[Steve W]

MC is a position that is usually filled by FIRST or the Regional committee. This position is one that is very important, only 1 per regional and has a lot of experienced people doing it. There are few openings and you must be in the right place at the right time. It is also a skilled position. There are many who have tried it and many who have failed. You must realize that this position is the most visable of all. You also must realize that to be good at this position you must be self confident, self analysing and self less. Some of the people who do it do it because it puts them in the limelight. This is the wrong reason. The MC must remember that the position is about everyone else. You must try to boost others and instill excitement at the event without being the event. This is a very tough job to do. You must also be aware of all that is happening with the teams. You need to do tons of homework on the teams attending. You must have a lot of controlled energy. You must watch what you say and how you say it. You can't show any favoritism. It is a very rewarding job but one that is earned by respect. Look at those that are MCing now. Most are engineers or mentors with alot of time with FIRST. They have earned the right to be seen and noticed. Most have shown that they hold FIRST and the students ahead of themselves. They are the spirit of FIRST when on the field.

I am not trying to put you off of the position. I am just opening your eyes to what the position entitles. I have worked with quite a few MC's and almost all have been around for quite a while. The rookie MC's that I have worked with have been good and not so good (Paul C you are on the good). The MC must work well with the announcer (thats me). If the two people are not on the same page a lot can go wrong. Teamwork is very important as well as personality (Paul, I don't know how you did so well with no personality ....OOOPS). You need to be a fun person as well. The most important need to be an MC is..............................................





THE LOVE OF FIRST.