The success of the event largely depends not only on the venue and an exciting show program, but on the person who will interact with the guests throughout the event.

The host influences the audience's mood and the overall impression of the event. Today, the market is full of such specialists, so it is important to know how to choose one that meets the requirements of both the company and the event itself. leading, corresponding to the requirements of both the company and the event itself.

How to find a host for an event

A simple way to find a candidate is to turn to the internet. There are plenty of specialists in forums, thematic groups, and communities among whom you can choose a suitable one. However, you need enough time and energy to assess everyone properly, so with limited time, there is an increased risk of missing a worthy candidate.

Another popular way to find a host is through word of mouth. You can ask acquaintances: friends, subordinates, and partners will surely share their positive or negative experiences. This method also has its drawbacks: a host who made a positive impression on one company may not necessarily appeal to another. Therefore, when requesting contact information for a specialist, inquire about the type of events they have hosted: one person may not be suitable for both a sports team-building event and a business conference.

A universal option is to turn to an event agency. A manager will ask a series of questions to select the most suitable candidate considering the event format, budget, and client's preferences. The advantage of this method is that hosts working in conjunction with other agency contractors already know how to interact with specific DJs, artists, sound engineers, and lighting technicians.

What to pay attention to when choosing a host

Before starting the search for the face of the event, it is necessary to determine the event format. Here are some recommendations that will help choose a candidate depending on the program:

• For active events, it's best to entrust them to someone who maintains a healthy lifestyle and shares an interest in sports;

• Corporate Conferences или Presentations will be more effective in the hands of a host capable of adhering to a strict schedule;

• Corporate events are best entrusted to a specialist who has a sense of humor.

Once the event format is known, it's necessary to determine the budget. It plays an important role: the price range for hosting services varies from 20 thousand rubles to several thousand euros. The emcee's compensation directly depends on their experience, but media personalities have the highest price tag.

Some companies invite celebrity hosts to emphasize their status and make an impression on employees. Such financial costs are not always justified: often a media personality cannot conduct HR teambuilding as effectively as a regular host can. The problem lies not in the star's lack of professionalism, but in their specialization.

The event format and approximate budget can significantly narrow down the candidates. Next, it is necessary to determine the experience and skills that the host should have. Learn about them through a personal conversation or request photo and video materials from past events.

Willingness to sign a contract confirms the candidate's professional qualities. In the event industry, there are many hosts who work without formal documentation, but it is better to focus on those who agree to a secure deal.

Specialists recommend starting event preparation 3-4 months in advance, especially if the event is planned before major holidays such as New Year, International Women's Day, Defender of the Fatherland Day, etc. This is because popular hosts may be booked on dates close to these holidays. When choosing a specialist to conduct an event, do not forget about their schedule.

How to conduct an interview with a host

When you have selected several candidates, arrange a personal meeting with them. First and foremost, pay attention to the following factors:

• Appearance. For a public figure, this factor directly affects how others perceive them. Regardless of the format, the host should look neat: be well-groomed and wear clean clothes appropriate for the event's mood.

• Articulate speech. Listen to what and how the candidate pronounces: do they make phonetic errors, use jargon, filler words, or profanity? Do they have speech defects or a noticeable accent?

• Personal impression. Pay attention to details that complement your overall impression of the specialist. Their mannerisms or gestures during communication will help determine whether guests will feel comfortable with this person.

• Ability to improvise. No event is immune from force majeure. It is important for the specialist to be able to take control of the situation in time: relieve tension with a timely joke or distract guests while the organizers deal with the problem. Find out from the potential host if similar situations have occurred in their practice and how they handled them.

• Working principles. Find out from the candidate how they are accustomed to acting at events: obeying the organizers or being a co-author of the script and complementing the original plan during the preparation stage.

• Interests. If you cannot decide among several specialists, ask them about their hobbies, musical preferences, and erudition. An advantage for the candidate will be their ability to find mutual understanding with your guests in these areas.

Why do we need event organizers if we can just hire a host right away

A common misconception of clients is that the services of a presenter include not only conducting the event. Assuming that they will help seat guests, supervise waiters, and other services, clients do not see the need for the services of an event organizing company.

It is important to understand that a presenter is only responsible for entertaining guests and cannot simultaneously control catering, prepare props, and solve other organizational issues. Moreover, many specialists refuse to collaborate without organizers because they want to focus on their work without being distracted by tasks unrelated to their activities.