COMPERING

 THE ART OF COMPERING
A ‘compere’ (also called ‘The Master of Ceremonies’, MC/emcee, or an anchor) is a person whose job is to introduce performers in a television, radio or stage show. A compere introduces the programme and the participants; he / she is the mediator, announcer and coordinator of the events in a programme. A compere is also the formal host and felicitator of an event.

Role of a compere :
The compere is the formal host and felicitator of an event.

1.He / she is the mediator, announcer and coordinator of the events in a programme.
The compere has to stimulate an interest in the crowd and give them an idea about the programme ahead.

2.He / she has to glorify the performance of all the performers with his / her appropriate, positive comments and appreciation.

3.He / She has to ensure enthusiasm among the viewers with active response in the form of an applause or interaction.

4.He / She has to make sure that there are smooth transitions between different segments of the programme.

5.He / She should control the timing of the proceedings, and be assertive where necessary.

6.He / She should have the ability to deal / work with the technicians, event organisers, guest speakers etc.Should there be any hiccups, the compere still has to ensure the smooth movement of the programme.

7.He / She has to master the skill of coordinating and stringing / weaving the whole event in one artistic thread maintaining continuity.

8.Finally, the compere must never forget that the most important thing is to keep the audience engaged. The compere can use ‘fillers’ for this purpose. ‘Fillers’ are small performances / enactments such as jokes, anecdotes, mimicry items, riddles, fun-facts etc. to fill in the gap between two performances, or if there is a delay or disturbance in a performance for some reason. These fillers should be kept ready beforehand the same way the script is kept ready. This will ensure continuity in the programme, besides keeping the audience happy.

Preparation to be made before you compere a programme :

1)Understand the complete programme from the organizers - the type of programme (music, dance, award etc.) the time duration, what are the exact events etc.

2)Be clear about your role , and what you are supposed to do. Is it to merely introduce the guests ? Or do you have to give a welcome speech ? Who gives the vote of thanks ? Who will present the bouquet ? If there is prize distribution, who will award the prizes ? Clarify this with the organizers in detail. Every step must be clear.

3)Find out the details of the audience you are going to address. Is it a young audience or senior citizens ? Is audience participation expected ? You have to accordingly modulate your speech, voice, clothes and behaviour.

4)Find out the correct pronunciation of the name you are going to announce. Never get the names of people wrong; especially those of guests. Find out their professions and qualifications, and introduce them correctly. Clarify this with the organizers, or with the guests themselves if possibles.

5)Write down the entire script after discussing with the organizers. Cross-check to see if there are any mistakes. Use words and language you are comfortable with, and which your audience is comfortable with. Do not try to impress by using big words. Type or write your script leaving a lot of margin and lots of space in between for comments and notes. You should be able to understand at a glance what you have written or typed.

6)Collect extra information about the guests or audience that will help you in your Compering. For example, if the Chief Guest is a scientist, look up the net for more information about him. You may not use it, but it will help you understand the person better, and improve your compering.

7)Keep fillers, jokes etc. ready for times when there are gaps in the programme, like someone is late or the programme is delayed. Make arrangement for some music too, in case the gaps are very long.

8)Keep a pleasant face and maintain eye contact with the audience. Be lively and enthusiastic. Dress appropriately for the event. Keep a calm mind at all times. Breathe deeply if you feel that you are getting jittery. Do not forget to introduce yourself.

9)Coordinate with the technicians, guest speakers, other speakers, etc. For example, if someone else is to give the vote of thanks, you will have to invite the person at the correct moment.

10)Practise, practise, practise.  Road from your script and practise before the event, either in front of your family / friends or in front of a mirror. If possible, in the beginning, tape your practice readings so that you can judge for yourself. Finally, try to practise your compering on stage at the actual venue a day before the event.

Areas or sectors in which a compere is a must :

A compere is needed for award functions, cultural functions, college annual days, freshers’ parties, formal functions, exhibitions, weddings, events in the hospitality sector, TV programmes, radio programmes, parties etc.

Special skills needed to take up compering as a career
*Good communication skills language fluency and clarity of thoughts.A simple but dignified style with words that comes from the heart; a good sense of humour, must be able to hold the attention of the audience.

Confidence - about one’s knowledge, language, apperance etc. about one’s capability in handling the audience and keeping them interested and happy.
Good empathy and understanding of audience behaviour and needs, the audience is the key.
Good general knowledge of what is happening in the world around.
Appropriate body  language and good sense of dressing.
Ability to exhibit spontaneity, originality and genuineness; should also be assertive.
Ability to ensure smooth movement of the programme; presence of mind; must be alert.
Ability to deal / work with the technicians, event organisers, guest speakers, etc. Must have diplomacy and tact for this.

How to acquire these skills:

A)Obtain a Bachelor’s degree, preferably in journalism / mass communications / mass media, etc. : Needs of the industry keep changing. Find out from the internet about the requirements to become a TV / radio compere, or anything that you are interested in, at that particular point in time.

