Q&A for How to Be a Good Master of Ceremonies

Gather some stories from the faculty and students, and consider telling short versions of them in your speech or your transitions!

If you're nervous about emceeing a wedding, practice your public speaking, and work with the engaged couple to adjust the role to your comfort level, taking on less work or public speaking as you might otherwise.

If you're unsure, it's best to introduce them in the order of their appearance on stage (which is usually in the order of their importance, anyway).

The MC might help prepare the program in some cases, but that's a job usually saved for the event organizers.

Hold the microphone away from your face so the audience can see you, but close enough for your voice to be picked up by the mic. When a guest speaker comes to the mic, hang around to help them adjust it before you take your seat.

Stay simple, natural and fluid. Stick with the program and try not overthink on becoming "awesome" on the first try. Manage your segment transitions. Be prepared when and what to say. If you're not funny or witty, don't try to be. Just be yourself and bank on your strengths. Open strong and end with a bang. Don't forget to introduce yourself and always be mindful of what you say.

There is no definite answer for this. However, it's a good rule-of-thumb that if you're not naturally funny, don't try to be. If you are a comic, you should know what's appropriate for your audience. If you want to use humor, use something event-relative, but don't put anyone on the spot.

Watch shows and emulate how professional MCs act. Be relaxed and flexible, and create a comfortable relationship between yourself and the crowd.

One-liners work best. Don't try too hard unless you are very close to the couple.

Know your audience before the event, practice and ask for constructive feedback after each event.

Get background information about the celebration, those involved and those being feted. Prepare an outline of little talks, intros and the like, that incorporate the most important and interesting points about those people. Run it past a trusted person who knows them before doing your presentations.

Go to events and watch other MCs work for inspiration.

It depends on the program and the type of MC you are, but I would think that would be fine as long as you're still doing your job.

There's always a first time! Prepare as much as you can and then go for it!

Make a joke about the people in the audience, the setting or the event itself.

Practice, practice, practice! Join Toastmasters. There will be a club near you. There, you can practice your skills at club meetings, club events and conferences.

It simply depends on the type of event and setting, be it showbiz, traditional wedding, white wedding, conference, executive, etc. Also, think of those attending.

"Relationships are like fat people, most of them don't work out."

A real MC always has his own style, but protocol says identify the event you are hosting first, and, at the close of the intro (before the "sit back, relax and enjoy" part), you can introduce yourself.

Instead of those, I would use "moving on to" instead.

You need to have a social media platform to advertise yourself. If there is an association, get registered, and also meet other MCs and get some advice about how to get started.

Start with an opening prayer, and then introduce yourself and tell the guest the purpose of the gathering.

Being an MC improves your public speaking and communication skills. Since it involves preparation, you eventually become knowledgeable on various things.