Emcee: a guide for pros
What customers ask, how to win the job, and what to put on your profile.
Offering emcee
You offer emcee services for conferences, galas, weddings and corporate events. This guide covers what customers ask, how to win the booking and what to show on your profile.
What customers ask
- Can you write the introductions, or do you read what we give you?
- How do you handle a speaker who runs long?
- Can I see a video of you hosting an event?
- Will you rehearse with our speakers?
- What is your plan if the schedule changes on the day?
How to win the job
- On the first call, ask about the event purpose, the audience, the speaker list and the run sheet before you talk about the booking
- Send a video clip of you hosting, labeled with the event type and audience size
- Put the rehearsal time, the script plan, the revision rounds and the microphone needs in the written quote
- Ask for the run sheet, speaker bios and pronunciations at least two weeks before the event
- Confirm the stage, the microphone and the cue system with the venue or the AV team
- Offer a short call with each speaker to check names, timing and cues
- Name your backup plan for a sudden change, such as a speaker who cannot attend
What to put on your profile
- Video clips of you hosting, with the event type and audience size listed
- Photos of you on stage at real events
- A sample introduction for a speaker, with names changed for privacy
- Your insurance status and the event types you have hosted
Follow-up that helps the customer
- Offer a post-event summary of timing and any changes for the organizer's records
- Suggest a rehearsal walk-through of the stage and the transitions
- Recommend a brief speaker coaching call for first-time presenters
Licenses and permits
No state license is usually required to emcee events. Carry general liability insurance, any local business license that applies and a written note of the venue's rules, and check state and local requirements with your licensing agency before taking jobs, especially for events with raffles or prize games.
Questions
Do I need a permit for a raffle or game at an event?
Possibly. Raffles and prize games can have their own rules. Ask the organizer and check with your state or local licensing agency before the event.
How do I handle a speaker who runs over time?
Agree on a time signal before the event and a plan for wrapping up. Tell the speaker the time in advance and keep the program on track.
What should I bring to the event?
A printed run sheet, a copy of each introduction, a timer and a clear list of cues for music, slides and handoffs.
About this guide
This national guide is written and checked by infinibell. Rules and conditions differ by place, so local pros are credited on guides for the cities they serve, not on national ones.
Edit history
- Oct 29, 2026: Drafted by infinibell to our content guidelines.
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