MC with MEi

This is what everyone strives for so lets start here! This is the client with traditionally the biggest budget, biggest impact, invites the biggest house and puts on the biggest function, engaging the biggest collection of vendors and therefore has the slimmest margin for error, so stands with the most to lose if it all goes to hell! HOWEVER, they are also traditionally the client who either spends $0 on the most important component of the night...a trained, experienced and and polished Master of Ceremonies. To be hired for The Corporate Event, means you fail if you do not exceed their expectations! This week we dive to the bottom of the deep end on this one and come up ready. Let's go!

We've covered what it takes to get you the gig, now you need to impress at the gig. If I told you that I could see the future and be able to see an entire timeline of events from start to finish, before it even happens, would you take that bet? This week, I outline all that you need to look for and prep for to get you from "Welcome" to "Good Night". Think you know all there is that could go wrong...think again. I have situations that you could not have anticipated unless you have already spent years in this business. You are going to love this episode...lots went wrong...and it's a great laugh while we learn how to not let this happen to you.

We all grew up with the motto "Be Prepared". It was adapted by the Boy Scouts of America and has since grown to the annual "Emergency Preparedness Week" in many countries. But for us, Masters of Ceremonies, it takes on a myriad meanings and failure to "Be Prepared" can have critical and oftentimes irreparable consequences. I have some hilarious, albeit embarrassing, case studies of my own that we will all learn from. Before we discuss the intricate details of the different types of events, we NEED to make sure you are ready!

All events hinge on "the sum of the whole". A massive component, and the area where the most money is invested by any organizing committee, is the venue; but more to the point, the food. No one remembers what the venue looked like but they will always recall the lousy food or regale the brilliant cuisine! That is as much to do with the quality service as it is the food itself. The service depends on coordination of the Dining Room manager (or Maitre'D)....and for that reason they depend on you conducting the actual flow of events. You now just lifted the weight of the night onto your shoulders by the way :). Buckle up! - You will need this episode to move on.

You and the dining room manager or head wait staff need to be dialed in to each other. Take that responsibility from the organizer who has a million other things to do, and you will be golden. Your floor responsibility is now MUCH more involved that the mic...but THIS separates you from everyone else and will earn you the reputation you need to progress.  

Good rep with dining room managers will go a long way in the MC networks. "You and the Maitre’D", coming this Monday!!

This is NOT a fashion advise episode!! Not even close. But there is a strategy to play a role and look the part. Not unlike film or stage actors; when you are cast in the role of Master of Ceremonies, what separates you from the "pretenders" is how you "own" each role. This, for many, is the make-or-break factor for whether or not they get re-hired by that group or committee. You have to care. But first you have to know how to play this to win this. You will win with this episode of MC with MEi!

!THIS IS NOT A FASHION ADVISE EPISODE! But, it is important that the image you present is in keeping with the dress code, tone or theme of the event. How you are perceived is always initiated by how you look. You never want to under dress, but over-dressing could be just as disastrous. But so many never bring it up at their consultation because they take for granted the whole concept of appearance. "When is a suit, not a suit"? When it was NOT supposed to be a suit!! This week we cover the mind-set, strategy, and secrets behind "dressing the part". It's not rocket science, but it IS a science.

Part 2 of the "scale Event" series concludes this week. Last week we discussed how to make the massive event feel intimate and this week we do it in reverse. You have a gathering of 20, 30, 40 or a few more but they want it to have "the feel" that it was a grand scale event. Again, NOT impossible! I get into the mindset, and the vision you need to be prepared. I also arm you with the questions to ask at the consultation and even what you need to be on the look out for when you get to th event before any guests arrive. AND I give you my favourite activity that can be used as an ice-breaker, team builder, monetary fundraiser and tactic to just open the scope of the venue itself. This is a BIG episode so maybe be ready to either take notes or play it back couple of times. This discussion will take you to the "next level".

Last week we went in depth on the challenge of having to make that massive venue event feel more intimate. Today is the flip-side of that where we have to take a more modest sized event but make it feel to everyone like it was way bigger in scope! It is a lot of reverse engineering, strategy, manipulation, illusion and focus. Sound daunting? It should; this is what separates the "doers" from the "daydreamers". :). AND I lay out the blueprint behind my favourite 5-tool activity that wins every time!

The challenge, hold the attention of a large scale gathering in a way that it feels like a more intimate setting. Is it magic? No, but it is strategy and focus and grace. This week I outline not only the very rudimentary techniques to achieve this "mission impossible", but I also delve into the far more technical and specialized points of reference. This is very high-level stuff now, but it all fits in its place. I also have a case study that I believe will bring it all to live in vivid colour. This is part 1 of "Scale to Measure" where next week, we make that smaller gathering feel massive.