A professional Master of Ceremonies (MC) is a MUST for a successful event.
Events in Ghana have evolved and operating at a professional level, hence the serious stakeholders are making efforts to meet the professional demand.
One of the most sidelined event service providers is the MC. As a pro MC myself, I have heard comments like “The money is finished. The food, drinks, DJ, photographer and decor are too expensive” We are like the Marketing Department in any firm, our budget is the first to be slashed when the need be. But the question is, can the food, drinks, DJ and decor alone make the event worth attending?
I have personally been told “One of my cousins is funny and good at talking, he will MC the reception” Such statements make me say a prayer for the bride. Just a minute of tongues. You know why? How the event goes is more likely to affect the bride than the groom. Secondly, MCing is more than just talking into a microphone. Last but not the least, are you sure people travelled those long hours, fighting vehicular traffic to your event just to endure the event?
Unfortunately, there is no second chance in events, especially weddings. Here is the more reason why you need professional MC for your wedding. Its your big day and the last thing you want to do to yourself is not to enjoy the event while a professional coordinates the flow.
Time Management
Professional MCs are good with time management. No pro MC will arrive late for your event. I, for example, have made it a religion to arrive at least an hour before the event begins. And by event, I mean the exchanging of vows and ring at the church. Remember the MC comes in during pictures time at the church. Which is actually at the very end of the church service. And I have attended events where the MC was absent for that session.
During the reception too, there is no unnecessary talking. The KISS (Keep It Short & Simple) Principle is always applied.
Well Groomed
If you ever have concerns about the sense of style of your prospective MC, kindly advise yourself. Every professional is well groomed, always looking smart even in a casual outfit. A pro MC knows what to wear to where. A pro MC is always on point.
Keep Audience Engaged
One of the most characteristic trait of a pro MC is the ability to hold the audience when waiting for say the caterer to arrive or the DJ to sort out that technical hitch. Pro MCs are solution oriented hence one of the litmus tests is when there is a hitch and unfortunately, it happens at a point of no return. Reason you need a professional MC.
Professional Humour
Humour is a dangerous thing to do when hosting an event. If you are known to be a Comedian, every joke is obviously taken on a lighter note, even religious, tribal and all sorts of quite serious jokes.
For a pro MC, humour is derived from situations and not planned. And no pro MC will pass just any funny comment. Jokes follow the KISS Principle if any at all.
A senior colleague told me the MC at his wedding said a long winding supposed joke, no one found it funny and the next thing he could say was “You will understand when you are bathing tomorrow morning”
Well, the person in question is not a pro MC so he obviously did not know the KISS Principle.
