Weddings MC question

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cjmrsdj

New DJ
Feb 25, 2009
167
0
55
Ontario
What all do you include as being an MC? Just making general announcements like when the cake cutting is going to happen, the first dance, where the bathrooms are and someone left their car lights on? Is it more?
This couple has said that maybe one friend of theirs could MC their wedding and are not sure if he should or I should. I am fine either way, whatever they want. I know I won't have a problem finding words or have a ton of 'uh's" in there so I don't have a problem getting up for this but I want to know before hand if there is anything else I should know. And if he does it, well he should know it. Oh, and do you get up and say 'now here is so and so to give a toast, speech, whatever'?
Thanks guys. :)
 
Howdy,

PM me. I can speak faster than I can type.

Best,

Dave
 
The Emceeing you guys do in Canada is different from us down here.
We do it all. We do not share the duties with the relatives or guest Emcees, Etc.
 
Bill you are uneducated and ignorant to the reality up here. Other than out West they dont have as much MC family or friends. Here in BC I do almost 50% of my gigs as the MC due to superior MC skills and though it was tradition in the past I and others are being asked to take charge. I add value to it making certain the clients fill out a questionnaire to get info to allow me to emulate the friend or family most expect. I have fooled many a guest and vendor with my MC duties many thinking I knew the Bride when she rock and rolled.
 
Thanks everyone.

Thinking back to family weddings, all long ago, and the MC was always a relative. A long winded relative and I think people were confused on what he was supposed to do, including him. :sqembarrassed:
 
cjmrsdj said:
Thanks everyone.

Thinking back to family weddings, all long ago, and the MC was always a relative. A long winded relative and I think people were confused on what he was supposed to do, including him. :sqembarrassed:
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A localized Canadian tradition. I have NEVER seen that even once in the US.
 
Wow, that surprises me. Not sure why but it does. lol
The last wedding I was at was in the fall, I was bar tending. The MC was a bridesmaid, she was sooo long winded. You could see people getting antsy in their seats because she just went on and on. Even introducing other people to come and give a toast (really they were long speeches) she was long winded. She had to tell the life story of every person who got up there and there were many. It was tragically boring!
 
cjmrsdj said:
Wow, that surprises me. Not sure why but it does. lol
The last wedding I was at was in the fall, I was bar tending. The MC was a bridesmaid, she was sooo long winded. You could see people getting antsy in their seats because she just went on and on. Even introducing other people to come and give a toast (really they were long speeches) she was long winded. She had to tell the life story of every person who got up there and there were many. It was tragically boring!
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Well, maybe it's a good thing here in the good 'ol US of A we don't do that.... Jon may be the exception in BC... (he is a long winded bastard anyway) j/k..... love ya man! :sqwink:
 
To go on the OP -

I believe it is Tom Haibeck, who is from Canada that has a book on being a wedding MC.

Granted there may be differences that are country-specific, but it may be worth a look-see.

There are many views as to what an MC is.

Is he the "Host" of the party? I don't think so. The person(s) throwing the party are the host.

A polished MC should be able to guide attendees through an event, from the start to finish. YOU are the spokesperson to the rest of the audience, i.e. the guests.

And as another thought - it's not what you say, but how you say it. ;)

Cheers,

Joe
 
I have his books. Even Regis Philbin used it to prepare as MC for his daughter or someones wedding day. The philosophy of the writing is very simple and easy.
 
MC can include, but is not limited to:

Informative announcements: ie where the restrooms and bar is, whether or not there are disposable cameras at tables, where the bar is, whats available, and what TYPE of bar it is, where guestbook is, the list is almost limitless.

Introductions: Couple, party, immediate family (parents, grandparents, etc)

Introduction of individual events, and introductions of speakers

Motivational MC work.

Helping to set and maintain the "vibe" or atmosphere for the event that the couple desires, and setting the overall tone and pace.

