Let the audience know what you do and your relation to the cause. You’d be surprised at how many emcees forget to introduce themselves and explain why they were selected to host the event. You need to come out confident with an engaging script that will set the tone for the rest of your show. If you start by mumbling, fidgeting, and making awkward jokes, it will only set an uncomfortable tone for the rest of the event. The first few minutes of your speech will set the stage for the rest of your show. It’s true what they say about first impressions - they can make or break you. It’s also wise to carry a list of announcements that need to be made and the names of who to contact in the event of a tech issue or medical emergency. To ensure everything goes off without a hitch, make sure everything is set up and tested well in advance of the event.

There may be times where you need to improvise when on stage but for the most part, the presentation should be well planned and practiced. When you’re the emcee, it’s important to understand what type of audience you will be presenting to and what they would like to hear. Why? Because the tone and audience for a wedding is very different than that of a gala or business conference.

Knowing who you are presenting to is key. To ensure your presentation energizes the room and connects with the audience, follow these seven tips for emceeing like a pro. If you don’t want to fumble awkwardly on stage or humiliate yourself with bad jokes, then you need to plan well in advance. Have you been asked to emcee an event? If so, what you do between now and then will make all the difference.

Emcee script for high school reunion