MCing

How do you keep a restless audience focussed and motivated to stay for the long haul? It's a set of million dollar questions. Get it right and you deserve every bit of the high fees paid for co-ordinating an event. Not everyone does.

I attend an enormous number of events where the MC strolls up to the microphone and ad libs a 'performance' that might be mildly entertaining but misses the mark. The event is not about you. It's tapping your skills and your profile into the industry. You are there because you're a 'name' but you're also there to take on the tough job of herding speakers and entertainers through a tight schedule. It's wise to remember this.

There's also plenty of home work. Pre-production should be part of the fee you charge. It's simply not good enough to pitch up on the day and ask "so what do you want me to do?" The preparation includes: getting difficult names pronounced properly, dignitaries' titles correct, checking with the sound engineer, speaking to the banqueting manager about the flow of food courses (get this wrong and waiters will be clearing tables during key speeches) and handling last-minute changes to schedule (there are ALWAYS changes). I take MCing work extremely seriously.

Here are some of the events I have done:

• Daimler Chrysler Art Awards
• Diners Club Wine Maker of the Year
• SA Congress of Shopping Centres:
• Renault Emerging Artists Programme
• Cape Grace Fashion Show

Client Testimonials

"We were privileged to have you as our keynote speaker. You set the tone for our seminar and your participation was an integral part of its success. Thank you for being the engaging, spontaneous person that you are. Who you are as a person and as a public speaker cannot be separated. We so valued your incredible sense of humour and your great compassion which was so apparent in your address. You had the audience eating out of the palm of your hand. You will be one of our honoured guests at the next seminar in 2006."
- Debby Silver (Jewish Women's League)

"We are slowly recovering from the Congress last week! There is no doubt is was the most successful SACSC event to date and we were honoured to have you in charge of the stage. The delegates thoroughly enjoyed it and derived meaningful 'take-home' value. The SACSC mission accomplished, thank you for your part. It really was a pleasure working with you, I was SO impressed with your behind-the-scenes work which made all the difference to the outcome. I have no doubt we'll work together again..."
- Sally Keeling (SACSC Conference Organiser)

"On behalf of the South African Council of Shopping Centres and the Congress Organising Committee I wish to offer our very sincere thanks for a job well done. Your approach was such that you have given a lot of yourself, and you are also the ideal shopper for any shopping centre. A number of speakers mentioned that never in their past have they been introduced in the way you did. This clearly indicates the touch, the empathy and good planning on your side. You handled all the small crises we ended up with extremely well and calmly. Once again, thank you very much and I hope we will be in touch in the future."
- Dirk A. Prinsloo (Chairman: Congress Organising Committee 2005)