How to Be an Effective Emcee

The emcee for an event, whether it's an awards ceremony, corporate presentation or an elementary school talent show, dictates the tone and pace of the entire production. Be an effective host with a combination of good timing, humor and attention to detail.

Instructions

1. Familiarize yourself with the organization, event and acts or speakers you'll be introducing. Ask for information or scripts ahead of time so you can practice your introductions and ensure you know how to pronounce the names correctly.

2. Confirm your arrival time, what you should wear, and if there's anything you need to bring. Arrive early so you have plenty of time to walk the space and conduct a dress rehearsal with the podium, cue cards or microphone. The more you prepare, the more effective, comfortable and confident you'll be.

3. Keep the show moving at the proper pace. You may need to shorten your introductions, improvise to stretch, or even gently usher someone off stage if he stalls or takes too much time to deliver an acceptance speech, for example. Create smooth transitions from one act to the next if you're the emcee of a variety show.

4. Display your sense of humor to keep the introductions lively, but steer clear of any off-color or potentially offensive jokes that may shock the audience or embarrass the event's sponsors.

5. Build anticipation to get the audience excited to see the person you're introducing. Research their background for fascinating tidbits, or ask them for a "teaser" for their speech or act.

6. Realize you're not the star of the show. The audience is there to see the acts and award winners or speakers, so work with them rather than outshine them. Try not to talk so much that you cut into the time dedicated to the actual show.