April 2023 | Keynote Entertainment Blog

Ever squirmed your way through an event punctuated by flat jokes, painful silences and awkward transitions? Or a fundraiser where the only thing raised by the crowd was the event organiser’s temperature? Then you’ve probably met Bob from Accounts, whose performance at the Director’s 50^thbirthday bash back in 2015 secured him that excruciating gig as MC.

No offence to Bob, but not everyone gets to claim true ‘master’ status. Rembrandt had to earn his stripes. Andy Allen had to win his. But Bob? He probably doesn’t have the specialist skills and experience befitting a genuine Master of Ceremonies.

You wouldn’t leave your event AV to someone simply because they’ve got a cranking stereo system at home. So why leave Bob in charge of the crowd?

We know the blood, sweat and tears that go into planning an event. We also know all those hours of painstaking work can be destroyed in an instant by hiring the wrong MC. You have a million things to worry about, but your MC doesn’t need to be one of them.

What does a good MC bring to the event?

Magic. Not saw-a-woman-in-half type of magic, but the ingenious ability to create the right energy and tone for the night. To keep everything running on time and to plan, filling gaps, improvising and keeping everyone engaged. To maintain a flow, smoothly segueing from one topic to the next, cleverly weaving presentations together, connecting the audience to the speakers.

Good MC’s do more than just run through housekeeping. They know how to read the audience and adjust on the fly, reigning in talkative tables, keeping the focus, all while working the room to make sure objectives are met. Need more bids on a silent auction? The MC will make it happen. Need people to dig deep for a cause? The MC will inspire them to give generously.

Think of an MC like the conductor of an orchestra, guiding and directing performers to keep everyone seamlessly in sync, bringing all the instruments together to create beautiful music.

Without a skilled conductor, the orchestra is chaotic and disjointed. But with the right MC? You can create a symphony.

Australia’s Top 10 MC’s

1. Hamish and Andy

Hamish and Andy are Australia’s most popular media duo, renowned for their larrikin humour and talent as entertainers, writers and comedians. The ‘Hamish and Andy Show’ was the highest-rating radio show in Australian history, while their ‘Gap Year’ TV travel show earned the boys three Silver Logies, while Hamish also won Silver and Gold individual Logies. The duo has been just as successful in podcasting, topping the iTunes charts with the Number 1 Australian radio podcast. Read more about Hamish and Andy here.

2. Carrie Bickmore

Carrie Bickmore is a highly experienced media personality, best known for co-hosting Network Ten’s ‘The Project’ and her extensive work in radio. She has interviewed some of the world’s highest profile celebrities and has won multiple Logie awards thanks to her talent for combining comedy and news in a relaxed, relatable style. Carrie is also passionate about her charity work, and has raised over $17 million for brain cancer through her charity, Carries Beanies 4 Brain Cancer. Read more about Carrie here.

3. Kitty Flanagan

Kitty Flanagan is one of Australia’s favourite comedians and is a regular on TV shows including ‘The Project’ and ‘Have You Been Paying Attention?’. Breathtakingly hilarious and exceptionally talented, Kitty has performed to sell-out crowds at comedy festivals worldwide, worked on English TV program ‘The Sketch Show,’ written for BBC, Channel Four and Sky Television in the UK, made a short film titled ‘Dating Ray Fenwick’ and created and starred in ABC’s popular comedy show, ‘Fisk’. Read more about Kitty here.

4. Anthony Laye

Anthony Laye is a world-renowned entertainer, keynote speaker and MC. His skills as a mentalist and expert communicator allow him to create unforgettable experiences for audiences, with his performances combining breathtaking illusions, mind-reading and games to keep audiences on the edge of their seats. Adept at expertly piloting the entire event experience, Anthony is famous for creating a lasting impression. Read more about Anthony here.

5. Ed Kavalee

Ed Kavalee is a popular Australian actor, comedian and radio host famous for his lightning-fast improvisation skills and comedic timing. He’s been a regular on the radio as well as on TV shows including ‘Thank God You’re Here’ and ‘Have You Been Paying Attention?’. Ed also starred in the Australian film ‘Any Questions for Ben?’ and co-wrote and produced the tele-features ‘Scumbus’ and ‘Border Protection Squad’. Read more about Ed here.

