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Mic Check 1 2 3…Mic Check…Emcee
October 12, 2021
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Many stations are still not back to work at the brick and mortar yet, but live concerts have come back during the COVID-19 recovery. Like myself, some of you have had to regroup to remember how to do some things we used to do routinely. I thought that might also apply to emceeing concerts for both veteran and "new to the game” air personalities. First and foremost, you need to be smart with Covid protocols backstage.
To Refresh Your Memories...
Your job is to get the audience applauding and introduce the act to kick off their performance. The most important things to remember are smile, don't shout into the mic, tell the audience what station you're from, say your name, read the stage announcements, get the crowd worked up into a frenzy, say the name of the record company the act is currently on, and pronounce the performer's name correctly.It Shouldn't Be Hard ...
With people returning to see live shows, it should be easy to get them excited in advance of any act hitting the stage. I was recently told that audiences are so glad live concerts are back, they're even applauding the stage announcements.Newbie Air Talents ...
It's always fun to emcee at a live concert. However, that first time walking out on stage to bring on an act can be nerve-racking. According to several veteran air personalities I've spoken with, their early emcee instructions were as vague as those given to me when I first started in the business; "ad lib and get the audience hyped."Most Memorable...
There was one emcee job I'll never forget. It was at the Holiday Star (demolished in 2018) in Merryville, IN, just outside of Chicago. I was working at a Country station, WUSN (US99) in Chicago and I'd emceed a lot of shows at the resort's theater. I don't remember the name of the act, but I remember what happened.I Knew The Place ...
I knew the stagehands at the theater and whenever I was scheduled to emcee, I would go to the venue early for a free meal and joke around with them. Only this night they had fun with me. The booth announcer signaled to head out on stage and greet the audience. The venue seated about 2,500 and it was packed.Why Aren't They Applauding? ...
Normally crowds would go crazy at the mere mention of US99, but not that night. I said my name, welcomed the audience, made a couple of stage announcements, and mentioned our latest on-air contest. I was trying to get the crowd to make some noise when I asked, "What's your favorite radio station," I heard crickets, nothing. I was trying to see past the bright lights to determine what was going on. Meanwhile out of the corner of my eye, I could see some of the stagehands and the booth announcer just off stage laughing.Flop Sweat ...
I was only on stage for a couple of minutes, but it seemed like an eternity. The lack of response had me stumbling over the introduction of the act, but the audience did cheer as the curtain lifted for the featured artist. Meanwhile I came off stage with flop-sweat and the backstage crew falling all over themselves laughing. The crew finally told me what was going on. It turned out that most of the audience had come in on buses from outside the Chicago area and had never heard of me or US99. I remember saying, "really, and you didn't think that might be something I needed to know before going out on stage?" I had to laugh too, it was pretty funny.This Should Help You ...
If your program director wants you to bring an act on stage, don't be afraid to ask what you're supposed to say. I've mentioned a few things you should do but just in case, I've put together a longer list.On Stage Emcee Tips ...
- Watch other air personalities emcee shows and take notes.
- Make sure you pronounce the name of the act or acts correctly
- If there are stage announcements, take them with you to read from onstage. If the venue just verbalizes some things to announce, always have something to write on so you can jot it down -don't rely on your memory.
- Whether the audience reacts or not, keep whatever you say short and get the act on stage to perform.
- Try and get attendees into a clapping frenzy when it's time to bring on the act. For example, say something simple like: "As soon as you start clapping, ___will come out. So put your hands together for____.
- Don't squint from the bright stage lights and try to find one place to look at in the crowd --- that way you give the appearance of looking the audience in the eye.
- Don't shout into the mic, the speakers will carry your voice.
- Ask a stagehand which mic to go to before you get out on stage.
- Smile and have a good time.
Most Important...
Never forget your first time and make sure you help others in the future with their first emcee experience. -
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