Why the Event Emcee, Host or Panel Moderator is the Number One Key to Your Event!
Let’s be honest. We have all been to corporate events, conferences and seminars at some stage – perhaps multiple times. Most of us are either there by choice, or simply because it is an unspoken mandate by the bosses, and you simply have to show face and network to get that business.
Not all corporate seminars or panel discussions are created equal. We have all been to some absolutely amazing events, where the audience is dazzled by the music, the lights, the speakers, truly being swept up by the passion and depth of the messaging of the event. It leads to true engagement, leaving you full of ideas from with the inspirational words of the motivational speakers and industry leaders, ready to apply your learnings to your business.
We have also all been to some seminars and events we can either never properly remember, or that we simply choose to forget. They were uninspired, lacking in pizazz, and felt more like an obligation we had to endure, rather than something that we thrive at attending. The atmosphere is flat, the speakers monotone, the audio visual challenging you to cover your ears and wait for it all to be over. There was simply no flow to the event; it was disjointed.
Whichever experience you have had from the above – good or bad – there is ALWAYS one common denominator at events, conferences, seminars and corporate seminars. Can you guess what it is?
That’s right, hopefully if the title of this piece has caught your eye, you already know what I am about to say. Yes, it is, and strikingly so, the person who leads and nurtures the event from the stage. The person whose job it is to ensure smooth transitions between the speakers, creating a seamless run of show and flow that allows for the audience to be engaged, wave after wave.
The Event Emcee/Host & Panel Moderator.
Think back to any event you have ever been to – whether it is a large corporate gala with thousands of guests in attendance, or simply a housewarming with a bunch of your mates. In both of these instances, I’m pretty sure that how the event went, was largely down to the Event Host, Event Emcee & Panel Moderator creating the right atmosphere for people to be inspired.
The Event Emcee, Host & Panel Moderator, no matter if the audience comprises five people or five thousand, sets the tone for the evening. They feed off the crowd, gauging their mood and controlling the tempo of the room, much like a high school teacher commanding their classroom. If they cannot do this job effectively, steering their audience in the way that inspires and engages, then, much like in a high school classroom, chaos ensues!
The Corporate or Conference Event Emcee or Host is THE critical cog in the whole event wheel. You could have ideated, produced and put on the best show the world has ever seen, but that all comes crashing down if you don’t have the right person on stage to sew and weave all your hard work together as a Panel Moderator, Event Emcee and Host. I cannot tell you the amount of times I have seen huge investments and hard work from event planners go to waste, the second the Event Emcee or Host gets up on stage and doesn’t get the job done.
This isn’t a dig at those event emcees, not at all. After all, they have the courage to get up onto the stage in front of all those people, and try their very best to engage the audience and speakers. Not many people are able to do that. Most of the time, these event hosts have been assigned the role, and have reluctantly accepted. They usually work at the company for which the event is planned, and their colleagues all reckon they will be amazing. “How can they not be? He has such a fantastic personality, and my, is he funny! Plus he comes free!”
Unfortunately, this is not the case. If it were, then every Tom, Dick and Harry could do it. As well-intentioned as these courageous colleagues are, we need to realize that there is so much more getting up on that stage, than simply being a good speaker and event emcee.
Hiring a professional Panel Moderator, Emcee or Host is the best investment you can make as an event planner. Here’s why:
- A Professional Panel Moderator & Event Emcee Sets the Tone for the Event
The Event Emcee conveys the messaging of a company’s brand, product, service or milestone celebration with the right tone. He or she serves as the face of your event; they are the Ambassador for your event. They know how to maintain their poise should any technical issues arise, and they are well versed in engaging audiences with warmth, energy, excitement and emotion. They are chameleons – they adapt to the messaging you as the event planner want to give, and know how to interact with the audience in such a way that this message is spot on. Partnering with an expert Event Host, Panel Moderator and Emcee (MC) gives events that impetus to maximize their impact with attendees, employees, leaders and speakers!
2. An Excellent Return on Investment.
So you have a budget – big or small, it doesn’t matter. You want to get the most out of it, and that’s understandable. You want to put on an event that is memorable, and that will be talked about by the company or organization for a long time to come. You spend 95% of your budget on A/V, a popular band, tasty food and beverage, gifts for guests, motivational speakers, CEO’s – the list goes on. Finally, you save the last 5% of the budget for the Event Host & Moderator. Sometimes they are even an afterthought, as setting up the event has to be the first priority, right?
Well, I would suggest it is the other way around. The FIRST thing the best event planners do, aside from make the crucial decision on venue, is to decide upon and book who will run the show. After all, if you can’t get the right on-stage presence, the perfect person to show off all the hard work you have done in producing the event or conference, then it is all for nothing. I hate to say it, but that is the reality. In essence, a Professional Event Emcee & Panel Moderator makes all your efforts SHINE, and your event stand out.
Setting aside a healthy budget to secure a Professional & Experienced Event Emcee or Host will guarantee that, if you have planned all other aspects of your event right, they will be the icing on your amazing cake!
3. A Great Panel Moderator & Host Keeps Audiences & Speakers Engaged
Keeping the audience energized and engaged is crucial for your event host! Attendees have to feel compelled & inspired to sit through hours of what they may sometimes feel to be a chore. They need some lightness, energy and inspiration to lift their spirits. They want to connect and feel – humans are a tactile species after all! An effective Event Emcee brings energy, enthusiasm, warmth and charisma to guests and the Panel Speakers, many of whom have traveled long distances to be there. They will get so much more out of the event if they feel positive and energized! Humor, interaction and charisma are three key ingredients that the right Panel Moderator or Event Host possesses in abundance
4. An Experienced Emcee Knows how to Make Things Flow
Driving the event forward and keeping sessions on schedule, a professional Emcee pulls everything together by segueing from one topic or section to the next, reinforcing your intended messages. A skilled Event Host adapts to speakers running over their allotted time and manages unexpected issues with spontaneous adaptation and ease. The Event Emcee will ensure that any pauses are not uncomfortable; they will continue to maintain the event flow, by either speeding up their own delivery, or slowing things down in order to keep things on schedule. Time management, confidence, flexibility, and a keen awareness and ability to read the room ensure that your audience gets the most out of their event experience. Most importantly, Event Hosts & Panel Moderators are natural conversationalists, with insightful questions for the panel speakers, and an ability to moderate in a nature and fluid fashion.
5. The Emcee or Event Host Ensures the Night is Memorable
When your guests wake up the morning after you event, conference, seminar or corporate function, how do you want them to feel?
The best post-event reactions almost always center upon certain moments of the night. The night can be hugely successful for a whole range of reasons. The food was excellent, the music fantastic, the speakers’ topics engaging. However, if you have a bad Event Host, Panel Moderator or Emcee, one that didn’t quite click with the audience or messaging, then all that good stuff will fall away in the guests’ memories, to be replaced by the poor impression left by the one person who is supposed to tie it all together.
So make sure to focus on getting the right Event Host and Panel Moderator on stage. They will make everything better, I promise!
To find out more about how I can help your cause, event, gala, corporate function, panel moderation – or even ask for some advice on getting the most out of your event, do get in touch!
Jordan Campbell is a British Emcee, Host, Benefit Auctioneer & Speaker based in Atlanta, Georgia. He has hosted hundreds of events around the world, with big and small companies alike. His international experience, charisma and flair for professional presenting, makes his a much sought after on-stage presence for Corporates and Event Companies across Atlanta and the United States!