6. Melissa Doyle

Melissa Doyle is an award-winning journalist with 30 years of experience in the Australian media. She has covered significant news events as host of Channel Seven’s Sunrise and public affairs programs, with her experience as a live anchor covering breaking news earning her numerous journalism awards including a Walkley Award and multiple Edward R. Murrow Awards. Melissa was also made a Member of the Order of Australia for her significant service to the community. Read more about Melissa here.

7. Natalie Bassingthwaighte

Natalie Bassingthwaighte is one of Australia’s most versatile entertainers, excelling as an actress, singer and host. With regular appearances on TV shows like ‘Neighbours’ and ‘Underbelly’, Nat also achieved global success as a solo artist and with her band, The Rogue Traders. Nat’s warm and bubbly personality also made her a popular mentor on shows like ‘The X Factor’, while she received multiple Logie nominations as host of ‘So You Think You Can Dance’. Read more about Nat here.

8. Waleed Aly

Waleed Aly rose to prominence as a spokesperson for the Australian Muslim community and co-host of Ten’s ‘The Project’. He’s a frequently published political and social commentator, as well as a qualified lawyer and White Ribbon Day Ambassador. Awarded numerous accolades, including the Gold Logie Award for Most Popular Australian TV Personality and multiple Silver Logies for Best Presenter, Waleed is undoubtedly one of Australia’s most popular media talents. Read more about Waleed here.

9. Julia Morris

Julia Morris is an accomplished and highly sought-after entertainer, with over three decades of experience in the media. She has won several prestigious awards for her stand-up comedy, writing and television work, with hosting and acting credits including ‘I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here’ and ‘House Husbands’, numerous Broadway musicals and sell-out stand-up comedy shows at every major comedy festival in the world. Read more about Julia here.

10. Chrissie Swan

Chrissie Swan is an award-winning media personality with two decades of experience in television and radio. Her hosting credits include Nova 100’s ‘Chrissie, Sam & Browny’ breakfast show and ‘The Chrissie Swan Show’, as well as TV programs including ‘The Circle’, ‘Can of Worms’, ‘Would I Lie to You?’ and ‘The Masked Singer’. With true down-to-earth Aussie relatability, Chrissie is one of Australia’s favourite public figures. Read more about Chrissie here.

The right MC for your event will depend on the demographics of your audience and the tone you want to set. What’s right for a construction industry Awards Night won’t necessarily work for a beauty product launch or a fundraising gala! If you have a brief for us we’d be happy to provide you with a curated list of MC’s specific to your needs… just get in touch with us for a chat to get the ball rolling!

“Event Management will be fun” they said. Famous people! Glitz and glamour! Free cocktails! But if you’ve ever found yourself awake at 3am, surrounded by empty coffee cups and half-eaten pizza, wondering why you didn’t choose a less stressful career like defusing bombs or wrestling crocodiles, you’re not alone.

Official CareerCast and CareerAddict studies have found that Event Management is only slightly less stressful than running into a burning building… or landing a multi-million-dollar aircraft with hundreds of people onboard. If that comes as no surprise, never fear – we’ve got your back!

We understand that your job is the ultimate test of sanity, patience and caffeine tolerance. We know what it takes for you to flawlessly execute an event from start to finish – dealing with dates, times, venues, sponsorship, suppliers, marketing, technical requirements, catering, sponsors, exhibitors, speakers, entertainers, colleagues, attendees, random stakeholders… the list goes on.

We know you wear at least a dozen hats – you’re an Accountant, a Health and Safety Manager, a Catering Supervisor, a PR Manager, a Venue Inspector and a social media guru, just to name a few.

