Left: Mr. Rob Salisbury, Right: Me

In this new term, at Braddell Heights Advanced Toastmasters Club, under the lead of the new president Benjamin Cheng, we kick-started our very first professional series workshop. The professional speaker whom he has invited is Mr. Rob Salisbury.

Here is the background of the speaker. Rob is the author of the best selling CD series “How to MC almost anything” and co-contributor to eight best selling books. Amongst just 500 professionals worldwide to have earned the coveted Certified Speaking Professional designation, CSP is the benchmark and highest international speaking accreditation one can attain from the USA and Australian National Speakers Association. As a certified trainer, professional speaker, emcee, host and panel moderator Rob has been hired over 1700 times in the USA, Europe, SE Asia, Australia and New Zealand.

We are privilege to invite him to speak on the topic “How to be a Great MC or Host for any Event”.

Below are the 15 pointers in “How to be a great MC and host for any event”
1) MC mindset and skills
- As a MC, he has to think of serving the people first.

2) MC moderator, role
- An MC has to know his role very well.

3) The MC is not a speaker, entertainer or comic.
- Then what is an MC? He is the host of the whole event. He has to take charge of the responsibility in ensuring the programs are smoothly running one by one.

4) Observe Academy & MTV Awards
- Academy & MTV Awards are always hosted by a world-class great MC. It’s good to learn from the best of the best.

5) Event briefings, theme and run sheets.
- Before the event, an MC has to find out the exact theme of the event and what are the programs that they are having.

6) Lights, camera, action
- Make sure everything is ready before starting the event.

7) Air-con, microphones, door, technology, room logistics.
- Make sure that there will be no distractive stuff like dim lightings, a clock on a stage, noisy door and others.

8 ) 7 Ps of a great event
- Proper Pre-planning Preparation Prevent Pitiful Performance in Public

9) Event opening, people introduction, thank you.
- Bear in mind that good-manner is very important. The event opening must be appropriate to the theme of the event. All the people to be on stage are to be introduced with sincerity and accurate details. Thank the speaker, performers and those who come on stage.

10) Good, bad, ugly venues
- Be aware of where the good, bad, ugly venues are. Try to avoid standing at the bad and ugly venues.

11) 10-> 5-> 2 minutes => Time’s up.
- Get a guy to time your speech and give you signal of the timing.

12) Music, breaks, transition
- To refresh audience’s mind, it’s good to wear a different custome after break. The easiest one would be a change of tie.

13) Auctions, raffles, give aways.
- Inject excitement to auctions, raffles and give aways.

14) Wear a badge with name
- Let the audience recognize and know you.

15) Show time - getting people in the ballroom to start on time.
- Think of innovative ideas to get people back to the room before event starts or after break.