What does an event host do?

Emcee, MC, compere, event host

These words describe the same job. Emcee is simply MC spelled out. Compere is the British word. In corporate events, event host is the most common term.

Before the day: the running order

The running order is the minute-by-minute plan of the event. A host who writes it with the producer finds the problems early: two speakers back to back with no time to swap microphones, an award with nobody assigned to present it, a video with no cue.

I write the running order with your producer. It is part of the job.

Before the day: names and rehearsal

Every name and title in the programme gets checked for pronunciation. If the host gets the CEO's name wrong in the first minute, the audience notices, and so does the CEO.

Then comes the technical rehearsal. The host walks through each cue with the sound, light and video crew. When the host knows the slide changes after the second sentence, nobody stands on stage waiting for it.

On the day

The host opens, gives the practical information, introduces the speakers and closes each session. When a session runs long, the host is the one who stops it, politely. Your producer and your CEO do not have to.

When something goes wrong

A speaker is late. A video does not play. A microphone cuts. The host keeps talking to the audience while the crew fixes the problem backstage. You rarely see this part in a showreel, and it is the main reason to book someone who has done many events.

What a host does not do

A host does not produce the event or take decisions that belong to the producer. A host does not write your keynotes. If a host starts changing your plan without asking, that is a warning sign.

Questions

Does the host need to know our industry?

Not in depth. The host needs to know who is in the audience, say the names and terms correctly and understand your key messages. For a panel on a technical subject, the moderator needs more knowledge than the host.

How early should the host get the brief?

As soon as you have a first version of the programme. That is enough to start the running order. Final names and timings can follow.

Should the host stay for the whole event?

Yes, if they open and close it. A host who leaves after the opening cannot react to what happened in the afternoon.

Can the host also present the awards?

Yes. Reading the category, the nominees and the winner, and managing the walk to the stage, is a normal part of the job.