Having spent more time with Event Managers over the last 25+ years than we have with our own families (just kidding, kinda), we’re confident we’ve got a good handle on the top pressure points of your job. And while there may not be actual lives at stake, we know that these 5 triggers can send your stress levels through the roof…

1. Deadlines, deadlines, deadlines

You’ve probably got several projects on the go at once, all with different lead times, objectives, stakeholders and budgets. You’re juggling a million balls and facing constant interruptions, switching between tasks, firing off emails, fielding phone calls and jumping into meetings. And all the while, deadlines are looming – to lock in your speaker, source entertainment, confirm the venue, choose your menu, get the invites out, lock in sponsors, sort out presentations… So. Many. Deadlines.

2. High visibility and intense scrutiny

The pressure is off the charts. Once your event is underway, you don’t get another shot at it. There are no second chances. You’re responsible for everything and everyone, you’re the public face of the event. And you’ll be judged by your attendees, your peers and your bosses on that one day alone… not the other 364 that have gone into making it happen. When it works? You’re the star of the show. But when it doesn’t?

3. Murphy’s Law

You’ve been planning this for months. You’ve meticulously calculated all the risks under the sun (and some under the sea), walked the venue backwards, co-ordinated the tables, styled the room, selected a scrumptious menu catering to every known intolerance, curated the content, created the run sheet, rehearsed and tested the AV. You’ve anticipated every likely scenario and planned contingencies like a ninja. Yet… supplier stuff-ups, natural disasters, a freeway breakdown, tech fails, a medical emergency in the crowd – if there’s a crisis to be had, Murphy’s Law says it’ll happen on your big day.

4. Physical demands

While the free travel and exotic event destinations of your jet-setting job may have sucked you in initially, you rarely get time to enjoy any of it. Early mornings, late nights and weekends, most of them spent on your feet, go with the territory. As do flight delays, jet lag, a sore back and aching feet. Hours spent upright or travelling from one event to the next can take a serious toll on your physical health, with no downtime to rest and relax (or visit the chiro).

5. Budgets

It’s a given – you’ll be asked to go bigger and better than last time, more wow factor, double the R.O.I and half the budget. I see you nodding, you know the drill. Your negotiating skills are next level, honed through hours of Bali-esque style haggling with vendors, deftly balancing ego’s and expectations like a big-top tightrope walker. ‘Miscellaneous’ expenses have you breaking out in a sweat, and you’ve become a pro at mentally re-calculating whether there’s enough padding in your contingency line.

Living the dream, right?

But we’re not here just to validate your daily struggles – we’re here to take some of the load off your over-burdened shoulders and help show the world what a rockstar event warrior you are.

How we can help you

While we know your event is the culmination of a million tiny puzzle pieces fitting together, we also know that your speaker can make or break your event. We’re here to put your mind at rest (you may not recognise the feeling).

– We know talent. And we know there’s a huge difference between a speaker and the right speaker. With an extensive network and years of experience, we know which speakers will connect with your audience, which ones will make them laugh, make them cry, make them fist-pump the air and have them standing on their seats for a second curtain call. Our speakers deliver.

– We’re more than just a booking agent. We’ll source and recommend options, book and brief the perfect speaker and take care of every single detail related to their appearance so you can concentrate on the rest of your to-do list. Fee negotiation, juggling schedules and gatekeepers, contracts, pre-event calls, travel, AV requirements, presentations – logistics are our jam.

– We’ve got top-tier speaker options to suit every budget. Just tell us what you’re looking for and what your budget is, and we’ll find a speaker that will blow your audience’s socks off. We understand it’s all about impact.

– There are no hidden costs, ever. We don’t even charge an admin fee. Your contingency line is safe with us, we promise!

– This isn’t our first rodeo. Through years of experience, we know who plays well with who in the speaker world. So if you’re booking a panel of speakers, we’ll make sure they have the chemistry to set the right tone for the night.

We understand your inner control freak is shouting right now, but rest assured we’ve got you. We’re your fairy godmother, your secret weapon, your superhero sidekick, your trusty wingman. And we’ll make you look like a superstar.

Got an event coming up? We’d love to provide you with a curated list of speakers to suit your needs… just get in touch with us for a chat to get the ball rolling!

Month: April 2023

Australia’s Top 10 MC’s

5 Reasons Event Management is One of the World’s Most Stressful Jobs

* Image: www.ciphr.com