just made them feel special and they will feel grateful to you.

5.    Welcome Address

The welcome address is normally given by an executive of the organization which is holding the event.  Make sure you have the person’s name and title.  As always confirm that the one to give the speech is indeed present (see point 1).

6.    Musical Performance

Most events incorporate a musical performance of some sort to break the monotony of speeches.  Your pre-event preparation should furnish you with the names of the performers, awards they’ve won, current projects and future plans.  Weave this information into your introduction so that instead of just announcing, “Up next, we have XYZ Group”, you can say, “From Abuja to Adabraka, these musicians have been entertaining audiences for 10 years with the authentic sounds of West Africa.  Ladies and gentlemen, please put your hands together as we welcome the award-winning Nubia 54 Band!”  In two sentences, you’ve educated your audience, promoted the credentials of the performers and enhanced your own reputation as a professional.  The musical performance, no matter how brief, is an important part of the event.  Treat it as such.

7.    Introduction of Special Guest

The special guest will most likely be a top business executive, a senior political figure or a highly respected personality in society.  If the event organizer gives you a written introduction for the guest speaker, read it word for word and with meaning.  If you don’t get a written profile, grab a moment during your pre-event preparation to ask the VIP, “How would you like me to introduce you?”  Make sure you write down the answer and then use it.  Remember to end your introduction by mentioning the person’s name while looking at him.  Wait till he gets to the podium.  Adjust the microphone to his height, make sure there’s a glass of water readily available and then leave him to make his speech.

8.    Remarks by Special Guest

When the special guest finishes giving his remarks, the easy thing would be to just say, “Thank you for that speech.”  A better option is for you to be attentive while the speaker is at the podium.  When he takes his seat, you can then refer to a highlight in his address and thank him specifically for it.  Speakers like to know what they are being thanked for.

9.    Unveiling

This is the highlight of the event.  You need to sound enthusiastic and excited.  Usually you would invite the special guest and other members of the high table to do the unveiling.  If a tape is to be cut, make sure the ushers have a pair of scissors at the ready.  Remember that the MC manages the flow of an event.  If the climax is delayed because nobody knows where the scissors are, you the MC will be held accountable.  And rightly so too.  

10.    Vote of Thanks

Invite the person responsible to deliver the vote of thanks.  

11.    Closing Prayer

Handle this part of the programme like the opening prayer (see point 2 above).  

12.    Cocktail

Your work is almost done.  Now can you get a drink to reward yourself?  Not quite.  Remember, you’re still the host.  Stand at the exit and thank those guests who are leaving early for honouring your invitation.  Do this and you’ll leave a favourable impression as someone who is courteous and welcoming.  Wouldn’t you like to be remembered this way?

As you have probably realized, speaking is only a small part of a Master of Ceremonies’ work.  Research, checking information, organizing and coordinating form a major part of your duties.  When you do them well, the result is an event that is entertaining and successful.  The next time you get a last minute invitation to MC an event, don’t be overawed by the challenge.  You can do it!

What Do The Letters 'MC' Really Stand For? by Kafui Dey

You accepted to be the MC at your best friend’s wedding reception but is this what you signed up for?  The music is so loud that guests have to virtually scream to chat with one another.  The buffet queue reminds you of the line at a busy polling station on voting day - winding and ever growing.  The event itself feels like a movie shot entirely in slow motion – it started one hour late and there are still two more songs to go before the cake is cut.  As if this isn’t enough, an irate guest calls you over to ask why she’s had to wait all this time without being served even a drop of water.  “Don’t you know I’m the bride’s colleague?  What’s the meaning of this koraa?”

Welcome to the wonderful world of the MC.  Sometimes you may feel overwhelmed by the many things that are going on simultaneously.  You may wonder whether your real role is to be a master over chaos instead of what your title says in the brochure: master of ceremonies.  But is it your fault that the couple packed the programme with so many performances?  And why should anyone blame you for the slowness of the waiters?  The truth is that you the MC are responsible for the smooth running of every aspect of the show.  That means you need to see your role primarily as Event Manager tasked with satisfying your customers.  So who are these customers anyway and what exactly are you managing?

Know Your Customers

At a wedding reception, your number one customers are the brand new Mr. and Mrs.  Your job is to keep them relaxed and radiating happiness all the time.  This means not giving them a running commentary of all the things that are going wrong like a shortage of drinks or delays from the caterer.  Another set of important customers are the service providers – the DJ, ushers, caterer, waiters and security.  You have to coordinate their activities to make the event a success so your job is to keep them informed about the inevitable twists and turns in the programme.  Your final group of customers are the wedding guests.  Without their involvement, the reception will lack real atmosphere.  They, like the couple, also need to be relaxed and engaged with the event.  Now you know who your customers are, let’s turn our attention to what you should manage to enhance their total experience.

Manage the Noise

DJs can make or break any event.  The best way to handle such a key person is with respect.  Get to the venue early, introduce yourself as the MC and continue by saying “And your name is…”  He will give you his name and from then on you should use it.  Anytime he turns up the volume to assault levels, approach him and politely ask him to turn it down to a specific setting.  Never abuse your power as the MC by ordering the DJ to lower the volume.  He will resent your public criticism of his work and may even turn up the music in protest.  Then you’ll have a hard time satisfying your audience and the couple.  Feel free however to openly compliment the DJ on his choice of music.  He will return the favour by cooperating with you.

Manage the Queue

Getting people to queue in an orderly fashion to serve themselves can be a daunting challenge.  By the time food is ready, guests who also attended the religious or traditional service may have already have been sitting down for 3 or 4 hours and would have been very hungry.  If you make the mistake of starting with guests at the back, those closest to the food tables will invite themselves into the queue, just like drivers who use the shoulder of our roads to beat traffic but rather end up creating even more congestion.  The best way to manage a buffet queue is this:  get the wedding party and VIPs to serve themselves first and then continue with those closest to the mouthwatering aromas.  End with those at the back.  I learned this trick from the Food and Beverage Manager at Golden Tulip Accra and it is foolproof.  Use it.

Manage the Time

This aspect of a reception is entirely in your hands as the MC.  Remember that the items on a printed brochure are just a guide for you.  They are not cast in concrete.  You shouldn’t have to wait 30 minutes to get started just because the designated person to for the opening prayer is caught up in traffic.  Consult with the event planner, get a replacement and move on.  Respect your customers by valuing their time.  You shouldn’t punish those who arrived early by making them wait for the latecomers.  To save time, you can run some items simultaneously.  For example, the toast can be proposed right after the bride and groom have had their meal instead of waiting for all the guests to finish eating.

Manage the Mood

As the MC, you set the tone for the event and so you are responsible for the mood of all your guests.  Remember you are running the event on behalf of the couple who are your hosts.  Right at the beginning, tell the guests you are their personal customer service manager.  Assure them that they are going to have an enjoyable and memorable time.  Remind them that if they don’t get the service they expect, they should direct their complaints to you alone.  Don’t leave the service providers out – they contribute to the mood as well.  If you decide to invite guests to dinner 15 minutes earlier than scheduled, alert the caterer and waiters.  Before the first dance, check with the DJ if he has cued the correct song.  The bride won’t be amused if she is forced to dance to ‘Ashawo’ instead of ‘No-one Like You’.  You will successfully manage the mood of an event when you anticipate all events and take nothing for granted.

Are you on MC duty over the weekend?  To minimize chaos and maximize satisfaction at your next wedding reception, here’s what you need to remember:

• Know your customers;
• Manage the noise;
• Manage the queue;
• Manage the time; and
• Manage the mood.

Pay attention to every one of these details and you will master the ceremony. 

You can do it!