Written and published by Rachel Green.
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In this edition:
- The anxiety of facing an audience.
- Latest news: 3rd Edition of "The beginner's guide to being a Master of Ceremonies" now out.
- Top tips on: Five ways to be a brilliant master of ceremonies or speaker.
- Buy one E-book and get another one F.R.E.E.
- Laugh your socks off.
1. The anxiety of facing an audience.
Have you ever been invited to compere the work seminar, a conference or maybe even your friend's wedding and turned white at the thought? It's a tough job being a master of ceremonies. Simply standing in front of an audience can turn some people to pulp even without the extra responsibilities of having to manage the programme of a conference, or get other speakers on and off the stage, or do all the toasts at a wedding. But there is hope, even if you are anxious, once you know exactly what to do the terror can ease, and there are ways to reduce the anxiety. It is also important for you to know that just because you are anxious standing in front of an audience it doesn't mean you can't do it really well. In fact, sometimes performance anxiety can be a friend that keeps you alert and on the ball. Honestly, having some anxiety can give me an edge when I am presenting; if I am too relaxed I don't always think so quickly.
I have recently been able to watch other public speakers and masters of ceremonies in action, and have noticed a few problems that some of them have, especially when nerves take over. One spoke so quickly that the audience couldn't even keep up with him and the sound system reverberated constantly so our ears were jarred. Another didn't know what to do with his hands so he alternated between strangling the lectern and standing with his hands in his pocket - not a good look when he was introducing a speaker!
Yet the master of ceremonies is a very important person. He or she can make the difference between a dull event and a wonderful one. Similarly, a rushed, nervous or boring presenter can make an audience passive, whilst a relaxed, well-paced and interesting one can excite the audience. If you have any problems with your public speaking or being a master of ceremonies read on to the tips section to find out ways to overcome your performance anxiety, win your audience over and be brilliant.
2. Latest news: 3rd Edition of "Master of Ceremonies" E-book now out with a brand new section on being a wedding master of ceremonies.
It was just released today - the 3rd and expanded edition of "How to be a brilliant Master of Ceremonies" E-book. It is the E-book that most of our customers buy. It will help you to speak to any audience and to compere an event. The 3rd edition contains brand new tips on e.g. on how to connect to an audience, what to do with your hands, and a whole new section on being a master of ceremony at a wedding. And, I am thrilled to say, there are also ten additional tips for wedding MCs from a DJ's viewpoint, by Adrian Makarov, a professional DJ at weddings from Goldbass Records in Western Australia.
To have it delivered instantly to your e-mail box click here.
3. Five ways to be a brilliant master of ceremonies or speaker.
Tip 1: Don't indulge your nerves - pump yourself up.
I was driving on the way to give a conference speech this morning and I was singing at the top of my voice to some heartfelt gospel type blues on one of my all time favourite CDs - Mercy Train by Paul Gioia. Why? Because it pumped up my energy and every presenter needs energy. However, when people are nervous they often allow their nerves to consume them - they give in to them, they indulge them totally. They drive to a presentation worrying about what may go wrong. They tell themselves it is going to be awful, that they hate presenting, and that it will be good when it is all over. What good does this do? No good at all - it just makes people even more nervous. It is not where confidence comes from. Instead, develop ways to use your nervous energy, to let the energy move you not freeze you; to get energy flowing in your system. Get pumped up, not worn down, before being a master of ceremonies or speaking in public. Singing at the top of my voice does it for me, what can do it for you?
Tip 2: Pause at full stops.
Pause. Yes, this may sound simple but pausing is absolutely essential for the audience. However, a pause can seem like eternity to you and you may therefore make them shorter than needed. You need to pause at your full stops, i.e. at the end of your sentences. Why do you need to pause? A pause allows the time needed for what you have said to travel to the back of the auditorium and reach everyone. A pause allows the audience to absorb what you have said. A pause allows the audience to process what has been said. The general rule is the larger the venue the longer you need to pause. Why? Because your sound has to travel further.
Tip 3: You don't have to crack jokes to be a brilliant master of ceremonies or presenter.