MC should ALWAYS know what is supposed to happen when, what's next, be able to make these transitions and make them clear for the guests present, be able to work with other vendors and venue staff to coordinate behind the scenes elements and wing it when something needs to be modified or isnt going "according to plan."

It is up to you before the event to find out which of these roles and others they want you to assume, and to what extent or detail you will assume them.

Using the wedding planner I emailed you previously can help you layout in writing just about all of your emcee duties for any given reception - pm or email me if you would like to talk about how that packet/form would translate into an outline of your duties at the event. It's all there and more.
 
cjmrsdj said:
Wow, that surprises me. Not sure why but it does. lol
The last wedding I was at was in the fall, I was bar tending. The MC was a bridesmaid, she was sooo long winded. You could see people getting antsy in their seats because she just went on and on. Even introducing other people to come and give a toast (really they were long speeches) she was long winded. She had to tell the life story of every person who got up there and there were many. It was tragically boring!
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Ah yes... this can happen when someone in the wedding party gets ahold of the microphone. A magical transformation comes over them ~ they think they're some kind of star or something ~ and they just cannot shut up. :D

We had an upscale reception in '07 where this happened. The folks in the wedding party somehow convinced the B&G to let them each "say a few words." Well, a "few words" became long-winded chat fests where people were basically yacking and saying nothing. The guests were lost before the first one got done. They were eating dinner and I don't think anyone was paying much attention to it all.

True, here Stateside, the DJ or bandleader typically serves as MC. Some DJ companies work as a pair. One manages the music programming and the other handles the MC duties.

An MC should be designated by the B&G or event host. Barring further instruction from said designator, under no circumstances should anyone else ever get his paws on the mic.

Don't fall for the "So-and-so said I could use the mic" routine. This old dog has been hearing that lame lie for many years. :)
 
Tom flew back on the same flight from MBLV 08 we sat next to one another and he and I had good conversation he then gave me his book. He lives in Vancouver.
 
I have had the super long rambling toast before after 15 minutes of this monoluge (yes I spelled it the way I meant too LOL) Something happened to the Mic I appologized profusely and said I would get it up and running as soon as possible.

Both the Bride and Groom came up to thank me and asked that I not bother fixing the mic ( I told the B&G that it wasn't broken, they just grinned, looked at each other started laughing and walked away)!
 
Thunder said:
Both the Bride and Groom came up to thank me and asked that I not bother fixing the mic ( I told the B&G that it wasn't broken, they just grinned, looked at each other started laughing and walked away)!
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that's friggin' hilarious, Thunder!

I had a similar situation where the Best Man was rambling for the toast.
after about 7-minutes (seemed like 7 HOURS) the b/g gave me "the look"
and I knew what they wanted me to do.
(I think they would have given the hand-on-the-throat "kill it" sign if they weren't in front of the crowd)
so I started to slowly fade up the "think music" from Jeopardy...
everyone laughed, including the long winded best man,
and he finally wrapped it up!

for me
there is no such thing as an MC.
I make all necessary announcements as the DJ...
as I consider it part of the job.
(except for toasts, speeches, or when the hall manager usually does the intros)
 
Mike,

Your mention of playing the Jeopardy theme reminded me of a wedding where I saw the b/g's video (wasn't the DJ, but a friend of the groom's dad).

Anyway - The Best Man had a speech prepared & was going through several pages of his prepared speech. The Best Man paused for a second, and the DJ (I guess he thought he was funny) - did just that, he played the Jeopardy Theme.

Needless to say, you can hear the audience laugh, but both the groom & best man gave an obviously different view towards this spontaneous act on the DJ's part. They were visibly upset with this attempt at humor.

Guess, I'm just trying to say "Know your audience"!

Cheers,

Joe
 
oh that is SO true!
the only reason I had the nerve to do it
was because of the look I got from the bride and groom.
(and judging by his speech, the best man obviously had a good sense of humor)

I got lucky ONCE
but I haven't tried it since!
:sqeek:
 
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