Resigned to mediocrity, audience members sigh and reach for their smartphones. Just when their audience’s level of eager anticipation has peaked, these emcees vacuum it right out of the room in a sudden, one-sentence whoosh. I’m startled by how often I see speakers start with self-deprecating declarations like these. In effect, they’re telling their audiences, “I’m going to suck, but before you judge me, consider my circumstances.” ”Īnxious emcees tend to blurt out these statements the moment they take the stage, in an uncontainable, last-ditch effort to lower expectations and increase sympathy for their plight. “I was just asked to step in and didn’t have time to prepare.” “This is my first time doing this, so bear with me.” Have you ever seen an emcee (or a speaker in any context) start a speech like this? If each one of them laughs until milk comes out of their nose…don’t use it anyway. Get their honest feedback and take it to heart. First, deliver it for your boss, co-worker, intern, infant, ingrate, someone. Still absolutely insist on opening with a scripted joke? OK, then. That’s the glory (and the risk) of the emcee role. In fact, you get credit for anything funny that happens in your event. Now here’s the best part: as the emcee, you get the credit for both the other person’s funny setup and your funny rejoinder. (When they do, remember: start speaking again when their laughter has died down about halfway.) And because your audience recognizes your retort’s context, and detects not a whiff of underlying neediness, they are far more likely to respond with the uproarious laughter you crave. Someone in your audience or on stage will say or do something spontaneously that cries out for a funny retort.īecause you’re relaxed, you’ll recognize this moment, invent the right retort, and deliver it with just the right flair. In that state, your mind free of anxiety and interacting with your crowd, trust me: moments will naturally present themselves that are ripe for humor. It erupts when you’re relaxed on stage, engaging freely with your audience, and not worrying about every detail of the proceedings. In my experience, the best humor at live events is spontaneous. Instead, let the funny find you, and seize it when it does. It does mean you shouldn’t force the funny. Was I polling the audience at this recent emcee gig in Washington, D.C., about the pitfalls of opening with a joke? I’ll never tell. In fact, unless you’re a professional comedian and you’ve honed your razor-sharp comedy writing skills through countless performances in subterranean comedy clubs, I’d suggest staying away from scripted jokes altogether. Your joke lacks the context (situation, story, slide, etc.) to help it floatĪnd when your joke falls flat, instead of uproarious laughter, you’ll be greeted with blank stares and the sound of the guy in the last row coughing.Your audience hears a “Please love me!” needy subtext that alienates them.Reasons vary, but generally it’s because: Opening jokes are notorious for falling flat. You’ll have more fun, create a better experience, and your audience will thank you.Ħ Tips to Make Your Seminar or Event Emcee Script Sparkleġ0 PowerPoint Alternatives That Make Your Presentation MemorableĪdmit it: when you first accepted your emcee role, you hastily raced through your mental Rolodex of jokes (readers under 35: this is a Rolodex) for a snappy one-liner you could use to initiate enough uproarious laughter to start your event with a bang. Consider them shared with love, and take them to heart. Recently, I published “ 6 tips to make your seminar or event emcee script sparkle.” This companion post tackles the other side of the coin: 4 common mistakes you should avoid to help ensure you don’t alienate your audience in the opening seconds of your emcee gig.Įach “don’t” is a lesson learned from my own painful experience on various stages and in various audiences. So you’ve been drafted to be an emcee at an upcoming seminar, awards ceremony, or other event?ĭon’t panic.
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