B)Participate in school / college programmes to gain experience : The first real experience many students get is through school / college programmes. Participate in debates, elocution competitions, college festivals etc. This can help you develop confidence and clarity of speech.

C)Opt for internships to gain field experience : Internships during college vacations can be extremely beneficial; even if the stipend is less and the work is more, it will help. Many newspapers and TV channels hire students during vacations. These internships help you to learn and understand how the mass media functions before pursuing a full-time career. While working in these internships, students can also acquire and maintain work contacts for future use.

D)Work in the field : If you do not get the event / job of your choice initially, start with small events or small TV channels. You will get the experience and confidence so essential to the job and also build up a good CV.

E)Build up your health, stamina and general knowledge : Compering requires a lot of stamina and hard work. You cannot afford to fall sick at the last moment or reveal your tiredness on stage. Hence it is essential that you take care of your health and are fit and fine. In addition to this, you must learn the art of looking good and dressing well. Read a lot and keep abreast of the developments in the world.

G)Watch other comperes : Watch other comperes, and learn from their experiences. If you are a part of the audience at some programme, find out how the audience reacts to that particular compere and why. Learn from the mistakes of others.

Qualities of a compere for a cultural event :
Good communication skills.
Knowledge of the subject.
Proper attire.
Understanding of the nature and tone of the event
Understanding of the audience, and keeping them interested and responsive.
Appropriate body language.
Ability to ensure smooth movement of the programme even when there are hurdles.
Should have spontaneity, originality and genuineness.

Sample 01  THE ART OF COMPERING

1) Imagine that you are a compere of a ‘Prize Distribution Ceremony’ of your college. Write a script for the same. You can take the help of the following points. 

1)Introduction - A brief introduction of the programme / function / show.

2)Welcome speech - Welcome of all the guests, felicitation of the guests 
(Principal, vice-principal etc.

3)Lighting the lamp

4)Welcome song

5) Main events

6) Vote of thanks.

Sample Answer:
Introduction - Good evening to all present here today on this special occasion. Today is the day we acknowledge and appreciate the hard work and effort put in by so many of our students through the year. Yes, today is the long-awaited ‘Prize Distribution Ceremony’, the day when we decorate with awards prizes and medals all those students who have performed par excellence in different fields, shining in academics and sports or even in arts.

Welcome speech : On behalf of the Principal, teachers and students of our college, I take pleasure in welcoming our Chief Guests, Mr. Siddharth Nayak and Ms. Urmila Nayak Welcome Sir, Ma’am. I also warmly welcome all the parents, who have been the backbone of their children’s success; without their efforts, we would never have achieved all that we did during the year. Welcome to one and all, once again.

Lighting the lamp : Let us begin this wonderful programme in the traditional Indian way. For this, I request all the honourable members on the dais to kindly light the traditional lamp and offer prayers. Sir, Ma’am, please.

Welcome song : Thank you, I request our guests to please take their seats in the auditorium and enjoy the cultural programme.
We begin the cultural events for the day with a heartfelt and cheerful welcome song. I invite on stage our star singers, Shilpa, Varsha, Mihir and Yogesh. For musical accompaniment, we have Sumeet on the guitar and Raunak playing the table. 

Main events :
A big round of applause, please, for our singers and musicians. Thank you. The next item on our programme is a light one-act play presented by students of Std. XII. I request the audience to maintain complete silence so as not to miss the surprise ending .......
That was indeed a surprise ending ! I can see that you have enjoyed this offering by our students. Well, now we go on to the most eagerly awaited part of the programme - the prize distribution. May I request our Chief Guests and the Principal of our college to please step onstage and hand over the prizes to the winners .... Thank you, Sir, Ma’am.
I now request our Chief Guest to address the audience.
Thank you, Sir. Your speech has indeed given us wonderful insights on the various aspects and responsibilities of social networking. We are immensely grateful to you for your invaluable words of enlightenment and advice.
We proceed to the next part of the programme. India, as we all know, is a country that has many diverse ways and customs. And where is this more obvious than in the dances of the different states ? Yes, we now present  a quartet of dances from the east, west, north and south of India. Let us see 
how it ends ! Please give a big hand to welcome the students of Std. XII, presenting the dances.
That was indeed a wonderful performance ! Thank you, audience, for your appreciative response.

Vote of thanks : Before we conclude this programme I take the opportunity to thank all those who have lent a helping hand to make this Prize Distribution Ceremony a grand success. For the formal vote of thanks I invite our Cultural Secretary, Ms. Seema Pai. I take my leave of you with a big ‘Thank you’. You have indeed been a wonderful audience ! Thank you once again.

Sample 02  THE ART OF COMPERING

Q. Imagine you are a compare of a ‘Annual day programme’ of your college. Write / prepare a script for the same. You can take help of the following points.
Introduction :

1)A brief introduction of the programme / function / show.

