A corporate MC (or emcee / master of ceremonies) plays a crucial role in the success of any corporate event. They help to represent the conference or event as a whole, while keeping the show on schedule and keeping the audience engaged.

Whether an MC is a professional or just one of the more gregarious employees at the company, they’ll have 5 key jobs in making the event a success:

The Job(s) of an MC



Every successful MC delivers on these key areas:

Job #1. Represent the Event



The MC of an event serves as the face of the festivities: meaning how they act will reflect on the event sponsors, producers, speakers, and audience. They bring to life all of the hard work that went on behind-the-scenes by all of the planning team members.

It doesn’t matter how defined the event timetable is or how good the internal speakers are if the MC ignores the schedule or destroys the energy of the room. A good MC will represent the values of the sponsoring organization and enhance the event planners plan.

Job #2. Keep the Event on Schedule



One of the most important jobs of a corporate MC is to keep everything on schedule.

When the event is behind schedule, the MC will use shorter transitions and adjust breaks accordingly. When the event is ahead of schedule or there is some sort of delay, the MC will fill time and keep the audience engaged while everything is set up correctly.

Job #3. Introduce the Speakers

The MC will introduce each of the speakers or guests at the event, providing any necessary background on the speaker and appropriately preparing the audience for their next topic.

At a minimum, the MC should know how to pronounce each of the speaker’s name and should be able to give a short bio for the speaker. Where appropriate, they’ll also want to encourage the audience to give the speaker a warm introduction as they head to the stage.

Job #4. Tie Everything Together



Medicore MCs just go from one topic to the next; great masters of ceremonies know that the job of an MC includes tying everything together in a logical progression.

A good MC will comment (positively) on the previous speaker (such as sharing something they learned from the talk), and then transition to the next speaker. This will often be done using an appropriate segue that provides a seamless experience for the event audience.

Job #5. Energize the Audience



Finally, an MC will help maintain the appropriate energy levels of the audience. When the audience is overly excited, the MC will calm them down so they can focus on the next speaker. When the audience is lethargic or feeling that 3pm slump, they’ll use an appropriate energizer to get every back into the event.

The MC will also understand the audience, and use humor, comedy, interactive exercises, and more that is appropriate for the demographic of the event attendees.

Need a Corporate MC?

Have an event and not quite ready to fill the role of master of ceremonies yourself? Book me for corporate emcee services.