Presenters & Awards Hosts
There are two kinds of event for which presenters / hosts are necessary, and two types of talent that fill the need…
Almost any conference or sizeable business meeting will benefit from the authority, focus and communication skills that only professional presenters bring. It’s not a role that can be filled by a ‘good talker’ from within the organisation – however senior or extravert. Conference presenters know how to build atmosphere, how and when to open up discussion, how to keep to time and how to move naturally from one subject or session to another. They are also used to sticking to the brief!
The same is true for awards dinners. Whether they offer ‘gravitas’ or stardust, awards hosts / presenters keep the event on track and provide the gloss audiences are used to seeing on televised ceremonies. If the CEO wants to take part, most presenters would be very happy to have him or her as ‘co-host.’
Except for a handful who have made their name in the corporate world, presenters come from either a news or an entertainment background. The former are often used to chair conferences and facilitate debate; the latter are more likely to be asked to host awards or product launches, or compere an evening’s hospitality. But it needn’t be that prescriptive.
Many news presenters can have live audiences in stitches, and are just as capable of providing ten minutes’ entertainment as any stand-up. Like any casting exercise, the starting point must be ‘what are we trying to achieve?’ rather than ‘who do I like?’ or ‘who can we afford?’
Above all presenters and hosts reflect or add stature to the event – whether the objective is to convey and build support for business strategy, to peer into the future or to recognise achievement. So long as they are well chosen and well briefed, they will add huge value. Whether you opt for a well-known name or an industry specialist, there’s one thing to tell the budget holder… presenters are not an optional extra!
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