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Learn More about being a MC
Bringing the BEST of both worlds
"What differentiate your course with the others?" a business strategist asked me this question when I said I am organizing a basic training and workshop to train emcees. I then listed down the advantages of our courses but he said I must also list the weaknesses of our courses and turn it into strengths.
I did. In fact, turning adversities into opportunities is also one of the topics being taught in our Professional MC and PR Techniques (PROMPT) Workshop.
Top of my list, I put that our courses combine the best of both worlds. Both KT Pillai and Hoong Ling are GREAT Professional Emcees.
1. Paperless and Paper Emcee
Hoong Ling is the paperless emcee, relies on gadgets like mini laptop, her Samsung Galaxy Tab or even a BlackBerry to emcee. Pillai has been using papers all his emceeing life. When both combined, coupled with a faulty printer, Pillai finds no issue adapting to the use of a laptop to emcee. While Hoong Ling will need a power plug at the emcee rostrum, Pillai will only need a paper and pen. But for the sake of environment, Pillai is also slowly turning paperless.
2. From Different Beginnings
Pillai has been a disc jockey for years until he finally chose the career path of a Master of Ceremonies. Hoong Ling emcees since 13 and had a different world of perspective. However, both still share the same passion in emceeing.
3. Microphones... Do they make a difference?
Hoong Ling only talk and emcee, full stop. She comes, she finishes her job and mingles around and goes home. Same experience when she was a TV Presenter for Selamat Pagi Malaysia. Also, she can't hear on the left ear so forget about surround sound systems! Pillai is very particular with sound system owing to his years of experience as a DJ. He has his own team and even own PA System set as well as his own microphones.
4. Detailed Or Tell It Like It Is?
Being a detailed person, Hoong Ling likes to write scripts and have templates for her to fill in the blanks, copy and paste certain sentences and only take a couple of hours to prepare script for any full-day event. She is so particular with titles, names and designations that she researches, calls and asks and prepares complete scripts. Pillai prefers point forms and tell it like it is guided by simple script. While both have strengths, both will also share experiences so students learn from the BEST of BOTH worlds.
KT Pillai and Hoong Ling will both conduct PROMPT Basic and PROMPT Workshop.
Butterflies flying in the stomach when speaking?
Fear of speaking in front of the public is the number one fear, above death and disease. Many people admire those who have the courage to speak fearlessly in front of the public. Professional MCs do it all the time and we often have people coming to us to say, "How I wish I can speak like you!"
But do professional emcees speak without fear at all? Do they go up the stage and can speak just immediately? All people have stage frights, no matter who. There were times where we too came across moments we shook our legs, our bodies shiver and butterflies seem to fly in the stomachs.
The trick is to know HOW to overcome all these symptoms. Calmy palms, sweating, body shivers, legs shaking and even butterfly stomachs are all normal when someone is faced with anxiety and fright. The key is to hide it as much as possible and overcome that moment.
If you know anxiety makes your hands shake, try not to hold papers and show the audience your fears. If you know you sweat or have calmy palms, equip yourself with a handkerchief to wipe it off and tell the sweat "STOP coming out!" Identify your own ways to calm yourself and use it when you have stage frights.
To learn more on how to counter all these fears, KT Pillai will teach you during the PROMPT Basic training.
Dos and Don'ts of a MC
During an official state function, a Master of Ceremonies also acts as a protocol officer. Thus, knowledge in protocols will be very important. There are many Dos and Don'ts of a MC particularly in the way an event is conducted.
I have personally seen an emcee sits on the VIP's chair when the VIP is giving a speech.
I have seen emcees who asked audience to stand up for national anthem but forgot to invite everyone to be seated, leaving the audience confused and half left standing for next in line of the event, while the emcee continue reading his script.
I have also seen emcees who announced "Thank You" too early and guests start leaving the hall thinking the event is done, but the emcee has not finished with acknowledgement and the many announcements.
Learn more about Dos and Don'ts of a Master of Ceremonies in our PROMPT Basic training.
MC or emcee?
According to Wikipedia, a Master of Ceremonies (MC or compere) is the host of a staged event or similar performance. An MC usually presents performers, speaks to the audience, and generally keeps the event moving. An MC may also tell jokes or anecdotes. The MC sometimes also acts as the protocol officer during an official state function. In hip hop music, rock music and electronic dance music, an MC is a music artist and/or performer who usually creates and performs vocals for his own original material (not to be confused with a DJ who plays party music and creates music mixes). MCs are not limited to rapping; singing is often used in hardstyle and metal music.
According to Dictionary.com, an emcee is a Master of Ceremonies.
So there you go, Master of Ceremonies, Emcee, Compere... Since MCs have multiple roles, they also have multiple titles to their profession.
Learn more about being a Master of Ceremonies in our PROMPT Basic and PROMPT Workshop.
A powerful news headline
A powerful news headline is the most important in the news industry. The first paragraph of the story will set the readers to read on.
Just like a news headline, a Master of Ceremonies need to also have a powerful "headline". It is called an opening spiel (pronounced as "spill").
Although an emcee is the most important person and is addressed even before the VIPs, it is still a backstage role. Audience will only listen to an emcee if they find a reason to do so. Thus, a powerful opening spiel sets the whole event and earn respect from the audience.
There are many ways to create your own opening spiel. KT Pillai and Hoong Ling both use multi-lingual opening spiels which often stunt the crowd at the very beginning of the event.
Learn how to create your own killer opening spiel at the PROMPT Basic where KT and Hoong Ling bring you to a journey to Learn PROMPTly, Master PROMPTly and Earn PROMPTly!