Masters of ceremonies who are new to the role, (and some old hands) often make the mistake of thinking that they have to tell a whole series of jokes. You do not have to tell jokes. But if you do tell jokes make sure they are in very good taste and you know that they will not offend anyone. Make sure your jokes are INCLUSIVE, not exclusive. If you do tell jokes do not tell a lot. An occasional joke scattered across the event is sufficient. The master of ceremonies is there to see that the event flows easily, and to organise the entertainment, not be the entertainment. Instead of jokes, personal stories that are specific to the particular occasion are best.
Tip 4: Do not be script bound - be flexible to the moment.
Please do not think, as a master of ceremonies or speaker, that you can script everything you are going to say, word for word, before the event. Please do not expect to, or try to, read a script word for word on the day either. This does not give you enough flexibility.
Being a master of ceremonies requires you to not only relate to your audience in a comfortable way, but to also adapt to whatever is happening in each moment. You can't monitor what is happening or how the audience is reacting if you have your face down in a script.
Recently I saw a master of ceremonies at a big event be script bound. His face never left the page. He did nothing to embrace the audience. At one stage he was so busy reading the script that he told us all to stand up to greet the dignitary he was introducing. It was silly. Why? Because we were already standing. He was too script bound to notice.
Tip 5: Make sure everyone involved has the same running sheet.
Timing of the event that you are being the master of ceremonies for is crucial. Prepare a minute by minute timing sheet of everything that is going to happen. This includes time for speakers to come on and off the stage, time for announcements, time for thanks and introductions, and so on.
Once you have this sheet make sure that everyone involved has a copy - the speakers, the audio-visual technicians, the photographers, the caterers, etc. It will help the event to run smoothly.
For example, if you are the master of ceremonies at a wedding your running sheet will include information as to when the caterers will fill the glasses for the toasts; when the photographers need to be ready for the cake cutting; when the bride and groom will do the first dance; and so on.
4. How to learn more about being a brilliant master of ceremony and speaker.
"A Master of Ceremonies: A beginner's guide to being a brilliant MC."
I have been a professional speaker for years and during that time have been a master of ceremonies and watched other MCs in action. I have therefore collected together everything I think a beginning master of ceremony needs to know to do a really good job; and put it altogether in an E-book for you. You don't have to learn the hard way like I did! Instead, you can know exactly what you need to do from the very first time that you are asked to MC a seminar, conference, awards night, wedding, farewell or other event. And, if you are already experienced as an MC I bet there is still something in here that you don't know.
AU$25.00 have it delivered straight to your e-mail box. Order now!
Bonus: If you buy this E-book on the website no later than Wednesday 13th June 2007, then you will receive a F.R.E.E. copy of another E-book, "What to do when women cry." It's a must read for women and men, worth $25. To be eligible for the free copy you must order through our On-line Book and CD store and on the order form where it says "How did you hear about this product?" click "NEWSLETTER." Don't miss out - hurry as this offer closes, Wednesday 13th June 2007. This offer is ONLY available to Rachel's Reflections Readers.
5. Laugh your socks off.
Thanks to one of our Rachel's Reflections readers, Amy Carney, from the RAC, for this fortnight’s joke.
Q: Why was 6 scared of 7?
A: Because 7 8 9.
If you have some clean jokes we can use, please send your contributions to
May you enjoy talking to an audience and being a great master of ceremonies.
Until next fortnight,
With kindness,
Rachel.
Further information for you
If you'd like me to speak at your function or seminar on happiness, emotional intelligence, confidence, presentation skills, staying calm with negative people, emotionally intelligent customer service, or a similar topic; or MC your event; or provide you with 1-1 coaching; e-mail or call +61 8 9390 1188.
Learn in your own time.
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Disclaimer: The information in this newsletter is of a general nature and may not suit everyone or every situation. While every care has been taken to ensure it is useful and appropriate, no responsibility can be taken for the results gained from its implementation.
Please seek individual professional guidance for any difficulties you may have with your event management, communication, speech writing, presentation skills, inter-personal relationships or psychological well-being. Thank you.
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