Category: Event Host Blog
How to hire a master of ceremonies (and not end up with a name and no prep)
How to hire a master of ceremonies in the UK: what the role really covers, the questions that separate a safe pair of hands from a risky booking, and the one thing that decides the night.
The master of ceremonies script that fits any event
A universal master of ceremonies script, block by block, with adaptable example lines and how to bend the same skeleton to any event.
Corporate summer party entertainment that gets everyone off their seats
Corporate summer party entertainment that pulls the whole crowd in rather than three volunteers, with a plan for when the British weather turns.
Wedding MC jokes: humour that lands, not winces
A working host’s guide to wedding MC jokes: what lands, what to avoid, how to read the room, and the moments to stay serious.
How to moderate a panel discussion
A working guide to moderating a panel that stays alive: preparation, question design, handling dominant and quiet panellists, pace, and audience Q&A.
Corporate quiz night: how to run one people don’t drift out of
How to run a corporate quiz night that holds the room, from a professional host. Rounds that work, how to stop it dragging, and when a hosted game show beats a DIY quiz.
How to present an award on stage without the awkwardness
How to present an award at a corporate or charity ceremony, from a professional award host. What to say, how to handle the winner’s walk-up, and what to do when the winner is not there.
What is a gala dinner? A clear guide
A plain-English explainer on what a gala dinner is, what happens across the evening, a typical running order, and how it differs from an awards night.
How to introduce a speaker so the room actually listens
How to introduce a speaker at a conference or corporate event, from a professional host. A simple structure, how long to take, what to cut, and how to handle a speaker you have never met.
After dinner entertainment that beats a flat speech
After dinner entertainment for corporate events, from a host who runs the room live. What works after a big meal, how it differs from an after dinner speaker, and what to ask before you book.
How to choose an after dinner speaker (honestly)
A plain guide to what an after dinner speaker really is, when a keynote name is right, and when an interactive host lands better.
Conference energisers that actually hold a room
Conference energisers that work on a real corporate audience, from a host who runs full-day conferences. What to use after lunch, how long to run them, and what makes one fall flat.
Staff Christmas party ideas that don’t need a big budget or a big venue
In short These staff Christmas party ideas are for the small, internal staff do, not a big formal client-facing event: a team of ten to fifty celebrating together, usually organised by one person alongside their actual job. The best staff parties match the mood to the team, not to what a big venue brochure is…
How to be an MC: a working host’s honest guide
A grounded, first-person guide to how to be an MC, from a host who came up through television: the core skills, proper preparation, and the mistakes to skip.
Office Christmas quiz: how to run one people actually want to play
In short An office Christmas quiz works best with teams of four to six, five or six short rounds, and a mix of general trivia, company-specific questions and one genuinely silly round. Company knowledge rounds, built around your own team’s year, consistently land better than generic Christmas movie trivia alone. A nominated quiz master matters…
How to build real audience engagement at live events
The host techniques I use to get a live room taking part rather than watching, from reading the energy to splitting the room into two teams.
Office party games that work for any celebration, not just Christmas
In short Office party games aren’t just a December thing: leaving dos, summer parties, work anniversaries and promotions all need the same thinking. Farewell games work best when they’re tailored to the person leaving, not a generic format run on autopilot. Summer parties suit outdoor, physical formats, tug-of-war, water balloons, alongside the same quiz and…
How to make a corporate awards ceremony entertaining
A corporate awards ceremony does not have to drag for everyone who isn’t winning. Here is how I structure the night so the room stays alive to the final trophy.
Office Christmas party games that don’t fall flat after the second round of drinks
In short Office Christmas party games work best when they don’t rely on everyone being fully sober and fully attentive by 9pm. Simple, high-energy formats (Minute to Win It, charades, bingo) hold up well because the rules are already familiar. White Elephant gift exchanges add a genuine talking point without needing much facilitation. Hosted, TV-style…
How to emcee an awards ceremony that doesn’t drag
Twenty years of hosting award nights, distilled: how I brief every nominee, land every name, and keep the room alive long after the winners sit down.