EMCEE 101

As a wedding planner, it is my job to make EVERYONE look and feel their best on a wedding day, and emcees are no exception. Many people underestimate the importance of an emcee, but emcees have the power to hinder or enhance any event and require one on one attention just like all vendors.  I bet we can all remember a cringe-worthy event where the emcee either made too many inappropriate or ‘inside’ jokes.  On the other hand, I bet we’ve experienced a magical event featuring a fun emcee, the crowd laughing and the evening moving along.  If an emcee does not prepare well, they run the risk of failure and it can be an awkward experience for everyone.

After sitting through several emcee speeches over the last few years, I’ve started to compile some recommendations for emcees to create a memorable, humorous and sentimental evening for everyone involved.

First, let’s address the basics.

An emcee is the host and facilitator of an event; for example, a wedding reception.

The role of an emcee is to warm up the crowd and prepare them for the formal part of the evening. The emcee is there to welcome guests, share important housekeeping notes and ensure there are smooth transitions between different segments of the program.

The individual(s) assigned to this role could be anyone close to the couple or host – even a dual role from members of the wedding party.  Ideally, these individuals are comfortable speaking to a large audience, responsible and honored to take on the role.

The role of the wedding planner is that of a ‘stage manager’, so while the emcee sets the tone and controls the introductions, the wedding planner controls the timing between food service, reception, vendor arrival, family and couple needs and speeches.  When emcees ignore timing and cues from planners or organizers, it can disrupt the flow of an otherwise carefully timed event.  It is very important for the emcee to work together with the wedding planner to ensure a successful function.

Here are some other recommendations.

Familiarize yourself with the itinerary and timeline - I always endeavor to share the wedding day details with my emcees 4 weeks prior to the day and then a friendly reminder 1 week before.  I don’t expect emcees to memorize the itinerary by any means, but understanding the timing of an event is essential in order to prepare your speaking notes.  If there is no planner, then meet with the host(s) of the event well in advance to discuss expectations and timing.

Arrive early for a sound check - The emcee should always take time to familiarize themselves with their seat and its proximity to the podium, the microphone height and amplification and practice speaking into the microphone ahead of the formal program.  As a planner, I always set aside 10 minutes during cocktails to chat through the ‘flow’ of the evening with my emcee(s), answer their questions and share important changes and reminders. 

Remember to introduce yourself - You’d be surprised, but many emcees do not remember to introduce themselves at the start of their speech. If you miss the opportunity to introduce yourself, it can leave a gap in the audience’s understanding of WHO you are and WHY you have been chosen for this central role in the event.

Prepare for an effective event opening - When people are waiting for an event to start, they are usually restless and keen to move on with the evening. If you come out without an effective opening, it will set a dull tone for the entire event. It is critical to infuse humor and energy to create a powerful opening statement and build trust between you and the audience.

Familiarize yourself with house rules - In your first few minutes on stage, put guests at ease and set their expectations by giving them the full agenda for your event and include important housekeeping notes, (bar hours, official hashtags for the night, washroom and smoking locations, etc.). There may already be a printed event schedule at the welcome table or listed on the event website, so just be sure to remind guests that they are able to refer to the schedule if they have any questions about the timing of certain segments.

Bring on stage positive and energetic vibes - The last thing people want to hear from an emcee is a dull and low energy presentation. The speakers will also bring low energy, and so will the crowd. With the entire tone of the event at such a low energy setting, your event will not go well. The more energy you have, the more engaged the audience will be, and if you’re excited, your audience will get excited. But if you’re dull and boring, there’s a good chance your audience will also be bored.

Always introduce the speaker’s bio - Remember, your job is to make the speaker look good. While you will already be acquainted with the speaker before introducing them on stage, members of the audience may not know who the speaker is. Often, the success of that segment will depend on the participants knowing the background of the speaker.  If you don’t have contact information of your speakers, simply ask the couple if they can share a 2 sentence bio for each speaker to incorporate into your notes prior to the wedding day, or if you are drafting your own introduction, make sure it is approved by the couple or host in advance.

Bring pace to your delivery - Make sure that the speed of your delivery is easy to follow. If you speak too slowly or too quickly, your audience will have difficulty following what you say. A tip to add life to your emcee presentation is to change the pace of your delivery. A slightly faster section might convey enthusiasm. A slightly slower one might add emphasis or caution.  Make sure to project your voice and maintain eye contact with the audience whenever possible.

Pay attention to the other speeches - The best emcees actually LISTEN to the speeches and find a way to echo those sentiments later on in their presentation, or provide anecdotal feedback before introducing the next speaker. It adds to the energy of the program and shows your credibility and engagement between you and the speakers.

Avoid over indulgence at the bar - Assuming you are emceeing a celebration, the cocktails will be flowing, but permit yourself one drink maximum while you fill your emcee role.  You need to stay sharp and alert in order to be successful.  Be mindful that ice cold drinks may constrict your throat and affect the quality of your voice. If you need to quench your thirst, drink a warm (not hot) cup of water to relax your throat and ease your speaking voice. Room temperature water will also do the trick!

Practice! - The more familiar you are with your script, the more you will be able to inspire your audience’s trust and confidence. Practice reading through the script to yourself and if possible, stand up in a room and deliver your presentation to the walls and time it to ensure you aren’t too long or too short based on the host guidelines. Familiarize yourself with the hard to pronounce words and phrases in your script. Play around with different speaking volumes and see how well you can hear your own voice. This preparation will go a long way.

Prepare a solid closing - Just as there has to be a good opening, there has to be a great closing to wrap up the event. A skeleton for a good closing is as follows:

-Thank the audience

-Acknowledge the couple

-Remind of any important announcements

-Wish everyone well and carry on with the party or grand exit

With this in mind, you can help ensure a memorable reception for the guests of honor and help transition to a fabulous dance party afterwards.

Need help with your emcee management at a wedding or event?  Send me an email alli@allimae.com