Last week I had the privilege of hosting the latest H&B Wealth Symposium in beautiful Bowral, NSW.
The event was a standout, packed with valuable content, networking, and engaging discussions – exactly the kind of experience every financial adviser and asset consultant/manager needs.
During one of the sessions, I was looking at the audience and thinking about what makes a great MC. The basics are well known: keep the audience informed, engaged, entertained (to an extent), and ensure the event runs on time.
But there’s more to it than that.
Choosing the right MC is like finding a perfectly tailored suit. It can make your event a stand-out or, if not quite right, leave it looking (and feeling) a bit, well, ordinary. And forgettable.
This checklist might help:
- Preparation: A top MC isn’t a speaker. It’s a crucial distinction that some MC’s just don’t get. They are the thread that holds your event together. This means doing their homework on the industry, speakers, and audience. Preparation is key – don’t settle for someone who just “wings it.”
- Engaging: Whether through humor (carefully, mind you, this isn’t stand-up comedy), stories, anecdotes, or relatable insights, your MC should keep energy levels high and engagement steady.
- Pacing: A skilled MC will keep the schedule on track. Transitioning smoothly between segments is a skill that takes experience and finesse.
- Adaptable: Even the best-planned events will have hiccups. A great MC stays calm and handles unexpected changes, from tech issues to unplanned moments.
- Know Your Client: Your MC should connect naturally with your audience. During the hiring process, quiz them – do they understand your event’s purpose and key players? They should know their stuff.
- Charisma + Professionalism: The right MC strikes a balance: engaging but never stealing the spotlight from the event’s core content or purpose. Also, please don’t be overly corporate – those days are long gone. Give me someone who is real and down-to-earth, yet still a professional.
When an MC fits your event like a well-tailored suit, they understand their true role: not to be the star, but to make your event shine. Who are the real stars, then? For me, it’s your audience. Closely followed by the speakers. Get the right MC and they will enhance your event, complement your team’s efforts, yet remain in the background.
The right MC understands that their job is to achieve exactly that.
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🎤 Planning an event in 2025? Need an MC who “fits” well?
📞 Get in touch to see if I’m the right match for your needs.
