The best kind of gigs are the ones where I don’t feel like I am working at all.  The ones where I feel like I am part of the client’s organization, committed to making the event a success.  I had such an experience this past Saturday, when I emcee’d an annual conference for a high-profile organization in Washington DC.  I am still riding the high after a successful event, and want to take the opportunity to capture this feeling in a blog post.  This will enable you, the reader, to understand why I do this, and what helps make an event a success.

My recent client was more organized than most.  Whilst he thought sharing a minute-by-minute agenda would aggravate me, it did just the opposite.  It made my life so much more easier.  When a client knows what they want and can convey that to an emcee with such granularity, the emcee can then work towards bringing that vision to life.  I had the agenda weeks ahead of the event, which afforded me ample time to prepare.  Clients like him are a pleasure to work with, and I was already being set up for success.

Although the attendee list for this event consisted of successful leaders in their respective industries, everyone was friendly and accessible.  The theme of the event was ‘Building a Better Community Through Better Business’, and as such opened the doors for some good old-fashioned networking.  It is always easier to lead and motivate a friendly crowd, and I had just that with with event.

With every event that I work I gain a new level of confidence.  No two events are alike, but my delivery and stage presence are perfected with each one.  Also, I am not afraid.  This is an important point as I believe there are several effective communicators amongst us, but they are too afraid to get up in front of a crowd.  Having overcome this fear long ago, I have created a niche for myself as a Corporate Emcee.  I am not only not afraid of taking charge of the stage in front of a large audience, but I am motivated to energize them and keep them engaged throughout an event.  The fear component is no longer an issue for me, so I can now focus on delivering consistent value when I am speaking.  This is a powerful skill that draws opportunities to me, and I am glad to be booking them!

Another reason this past event was a massive success was because I crafted a strong opening.  One of my personal goals as a speaker has been to interact more with the audience.  I recently began exercising this in my Toastmasters club, as well as with my new speaking coach.  He helped me to get out of my head and care less about what the audience is thinking.  I had not previously realized that I needed to do this, but that is why we hire coaches, right?  A strong opening at any event, at least for me, ensures that the rest of the event will go smoothly.  It gives me a burst of confidence that fuels me throughout the day.  This was a game changer for me.

Finally, what I appreciated the most about this client was his insistence on me being myself.  This is also something my speaking coach has suggested on many occasions.  I, like many people, am constantly re-engineering my thoughts, habits, and dialog.  Being a better person is a daily goal that I never lose sight of.  When I carry my myself as I am, staying genuine to the person I have become, I draw people towards me.  During this event I was nothing but myself.  I could not walk more than 5 steps without someone from the audience paying me a compliment.  It was encouraging and motivating.

In conclusion, I continue to do this because I fill an important gap for my clients.  When we work synergistically, it not only elevates the status of my client’s organization, but it delivers promised value to all who attend.  I feel accomplished, motivated, and purposeful.  It doesn’t get much better than that!