Looking into the many volunteering positions available at regionals, one of the ones that stands out to me is the job of the Emcee, or the Co-Emcee.
Does anyone know how to become an Emcee at a regional? Who to talk to?
This is an option for my college years, and seems like a ton of fun, plus a heck of an experience.
Thanks for everyone’s help!
I think you probably want to talk to Mark Leon first, and find out just how [strike]crazy[/strike] energetic you have to be. (Or whoever the MC is at CVR–but why it wouldn’t be Mark I don’t know.)
Then, AFAIK, you sign up in VIMS same as for any other position, and talk to the Volunteer Coordinator if you can.
Or you could go the route I did, which was inspection and setup/teardown.
Thanks! Unfortunately, Mark won’t be Emceeing CVR. I don’t know anyone else in the area who MC’s (Sorry SoCal if I don’t know any other great Emcees), though it looks like I’ll soon find out (3 days!)
As for the energetic part…Let’s just say I am my team’s energy. 
I can be a little overboard for the “older” mentors, but that’s the fun part!
Easiest way? Talk to your regionals volunteer coordinator. They will know which events will need help. You’ll also have to shadow a seasoned MC for a season or two, and you may have to reside to being a backup while you get more experience.
Also try working an FLL or FTC event. Or even an offseason. You get all the experience with less of the pressure.
Hope this helps.
George’s advice about FLL/FTC is right. FRC Offseasons and other events should be your first priority. After a few of those, check with the volunteer coordinator at the event you’re interested in - try to get them video, if you have it.
Keep in mind that each of the events is a ‘show’, and you’ll be expected to keep the energy up for the whole day. It’s not just about acting crazy, it’s about being the face of the entire regional, reading the award scripts, doing research on teams, and bringing a whole lot of fun to the event. It’s a lot more than just bouncing around with a flag yelling out team numbers.
Something I’ve noticed - some of the very good MCs are actors in their spare time. They recognize that the field is essentially a stage - no matter what’s going on, you’ve gotta keep your happy face on.
Good luck, and enjoy! Being out there on the field is a whole lot of fun. I’ve only done it a few times, but I love it.
I’m starting to get interested in emcee-ing. It does take a lot of energy, but it also takes a lot of excitement for FRC. Mark Leone is one of my favorites, but who can forget the legendary intros of Karthik? I strive to be like those two combined.
FTC and FLL events are the best way to start out, as a Junior and Senior, I volunteered at these events as a DJ and an emcee, and our state FTC coordinator was so impressed at my job at a qualifier, that he offered me the job of being a backup at the FTC state event.
Contact some offseason event coordinators about volunteering there, and list some experience. I’m sure you would be a great emcee
Here’s a similar thread about announcing, which turned into a success story. You might recognize the person who asked how to become an announcer. http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showthread.php?t=28424.
The following is FIRST’s description of the emcee position: http://www.usfirst.org/community/volunteers/master-of-ceremonies-(emcee)
Ask Samir Shaikh how he MC’d at BMR 2012 this year…
I think he was in the right place at the right time to backup Dan Green. Also Samir has had some practice at CAGE Match in Indy. Not only does CAGE Match birth some fierce Indiana Rookie Teams, it’s also the proving grounds for Indiana MCees… Samir looks to Karthik Kanagasabapathy for inspiration. Karthik is like a walking encyclopedia of teams and statistical data…
I’ll be the game announcer at CVR, and I also emcee FLL/FTC/VEX/off-season events. I’d be happy to talk to you, come find me on the field.
Basically, start at smaller events, practice at off-seasons and FLL/FTC events. Shadow emcees at regionals where you can. The best advice I can give is that you should be yourself - don’t try to be a clone of Mark or a clone of Karthik. Learn to be comfortable on a stage, and especially with public speaking.
Remember that being an emcee is more than being crazy. It’s being energetic and fun, but also professional and in control.
Blair Hundertmark has created some good information with training slides and match example videos on the FIRST website here.
If you can watch any video from Einstein, listen to how Dave Verbrugge does his team introductions. It is really neat how he incorporates each team’s history in his introduction.
As many know, this year was my first year emceeing. In order to emcee, i got in contact with our local emcee, a lady by the name of Chiniqua, to see if i could shadow her. Before i did any districts/regionals i did some offseasons and had to go through a training. I definitely would suggest doing some FLL/FTC events if you can, i know i am going too!
Being an emcee is extremely rewarding, i love seeing the glimmer in a rookie teams eye their first time behind the glass. But you do have to remember it is a public speaking role, and you need to have a lot of self confidence to speak in front of hundreds of people. And as Libby said, you do have to keep up the energy the entire day/weekend and it’s not about ‘crazy’ energy, it’s the passion of seeing these kids succeed that pushes you along all weekend!
best of luck!
‘Cowgirl’ Katie
Mark will be at CVR.
I see Joel was in the thread. I miss him. That guy had a great voice.
I remember going to Montreal this year and Karthik and Blair were up there training a brand new MC and announcer. The MC was complaining about how his throat was hurting after one day and they gave him tips on how to take care of himself. Two days of “talking loud” can take quite a toll.
Thanks to Joe for reminding me of that thread, I completely forgot about it.
