MC with MEi

YIKES!! This can be an anxiety attack ready to happen; but it shouldn't be. Those who chose to be malcontents or disruptions to an evening are NOT your problem! Today we discuss how a loud mouth schnook can build character, confidence and even your reputation for strength and poise. AND I relate a story from recently where I was cornered by an audience member at an intermission and how that played out. You need to hang out with us for this one :-).

No one ever went into medieval battle with just one arrow! Few become professional athletic stars by only ever playing one sport their whole life. And no one has ever become a successful public speaker by practicing just one discipline. Today we talk about the varied disciplines in this field and how they all correlate and compliment one another. AND we discuss how some proficiency at many can help tremendously with the one you specialize in.

Normally a phrase reserved for sports. The "pace of play" dictates the offence in soccer, football, hockey and basketball...and id controlled by the defence in baseball. They who control or dictate the pace of play are normally victorious. In public speaking it is exactly the same way; if you as the Master of ceremonies have control over the pace of the flow that the evening follows then every event should start on time, end on time and the overall guest satisfaction should be as high as possible. Lets dedicate a few minutes to the comparison between the "pace of play" as a speaker with that of a professional footballer.

I once had a comedian take me under his wing and taught me how to search for and find "my voice". I didn't understand what he meant at first but it dawned on me years later when I had realized that I indeed have a unique "voice" that differentiated me from everyone else doing what I do. We cover that today. Comedy aside, and that is NOT what this episode is about, with a voice comes confidence, and from confidence comes the ability to be creative. And we are a creative people.

It starts with YOU. You've heard that before everywhere from TV ads to messages scrawled on public toilet walls. But I take a radically different spin. This is the start of a new component of "MC with Mei: The Dailies"; welcome to the new regular "Motivational Fridays". Today to close the week, and send you frolicking off for the weekend, I walk you through who really matters and who you really need to feel comfortable with as an audience member. Hint Hint! - This edition is titled "Mirror Mirror".

Too many do this "because that's the way we've always done it". Unacceptable! There a myriad ways to stage an event and achieve success so we all need to step back and see the forest for the trees. Today's "Daily" is a suggestion as to how organizers can retain much more money raised for their charity and how all events, that have a densely packed program, can still keep their total running time to under 4 hours from reception to teardown.

There is a virus among those who are asked to conduct an interview. We've all witnessed it; on radio, television; in sports, entertainment, music and even economics! It's like the Zombie Apocalypse of a once proud and informational medium of broadcast. It is now being laid to waste by this awful tragic wave that has overcome the industry. But you can rise above this all and bring balance to the galaxy (maybe a bit too strong). If you are a really good public speaker then you will want to open up your options for booking and you will find this being asked of you.

You are hired by a charity event but you do not get your normal asking fee and they can not offer any more money. There is a way where all parties can still benefit but it has to be done right. They who have hired you must be legally registered as a charity and they must have the experience to do this. Follow along, it's a procedure but if you understand it, it can help a lot.

The is SOOOO much more than just an intro of an act for the concert event. Then it is "next level" when it is an event that includes 10 guest artists, who all need to be recognized BUT the show still has to start and end on time OR no merchandise moves. This is a TALL mountain to scale but it is totally doable if you plan to scale the agenda. And that can only happen if you are invested in the event with the organizer and work together to map it out for time. Today I rap out how we got this done.....which is good....cuz we are doing it again in 2 weeks for another sold-out crowd in Toronto!!

This is the part of the job I like the least...not the getting paid part....the asking to get paid part. It is easily the most uncomfortable for us as Masters of Ceremonies and Public Speakers, at large, because we are drivers of the energy and attention and fun and emotion. How does the "fun guy" then switch the tone to "business guy" without spoiling the mood or appear phone? The secret is that we are all over-thinking it! Today on "The Dailies" we brief on some techniques I've learned from very well established: MCs, DJ companies, photographers, videographers, entertainers, keynote speakers, caterers and event rental companies. I have listened to and learned from the whole spectrum of event professionals. This is what I have gleaned over the years.