The Art of Hosting and Emceeing and Everything in Between

"There are two types of speakers:

those that are nervous, and those that are liars."

-MARK TWAIN

PICTURE AT THE RIGHT TAKEN IN THE SUMMER OF 2007 DURING THE WTC CULMINATING ACTIVITY.

There is a BIG difference between being a "Host" and being the "Master of Ceremonies". As far as you might even be concerned, being a Host would mean being audience-oriented. Much like connecting to thhe audience, talking to them in a more informal way. While being an emcee would mean being program-oriented. On a more specific note, there would be less and less of interaction with the audience. Meaning, being an emcee would mean that I would only be aware of the program transition. YOU would only be talking on the microphone about the transitions. Not anything aside from that. If so, that would be called as 'Hosting.' The Art of Hosting and Emceeing Seminar was held at the SMX Convention Center last 17th of May. Mr. Butch Albaraccin, President and CEO of Center for Pop Philippines, personally conducted the seminar from 8am - 4pm.

See? And we all thought that both meant the same. So right now, when somebody asks you to Emcee their program.. Ask them: "What do you really want me to do: Host or Emcee?" And if their reply would still be 'to emcee', never ever do the job of a host. Emceeing is FAR DIFFERENT from Hosting. Now you know.

Now for the insight part.
I have 'emceed' the Club Recognition Day last school year along with two of my friends, Katrina and Kathryn. Seriously, I was really nervous. I mean, of course, this isn't the first time that I'm speaking in front of huge crowds. DUH. I'm doing it all my life. But I also know that even experienced public speakers, and expert/professional ones always do. This is the first time that I'll MC in SJA, so it's pretty rough. And when I mean rough, it's rough. Solely because I only got the list on the exact same day. Nudge! Nudge! Now that I attended the seminar, I began to constructively criticize myself. When you think of emceeing, it may come across as purely public speaking and all that it encompasses to. But there are also the littlest details that make 'emceeing' and 'hosting' a far cry from the usual ones. Now, I apologize if you see that I kind of messed up some parts. :) So there. I'm thankful that I attended it and managed to give myself a transformation in a snap! Oh yeah, at least now I could be noticed more than my dress then. You know, people constantly compliment the dress I wore then. Like, 'hell, did I messed up my part? Why don't they give feedbacks! Only feedbacks of my dress!' LOL.

Seminar Happenings.
Me and my cousins attended the 'adult' program. There was kuya RT ('from the Ateneo, DLSU, and now UP Diliman'), kuya Geno (from Notre Dame, and OLFU), ate Chin (UP Manila), then Nica and I (SJA). So we were in a sea of people in their 30s and above. Which is good, 'cause you learn from them and that they were people who really have 'places' in the society. I was surprised that uncle John Cenica (dubbed 'Doctor to the Stars') was there too! This was what went on at the lunchtable at Aristrocrat at the Mall of Asia:

I was seated on the table with Frank (Cebu City Mayor), then someone from the St Scholastica (she is a professor there and a writer too. really cool.):

Mr. Frank: Hey, I heard you speak awhile ago. You were great! What school are you in?

Robbin Alyssa: Oh really? Well, thank you! I'm in my Junior Year HS in St James Academy.

Mr. F: You're only in your Junior year? Really? St James Academy in Sucat?

RA: Uh, not. It's in Malabon.

(then we discussed about the school.)

Mr. F: Ah. You know, I had a hard time locating the venue. I was just in Manila for some conference when I read the Philippine Daily Inquirer advertisement of this seminar.

RA: Oh? So where are you from?

Mr. F: I'm from Cebu. Are you an American?

RA: No. Pure Filipina.

Mr. F: Well, is your dad an American?

RA: No. He's a Filipino.

Mr. F: How about your mom? (then I continued to disagree.) Were you raised in America?

RA: I was born and raised a Filipino.

Mr. F: Well then, why do you have such an American accent?!

RA: (oh, i was born with it. lol. really. modesty aside.) Well, my dad trained me to speak this way.

Ms. Lady-from-St. Scholastica: True! I thought you were an American awhile ago when you spoke in front! Are you not?

RA: Really, I'm not. Well, thank you for the compliment though!

Mr. F: So you're a Filipino. But at the back of my mind you are an American. You look and speak the way they are.

Ms. S: Yes, I agree. You really look an American!

::::::::::+::::::::::

So yes, it was a clash between brains whose belief systems are tuned to the notion that I'm an American and my brain that quickly retorts not. But I admit, I was really flattered to hear those words. :) So as I said, we weren't the only kiddos there. There were about 5 who are my age too. Two of them are incoming college freshies at the Ateneo. One from DLS-Zobel. One from Assumption, and the other at the Philippine Science. Everything that day was good. Learned a lot especially the compose-your-spiels part. Learned even the tiniest details in hosting and emceeing. I am very thankful for my voice and the way I speak. I thank the countless declamation contests that I joined back in Grade school. I thank the teachers who always pick me to speak on-stage in school. I thank my parents for training me. And I thank God for everything. I mean, I could always get a knack from using my voice and my American twang, if I may say so. But for the RECORD: I am not an American and I've never lived in the US. Well, prettyt soon I will. But surely I didn't get the ability there. So to speak. Born in Saudi Arabia, but purely Filipina. I was born there and 'in a few hours' after I was out the tummy of my Mom, I was immediately flown back to my land I proudly call, Philippines. Last summer, I also attended a summer class in Wilma Cruz Tapalla. The place is just a block from Greenhills' Promenade. Both are speech classes. :) I've always loved speech classes. And I always will. I miss the Tapalla crowd!

My Bit Of Trivia for You:

Public Speaking is the NUMBER ONE FEAR of all time of people. Death only comes a close second.