Your Event is Not the News
News Anchors are great at reading scripts…
I often talk with event hosts who bring in local celebrities to emcee their galas and ceremonies. There are a few reasons they do this.
First, the newsperson is often a volunteer, so they are extremely budget-friendly. Second, the big name of an anchor can help with marketing, ticket sales and sponsor attraction. Finally, a professional news anchor knows how to read a script in front of a camera, so they’re usually fine in front of a live audience, too.
I’m not going to tell you that your local news anchor is the wrong emcee for your event. What I will tell you is that I’ve been to events with the news anchor on the mic, and my experience has been… meh. They tend to stand behind the podium and read the script as though they’re reading the news. Great for the news, not ideal for an event whose success depends on enthusiastic engagement.
Anyone can stand up at a podium and read a script. Bob from accounting can do it as easily as Charlotte Dennon from NY1. Granted, you might sell more tickets and attract more sponsors with Charlotte, but when it comes to reading the room, generally speaking, neither one of them is going to be the thing that makes your event extraordinary.
If your goal is to draw in a specific demographic of attendee and/or sponsor, the news anchor might be the right pick to emcee. Getting people in the door can be difficult, so you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do to get that part done.
On the other hand, if your goal is to produce an exciting experience for your speakers, sponsors and guests alike, you may want to consider the benefits of investing in a professional emcee.
A professional emcee knows how to read both the script AND the room, holding space for the audience to be inspired and transformed.
A professional emcee knows when to stick to the script and when go off book because they’re tuned in to the energy of the room and know exactly what the audience needs in any given moment.
A professional emcee knows how to spotlight the sponsors and make them feel extra special so they come back year after year.
A professional emcee creates authentic, emotional connections between the speakers, the organization and the attendees, encouraging them to take ownership of the success of the event, which keeps them engaged and buzzing about it for days, weeks or months after it ends.
I’m going to be honest, I don’t know the names of any of my local news anchors, most of them are adequate at working a crowd at best, and when you use a volunteer as your emcee, let’s just say you get what you pay for.
Many professional emcees are willing to negotiate their fees to fit your budget, donate a portion of their compensation to the cause or even work with you to guarantee a return on your investment in their services.
Are you interested in learning more about how hiring a professional emcee can engage, enhance and elevate everyone’s experience of your next event? I’d love to share my approach with you. Let’s connect!