Guides
Guides to booking an event host.
What a host does, what affects the quote, and what to ask before you book.
What does an event host do?
An event host runs your programme from the stage. They open the event, introduce each speaker, link the sessions, keep the timing and close. Most of the work happens before the day, in the running order.
What decides the cost of a corporate emcee
There is no standard price for an emcee. The cost depends on the days on site, the format, the preparation, the languages and the travel. This page explains each factor, so you know what to send to get an accurate quote.
How to find and book an event host
Ask your production agency and your venue first, then watch each host on video. Ask as soon as your date is set, because a host can only work one event per date. Send a short, complete brief, and watch for the red flags below.
Emcee or moderator: which do you need?
An emcee runs the whole event. A moderator runs one discussion: a panel, a debate or a question and answer session. If your programme has panels, you need a moderator for them, and the emcee can often be that person.
Questions to ask an emcee before you book
First, decide if you need one. If you do, ask who will be on stage, who writes the running order, which languages they can improvise in, and how they work on the day. The answers tell you more than a showreel.
How to write a run of show for your emcee
A run of show is a table with one line per moment of the event: time, duration, who is on stage, what is said and the technical cue. The emcee script is the exact words for each line. Build the table first.
Finding an English-speaking event host in France
Look for a host who can improvise in English on stage and who speaks French with the venue and the crew. For a mixed audience, a host who works live in two or three languages saves you interpreters for the host's part of the programme.
Availability
Get a quote for your event.
Send the date, the city, the format and the languages of your audience. You get availability and a quote back, usually within the day.