2)Welcome address : Welcome of all the guests / dignitaries / felicitation of the guests (Principal, Vice Principal etc.)

3)Lighting the lamp
4)Welcome song
5)Main cultural events.
6)Vote of thanks

Sample Answer:

Respected Principal, Vice Principal, Supervisor, Teachers and all my dear friends, I, Rahul Singh, cultural Secretary your host for today’s event welcome one and all on this special occasion. Today is the long-awaited mega event called ‘TARANG’ of our college. This is the platform where we can exhibit our talent and potential. On behalf of the college Management, Principal, I take pleasure in welcoming our Chief Guests for todays function. Mr. Prakash Amte and Mrs. Sindhutai Sakpal. The renowned social workers from Maharashtra. I also warmly welcome all the parents, distinguished guests gathered over here. welcome to and all once again.
As per our tradition, we always begin our programme by soliciting the blessings of the almighty in the traditional Indian way. For this, I request all the honourable members on the dais and off the dais to light the traditional lamp and offer prayers ‘Let the darkness of ignorance be dispelled and let there be light everywhere'.
Thank you all the dignitaries, I request all our guests to take their seats in the auditorium and enjoy our cultural treat. We begin our cultural event with a welcome song, I invite on stage our star singers, Miss. Shraddha Sawant, Sachin Patil, Atul Parab, Ameeta Sinha for musical accompaniment, we have Sumeet Deshpande on the Tabla and Raunak Sharma on the casio.
A big round of applause for our singers and musicians. Thank you, The next item on our programme is a group dance. May I invite our dance group from XII G Division to perform folk dance. I request the audience to maintain silence and enjoy the performance.
That was indeed a breath-taking performance!. Give a big round of applause for all the artists. We have a surprise package for you dear friends our commerce students now going to perform a skit on the topic “Save Girl child” to create an awareness I hope you will surely like this skit as it has a social message for all of us it was indeed a fabulous performance!. It is an eye-opener for all of us, isn’t it ?
I now request our Chief Guests to felicitate the student of the year award. The student of the year 
award for this year goes to Miss Nikita Hiwalkar from FYJC division H. A big round of applause I request our guest to address the audience. Thank you Sir, Your speech has indeed given us wonderful insights and responsibilities of social networking. We are highly indebted to you for giving us your valuable time.
Before we conclude this programme, I take the opportunity to Thank our Management, Principal, Vice Principal, Supervisor, Teacher and all the Volunteers who have lent helping hands to make this event a grand one. You have indeed been a wonderful audience. Thank you one and all once again. Good night ! Shubh Ratri ! Take care.

EXERCISE

1.Imagine that you are a compere of ‘Independence Day Celebration’ of your college. Write / prepare a script for the same. You can take help of the following points.

a) Introduction : Importance of Independence day.

b)Welcome / Guest of honour, Principal, Vice Principal.
Flag hoisting ceremony - national anthem - parade, guard of honour.
c)Address of the Chief Guest.
d)Cultural programme, patriotic songs.
e)Vote of Thanks.

2.Imagine you are going to compere a programme on ‘Teacher’s day celebration’ in your college. Prepare a script in about 100-150 words for the same. You can take help of the following points.

a) Introduction - A brief introduction of the programme.
Welcome speech - Welcome of all the teachers, guests for the function.
b)Lighting the lamp.
c)Teacher’s Day - Importance and role of teachers / Gurus in our life.
d)Main event - Performance by the student in the honour of teachers.
e)Vote of thanks.

3.Imagine you are going to compare for the ‘Orientation Programme / Induction Programme’ for Freshers (F.Y.J.C. Students) Prepare a script in about 100-150 words for the same. You can take help of the following points.

1)Introduction - A brief introduction of the programme.
2)Welcome speech - Welcome address by the Principal, 3)felicitation of the guests. 
4)Speeches by dignitaries / ex-students of college / Alumni of the college / institution.
5)Vote of Thanks.

4.Imagine that you are compere of “Republic Day Celebration” of your college write / Prepare a script in 100-150 words for the programme.
You can make use of the following points.

1)Introduction : Importance of Republic Day.
2)Welcome / Guest of honour, Principal, Vice Principal, Supervisor, Dignitaries etc.
3)Flag hoisting ceremony, national anthem, parade ground of honour.
4)Address / Speech of Chief Guest
Patriotic songs, cultural programme / NCC students show   5)Vote of thanks.

5.Imagine you are going to compere for the “Prize distribution function” of the final match of a Inter collegiate cricket tournament organised in your college. Prepare a script for the same. You can take help of the following points :

1.Introduction : A brief history of the Inter-collegiate cricket tournament.
2.Welcome of all the guests, cricket teams, players, spectators etc.
3.Announcement of Runner up team and its captain / felicitation of the team.
4.Man of the match award / felicitation of the player.
5.Announcement of winning team, felicitation of the team / Trophies and medals.
6.Few words by the winning captain.

7.Vote of thanks etc.