My first experience as an Event Emcee

I shared a few photos the other day to my social media, from an event I recently hosted. I briefly shared that hosting events was never something I thought I could do until I was pushed to do it a few years ago. 

5 years ago, to be exact. 

Sharing that post triggered the memory of my very first experience and I smiled at how far I've come. Around this time in 2018, the then PRO of the University of Guyana, the late Paulette Paul sent me an email requesting to meet at her office on Campus. 

During my years at UG, I participated in two of the Talent Splash (an annual concert showcasing talented UG students) and Ms Paul would have developed a liking for my voice. Since then, at many functions organised by UG, she would contact me to sing on the programme.

But somewhere along the way I felt like I wasn't good at performing because of how nervous I get, forgetting lyrics, missing keys and the like. So I vowed not to do it again, after a particular experience I had at a very important function UG had. (That's a story for another day)

So when I received that email in 2018, I figured I was being summoned to be scolded since I didn't sign up to participate in Talent Splash that year. LOL cause I had really been dodging them and the request to sign up. 

But to ask me to be the Emcee for the event that year was certainly nowhere in my thoughts or even imagination. 

I said "MEEEE??!!!" I remembered how loudly I laughed and said "Miss Paullll, thank you, but I don't have the personality for that. I'm socially awkward and I'm really not funny. MCs need to be funny!"

At that time, I had four pageant titles to my name: First Runner-Up Miss UGSS, First Runner-Up Miss Mash Queen, Miss Bartica Regatta Queen and Miss Guyana Jaycees. 

Ms Paul referenced that she saw me perform on TV when a few of these pageants were aired and said "You have the potential and you don't even realise. That's why I'm here to point that out to you and give you this opportunity. I'm not taking no for an answer. You're doing this." 

Yes, I was practically forced. Haha. But I'm not complaining. Those words didn't resonate immediately, but in hindsight, it really was what planted the seed for me to start exploring different parts of myself and trying new things, developing skills that would take me places and be acknowledged in reputable rooms. 

Back to the experience though. I left Campus feeling all sorts of pressure. Yeah I had pageant experience, but I rehearse for my pageants and perform routines on stage. How do you rehearse to MC??? 

I went home and googled "Tips for event emcees" LOL. I kid you not. I watched a bunch of YouTube videos and felt like nothing could have properly prepared me for this. I didn't know the items nor the students who were performing, what comments could I have prepared ahead of the event without knowing what they were performing, without knowing how they'd perform? I'd have to pay attention and come up with things on the spot. Can I do that?? 

I had to know how to read the room, hype the crowd, engage the audience and keep the show exciting. SHUCKS! Nah I can't do this. The pressure was on. 

I was pacing up and down the house, and couldn't bring myself to call the taxi to head over to campus. I was so NERVOUS! PRO's Assistant was calling my phone to check on me, but I didn't answer. Finally I called the car, but I couldn't go straight to campus. I needed something to calm me down. 

Guys, I stopped at a shop and bought a bottle of D'aguiar's Moscato and a pack of winter fresh LMAOO. I haven't seen those in a while, but back then they had those Moscato wines selling in a small plastic bottle that you could drink off in one sitting. I drank one bottle and packed my mouth with winter fresh to mask the alcohol on my breath. 

That certainly relaxed me. I made it to campus all bubbly, smiling and greeting people with my buzzed out self.

Jokes on me now, the starting time for the concert was delayed because of the other activities that were happening on campus and they were giving everyone extra time to assemble in the George Walcott Lecture Theatre where the concert was held. 

So you know what happened after that right? By the time the concert was ready to start, I was in shambles! The buzz was gone, and the nervousness was all the way back. Ms Paul went up on stage to welcome everyone and introduce me. She mentioned all my titles and how proud she was that I accepted to be the Emcee.

OMG! I coulda run away. GWLT was packed with students who're likely going to make a laughing stock outta me for the rest of my campus life. Yes, I was sinking in my head, a pool of negative thoughts and all the wrong ways that me hosting that event can go. I collected the mic from Ms Paul and I remembered my first words were "thank you" followed by "I really hope I don't commit social suicide today". Some students raised their eyebrows and looked at each other. Yeah, that was a tough crowd that didn't help with my nervousness at all.

But the afternoon got better. 

As I announced item by item, I started feeling a bit more relaxed and I started telling myself "this isn't hard ya know. You just need to get out of your head." And that I did! I started dancing along with some of the performers, I sang, I cheered and I successfully hyped up everyone item after item. 

Not to boast, but I believe that was one of the best Talent Splash we've ever had! Haha. And at the end, the students were on their feet, dancing, waving rags and t-shirts in the air, standing on benches, running around the theatre, completely out of order LOL. We really freed up and had an enjoyable time. Unforgettable experience. 

After that day, I started thinking about it seriously, and felt like this is something I could probably explore at a later date, build my portfolio and better myself to take this up professionally. 

5 years later and guess what? Ya girl don't even need to tek a drink to kill her nervousness anymore. I know how to adequately prepare myself for every show, to ensure that I do my job to the best of my ability.

In a next blog I will share some hosting tips for those who are interested. 

Thank you for reading.