The Best Event Decision You’ll Make Isn’t the Theme. It’s the People Holding the Microphone
It takes months to plan your event, from picking the perfect venue to promoting and driving ticket sales, transportation logistics, catering and finalised run sheets.
But one of the biggest decisions you’ll make is who stands on stage and helps to bring your event to life.
An MC isn’t just there to make sure the event runs on time. They control the pace,set the tone, create energy, maintain momentum and shape the audience experience from start to finish.
Speakers play an equally important role. They become the voice of your event, representing your message, your values, and your objectives. Once they step on stage, they’re not just delivering a presentation; they’re influencing how attendees feel about the event itself.
We’ve all seen examples of talented people who simply weren’t the right fit for the audience.
Whether it’s a speaker making tone-deaf remarks, relying on humour that misses the audience queue, or delivering a message that doesn’t resonate with the room, the impact can be immediate. Attendees don’t separate the speaker from the event. Their experience of one becomes their experience of the other.
We think back to times when speakers have stood on stage and made what they thought was a funny remark, but it wasn’t the right audience. Take Minister Lyons for example; just last year in Europe, he was asked to speak at a leadership event for women in business and sport, an event meant to empower women in business. What happened? Lyons took the stage and his first remark was how he couldn’t see further back in the hall, but when referring to the guests he noted, the “good-looking ones” must have been seated at the front. While he has since apologised, this is what many recall about that event, not what the event purpose was.
Sometimes the wrong choice is driven by budget. Other times, it comes from a senior stakeholder wanting a recognisable name: someone they’ve seen on television, followed online, or heard deliver a compelling TED Talk, even if that talk was for a completely different audience, purpose or context. But profile does not guarantee connection. Suze Orman’s appearance at NASPA: Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education’s 2021 annual conference is a useful example. While she brought significant credibility as a financial expert, her presentation was widely criticised for comments that felt tone-deaf and disconnected from the lived experience of many entry-level student affairs professionals in the room. The issue was not her expertise; it was the lack of alignment between the speaker, the audience and the moment.
And that’s exactly the point.
Choosing a speaker or MC shouldn’t come down to name recognition, social following or whether they’ve appeared on television.
The real question is simple: can they connect with the audience sitting in front of them?
A strong MC and an exceptional speaker can make an event feel effortless. They bring structure, energy and confidence to the room, creating a lasting impression while adding depth, momentum and meaningful engagement to the overall experience.
The real risk comes when the person on stage is misaligned with the audience, underprepared for the context, or unable to connect with the purpose of the event.
The most effective speakers are authentic to the event, credible in their message and relatable to the people in the room. That combination builds trust, strengthens connection and helps the audience feel more invested in both the speaker and the event itself.
Research consistently shows that trust is one of the strongest drivers of influence. According to Nielsen’s Trust in Advertising survey, 88% of global respondents trust recommendations from people they know more than any other channel.
An event speaker may not always personally know the audience, although in some cases they may be a friend, colleague or familiar face to those in the room. Either way, the principle remains the same. Audiences respond to people who feel authentic, credible and relatable.
So, what should you look for when you are selecting your MC and speakers?
The good MCs make it look easy, but there’s a lot more happening behind the scenes than simply reading from a run sheet.
A great MC knows how to read the room and adjust accordingly. They can feel when the energy is dipping, when the audience needs a laugh, or when it’s time to refocus attention. They keep the event moving, manage unexpected hiccups without anyone noticing, and create seamless transitions between speakers and sessions.
Just as importantly, they make speakers feel comfortable and confident on stage, helping them deliver their best. While the audience may not always notice a great MC at work, they’ll certainly notice when one isn’t.
The best speakers don’t walk onto a stage and deliver the same presentation they’ve given a hundred times before.
They take the time to understand who is in the room, why they’re there, and what matters to them. They tailor their message to the audience, share genuine experiences, and provide insights that are relevant and meaningful.
Most importantly, they don’t just fill in a speaking slot. They contribute to the purpose of the event. Long after the stage lights go down, attendees should leave with a new perspective, a practical takeaway or a story that sticks with them.
Because the best speakers don’t just talk to an audience, they connect with them.
The reality is that people rarely remember every slide, statistic, or agenda item from an event.
What they do remember is how the event made them feel.
The right MC can create energy, connection, and momentum. The right speaker can leave audiences inspired, challenged, or motivated to take action.
That’s why choosing an MC or speaker isn’t simply another item on the event checklist.
It’s one of the biggest factors in whether your event succeeds at all.