Make no mistake: Virtual MCs (emcees) and online event hosts aren’t short of assignments, these days. As virtual, hybrid and streaming events become commonplace, seasoned emcees are in fact only becoming more imperative to the success of online conferences and meetings. Like expert facilitators guiding audiences through experiences in-person, virtual MCs and event hosts take viewers on seamless, engaging journeys by connecting presenters, segments and programming into unified stories.
Think of it this way, if it helps. The best virtual MCs and event hosts set the tone for events through opening and closing remarks, speaker introductions and moderating panels or fireside chats. Top moderators here carry audiences from session-to-session by summarizing key themes, ideas and calls to action along with what’s upcoming to maintain a cohesive thread. The field’ most talented virtual MCs and event hosts also lead audiences through scheduled activities such as trivia breaks, polls, live Q&As with comments or games to spotlight sponsors. During longer, multi-day conferences, pros further find creative ways to continually refresh programs and pace content to keep online viewers invested through the finish.
Also important to note is that part of the role of virtual MCs and event hosts involves driving interactivity to foster a sense of community through screens. That means skillfully monitoring audience participation tools and livestreaming chats to surface valuable perspectives in real-time. By quilting together diverse observations, experiences and questions into narratives, top presenters make online audiences active contributors. Our favorite facilitators also work to build hype for breakout groups, networking sessions and platform exploration to motivate participation across all engagement opportunities.
On the whole, as prominent on-camera faces guiding the event experience, virtual MCs and event hosts lend continuity for branding and sponsorship visibility attendees trust and recognize. Experts in the space further collaborate with production teams on video bumpers, lower third graphics, live demos and script integrations that strategically yet naturally incorporate partners into the show. When executed authentically by the right virtual MC or event host, branded content reaches viewers as valued supplementary content instead of disruptive self-promotion.