What to look for in an emcee

Angelica Malin emceeing at Unilever’s Dirt is Good 20th Anniversary Growth Summit

I’ve worked as a professional emcee (MC) for the last 5 years. In that time, I’ve emceed everything from large-scale conferences to intimate fireside conversations. I’ve presented fundraising dinners, hosted awards ceremonies, pitch days, virtual webinars, internal corporate summits, and live TV shows. Aspiring speakers often ask me what clients look for in an emcee. Having worked with a wide range of clients and projects across continents, I’ve learnt that RELATIONSHIPS are everything in this industry.

You are your own brand, and how you show up is how your entire business is represented.

You’re only as good as your last gig.

I pride myself on delivering high-quality service (myself!) at every speaking opportunity. If you’re looking to hire a speaker and want to know what makes a great event emcee, here’s what to look for:

1. There’s no ‘i’ in ‘Emcee’

Being an emcee is about being a team player.

One of the reasons I charge an all-inclusive rate is that I want clients to feel that I am part of their event team. Throughout the event planning process, the emcee should support event planners and be involved in preparation. This often includes technical rehearsals, briefing speakers, and prep calls with organizers to understand their event’s audience, goals, and outcomes (AGO). This ensures the script matches the event goals. Emceeing is about being part of a broader team and sharing in the goals, and my pricing reflects a belief in partnership without hidden costs.

2. Be Flexible and Reliable

I always turn up an hour early for events. This helps me feel calm and grounded and reassures event planners that I am reliable. Punctuality is crucial in the events industry, and time-keeping is a key part of emceeing. Flexibility is also important - both in your mindset and your craft - as live events are unpredictable, and being adaptable to changes is essential.

3. Be Personable

A big part of being an event emcee involves the little things you’re not asked to do but are appreciated later. Mingling with the audience before the event, connecting on social media, chatting with speakers, taking photos, and socializing with attendees all make a difference. These touchpoints help build rapport and make you memorable. I try to weave personal comments into my emcee work, and getting to an event earlier so I can connect with the audience beforehand helps with this.

4. What’s the plan, Batman

You need to be a pro at keeping things running on schedule. Remind keynote speakers of their timings, manage panels to allow for audience questions, and ensure the event flows smoothly. General housekeeping might not be the sexiest words you’ve ever heard, but the job of an emcee is to help everything run smoothly, so the organisers can relax and enjoy the amazing programming they’ve put on. Sticking to the plan meets the audience’s expectations and delivers a better finished product.

5. Energize the Audience

This is the most important part of being a professional emcee. You need to energize and engage the audience throughout the day. Each emcee has a unique style—mine is a blend of humor, ad-libbing, and crowd-work to create a sense of connection. Whether you need someone who is lively and informal or more polished, choose an emcee who matches your event’s energy.

6. Confidence is king

Events rarely go exactly as planned, so you need to be confident ad-libbing and going off-script. Confidence in this area comes from experience, so hire someone with a proven track record. I work collaboratively with event planners to create a script, as the emcee will have their own style and cadence, and you want the script to feel as natural to normal speech as possible for them.

If you’re looking for a great event emcee, I’m available for global conferences, summits, and events. Book a chemistry call now!