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CONFIDENCE IS THE PROJECTION THAT YOU ARE SURE OF YOURSELF….IN SPITE OF YOUR MISTAKES….
PSYCHOLOGICAL & EMOTIONAL FACTORS
You want the audience to appreciate you but you will not attain what you want to project if you are bothered by psychological and emotional factors which will definitely affect your delivery.
- Family problems.
- Irritants before an event like being inconvenienced by heavy traffic.
- The sight of VIPs in the audience.
- Size of the audience.
- A huge or special venue.
- Unsupportive organizers’ staff or no staff at all.
- OIC’s fickle-mindedness or unsureness.
- Age bracket of the people in the audience.
- Name of the event.
- Unruly audience.
- Technical problems.
- Too many instructions immediately before start of the program
UNDERSTANDING YOUR AUDIENCE
An audience is an assembled group that listens or watches. Logically, there will be no program or show without an audience.
Each one reacts differently to similar situations and manifests different feelings and sentiments at a given time. I was once told by one of my professors to pay attention to the emotions of the audience. Does the audience show ardour, warmth, or indifference and impassiveness? Learn to judge your audience.
- People who compose the audience don’t necessarily have the same degree of interest or motivation attending the event.
- An audience does not think or react uniformly to the features of the program or show.
- An audience is sensitive to issues or remarks that insult their beliefs, values, or ways of life.
- An audience becomes restless after a certain period of time.
- The average Filipino audience is basically reserved.
- An audience applauds spontaneously.
- Some members of an audience are potential hecklers.
HECKLERS are those who intentionally or unintentionally disturb or distract the event or a performer. There are hecklers because:
- Some hecklers are uneducated and uncultured.
- Some hecklers are actively participating.
- Some hecklers are peeved with the program, performer or situation.
- Some hecklers want attention.
HERE ARE TIPS THAT MAY HELP ON HANDLING HECKLERS
- The first three general rules are – IGNORE, IGNORE, IGNORE.
- If they still persist after being patient and good to them, you may put them on the spot (focus the lights and your attention on them).
- Make them a part of the program or show.
This might prove difficult sometimes but you have to try.
HOW DO YOU HANDLE AN INATTENTIVE OR NOISY AUDIENCE
- Be interesting.
- Stay focused on what you are using.
- Look for some people in the audience who seem to be interested and address your spiel to them.
- Introduce a “JOLT”. A jolt is a form of activity or instruction that will engage your audience physically.
- For opening spiels, start with a blackout or music.
WHAT DOES SPIEL MEAN?
A Spiel is a brief and concise remark designed to influence the mood and to arouse the audience’s interest towards the program or show.
It is important to know that a spiel is designed or created according to a certain purpose. You don’t utter sentences. You don’t just say cute or heavy thoughts. You create these sentences for certain objectives like…to inspire the listeners…to wake them up…to pave the way for the next scenario…to make the audience feel emotional…to make them react, etc.
Bear in mind, when an emcee enters the stage to do introductions, the emcee only has a minute or two on stage to do his job. Thus, the emcee has to communicate fast, yet heartfelt and meaningful. The emcee does not have the luxury of time to delve into deeper explanations of what she is saying. While the speaker, being the main character in the program, has the opportunity to explain a lot of things, the emcee does not have this kind of opportunity. The emcee has to limit what she says to what is relevant to the topic to be discussed by the speaker.
Remember, the emcee simply does the prelude of the various numbers in a program or show. If he stays more than two minutes, the emcee becomes a show host. Being a host, an individual should have more to offer rather than his introductory spiels. He has gimmicks and antics to achieve staying power on stage.
WHAT DOES AN EMCEE/HOST DO?
- Delivers the opening SPIEL.
- Introduces the performers.
- Fills the Gaps or “Dead Air” in the program.
- Sometimes does the Voice Over (VO).
- Connects all unrelated numbers or performances.
- On stage, the emcee directs.
- Prepares the Cue Cards.
- Coordinates with performers or guests.
- Does the closing Spiel
ON VOICE-OVER
In some concept shows, where the personal appearance of an Emcee or Host is not necessary, the opening spiel is done with a voice-over. Since the announcer is not seen on stage, it is very important that one’s voice should be able to project the right volume, pitch, quality, and expression according to the mood of the opening number and to the intention of the director.
SOME GUIDELINES FOR EMCEEING AND HOSTING:
TRY TO ESTABLISH RAPPORT IN YOUR OPENING SPIEL. Achieve rapport with your audience immediately during your opening spiel. When there is rapport with your audience immediately during your opening spiel, the emcee easily connects, and the audience gets hooked with the program from the start.
DON’T OVERSELL YOURSELF. Your voice, spiel, and personality will be enough to sell yourself. Refrain from praising yourself.
DON’T BE LATE IN ANY EMCEEING ENGAGEMENT. Being late is not only unprofessional and unethical…you contribute to the Organizers’ woes. Go to the venue ahead of time. Have time to be briefed by the Program Director or the Organizers.
BUILD UP THE PERSON YOU ARE INTRODUCING. Never put down a guest or a performer no matter how unlikable he may be. There must be something good about him that urged the organizers to invite him. Besides, putting down a person is bad human relations.
AVOID LENGTHY SPIELS. Remember, the emcee is not the main star. The emcee is there to make the program flow smoothly. If there is nothing much to say, say it short. A program should be fast-paced…never a lull in the whole process. Too many spiels slow down the proceedings.
DON’T SHOW THAT YOU ARE EMOTIONALLY AFFECTED. There are times when an Emcee is hurt or peeved or embarrassed. Hide it. The audience has nothing to do with your personal problem. Be a good sport.
DON’T ADVERTISE YOUR NERVOUSNESS. On stage, performers get nervous. Don’t advertise it. (Examples: “Pasensiya napo kayo,” “ang lakas ng nerbiyos ko.” “This is my first time to emcee.”). Again, the audience has nothing to do with your personality problem.
DON’T MISPRONOUNCE SOMEBODY’S NAME. On stage, it is a sin to mispronounce the speaker’s or performer’s name. Ask the organizers or the guests themselves as to the right pronunciation.
BEWARE OF YOUR MANNERISMS. On stage, an emcee or any performer is not aware of one’s mannerisms. Try to discover yours by asking a friend…then do something about it.
DON’T TELL PRIVATE JOKES. Only a few appreciate a private joke. It turns off the majority.
DON’T BE PREDICTABLE. Introduce new things every time you go on stage. An Emcee is like a product. The emcee must have something new to share. Avoid overused anecdotes or jokes. Reserve as many gimmicks and antics. The audience love pleasant surprises. Sometimes, the emcee needs to do the unusual … but always in good taste.
BE YOURSELF. By simply being yourself, is already a style. Don’t try to be somebody else.
AVOID USING HIGH SOUNDING WORDS. Don’t impress your audience by using high sounding or technical words that only you or a few understand. Remember, emceeing is communicating.
DON’T OVER DRESS. Be reminded that the Emcee is not the main star. Avoid so many glittering effects.
WORDS OF WARNING:
- Since the Emcee or Host is in control of the microphone, he has the tendency to talk long.
- When an Emcee is used to delivering speeches, he tends to talk long. He is not accustomed to a 2-minute spiel. His measurement of time is quite different from the regular emcee. We may find him talking so long but to him, what he said was short.
- When an Emcee is too young for an audience, he will find it hard to connect. When an Emcee is too old for the audience, his style might be outmoded.
- To avoid a boring program, it should be fast paced. Long spiels slow down the proceedings. Remember, if there is nothing to say, say it short.
In time you will easily stand out and capture the hearts of your audience |
