Being a Master of Ceremonies

Being a Master of Ceremonies

The Master of Ceremonies is the "conductor" of an event or meeting. The primary responsibility of the Master of Ceremonies is to serve as a genial host. An ideal MC is a person who has poise, presence and who can command the attention of an audience.The Master of Ceremonies is responsible for ensuring that the program/event runs smoothly, runs on time and that all important people at the event are introduced in a complimentary, professional manner. Being a successful Master of Ceremonies requires, preparation, a friendly manner and ability to adjust to/ad lib as necessary to ensure a successful event
"It is an honor to be asked to be the master of ceremonies at a function. It means that you have a sense of humor, know how to project your voice, andcan handle audiences. It means that you have the gift of being able to "think on your feet" so that you can react quickly in an emergency. (An 'emergency' arises when the lead entertaining act has not arrived, when the main speaker falls ill and has to be taken home, or when the air-conditioning ceases to function and the
microphones don't work!)."

Letitia Baldrige's Complete Guide to Executive Manners, Rawson Associates, New York, 1985, P. 320