The one good thing to take away from that thread, as well as all the information that everyone else provided are these things.
Katie Stevens is a fantastic example. She was an avid FIRSTer when she was in school, and now she is an avid volunteer. She worked every MAR District, along with NYC and Bostons regionals! She is a terrific up and comer and one that I look forward to working with in the MAR system for a long long time to come.
If I can be of any assistance, please feel free to message or email me.
Thanks everyone for the assistance! Having MC’d 2 FLL events already, and hoping to continue in the future, I’m hoping to be able to approach some contacts (Note to self: Get contacts) about emceeing in some offseason FRC comps. Who knows? Maybe Cal Games, or depending on where I go to college, the Fall Classic.
For everything, especially emceeing, Karthik from 1114 is an inspiration to me. His intros are historic, his enthusiasm achieves the perfect match quality, and his kicks are just plain awesome, though I doubt I’ll be kicking near FLL teams anytime soon. 
I’ve been studying him, and the great emcees of lore, trying to see what makes them the best.
Thanks everyone for all your help and advice!
If you are looking to be an emcee or an announcer at a regional some day, the best advice I can give to you is the following…
Start off small and learn the trade. FLL, FTC, and VEX events are the best way to get your feet wet for the job…especially considering that they all utilize one person in a dual role. Many times you can find out which one you like to do better just by working an FLL event.
Talk to people about getting spot gigs at offseason events. An offseason is the best way to get your name out there a little bit and understand how the process works on an FRC field. Even though it may look easy, being an emcee or announcer can be a challenging task for various reasons. It is best to run into all the problems when the stakes are a little bit lower rather than on a regional stage.
Learn lessons from other emcees or announcers, but don’t become other emcees or announcers. What makes you love a particular emcee? Is it the way that person has a great sense of humor? Is it how that person engages a crowd? Is it the particular style that emcee has? If you look at the best emcees and announcers, you find that each one has a relatively unique style. They have embraced who they are and found a way to make that come out in front of a crowd. Remember…we already have a Blair, Dave, Mark, Karthik and Chiniqua…just be you, and you will probably be ok!
Teach yourself that FIRST is about the kids, not about you. This is a HUGE golden rule. If you make the show too much about you, we lose the meaning of all that so many people have worked hard to build. A good emcee or announcer enhances an event, not overshadows it. Embrace this rule, and you will learn quickly what YOU are as an emcee or announcer.
Watch and listen to yourself on video. Here is a great question to ask yourself…if you were in the crowd watching yourself, would you think you are good or relatively annoying? If you watch/listen to yourself on a video and really take a constructive approach to things, you can improve yourself more and more with each passing event. Take it from me, I have been announcing/emceeing for 14 years…I still find tons of things that make me cringe about my execution and style! This way, if you look at your faults, you can correct them and become more appealing to others.
Learn how to clearly and concisely read off of a script. One of the things that you don’t always get from working offseason competitions is the ability to read scripts. Reading an awards script properly is extremely important to the event, the people who write the script, and the people who will win the award that you are reading. It is important that each word you say is conveyed with care, so get as much practice doing it as you can.
Get to know the teams! This is what I consider the most important element of the job. Emceeing is about way more than going out on the field, saying a number, and pointing. You need to learn stories, stats, and connect with the people you will be looking at through the glass or talking about over the microphone. The best part about this is that you build relationships with some of the best people you will ever know. Emceeing or announcing is an honor and an opportunity…make the most of it.
Hopefully some of you can find this advise useful. Wanting to be an emcee or announcer is great…FIRST events are always looking for someone with the talent to be able to work the mic and the crowd. Remember, though, emceeing or announcing isn’t for everyone. It takes a certain amount of talent, hard work, and vocal ability to be able to handle the work load. Don’t jump into the fire right away…try it, if you like it and have some talent, who knows where it can take you!
-Andy
I’ve only really emceed one event, that being SCRIW last year. The biggest thing I learned from doing it?
Get in shape. I’m not exactly all that fit, and I went all day as emcee and game announcer (in addition to my other duties with the event). The next day, I barely moved because I was so sore. If SCRIW were a two-day event, I wouldn’t have made it.
Now granted, I was doing my fair share of running (with a side order of woefully-inadequate-compared-to-Karthik jumps towards the wall to slow down on the other side). It’s possible to dial it back and still be effective. Know your abilities, know your limits, and know how long you have to last.
This is the most important piece of advice for up and coming MCs. The easiest way to be regarded as a bad MC is to play the “Hey everyone, look at me!” game. Just like no one watches Monday Night Football to hear from Jon Gruden and no one watches American Idol to hear from Ryan Seacrest, no one goes to a FIRST event just to see the MC. It’s all about adding to the event, not becoming the event.
Since I myself am a newbie in this area, just trying to work my way up, I don’t have advice but there is something I wanted to share.
I got into emceeing this fall after I worked a few FLL qualifiers in the area. I gotta say being an FLL emcee has probably been one of my favorite and most rewarding experiences of my FIRST career. What these kids can do just amazed me, and getting to interact with the kids, and seeing them get excited about what they have accomplished, it just is one of the greatest things in the world. The atmosphere and vibe is a little different from FRC cause of the ages, but in some ways is so much more fun and rewarding because of that.