Tips from the theater studio: where to start to become a toastmaster

Hosting entertainment events is a difficult profession. It requires a person not only to have communication skills, but also such qualities as creativity and creative thinking. If the future toastmaster does not have such character traits, but has a great desire to work in this industry, then over time, by improving his skills, he can achieve great heights in this profession. If you don’t know how you can become a toastmaster, but have long been drawn to the profession of a host, then we have prepared some useful tips for you.

What qualities are needed to become a toastmaster?

Assess yourself in advance for the following qualities:

Positivity
Love for people
Love for your business
Sociability
Knowing of limits
Cheerful friendly character
Resourcefulness
Great sense of humor
Initiative
Ability to control the situation
Natural tact

The toastmaster should be by nature a ringleader and a merry fellow, endearing to himself. People should like to be around such a person.

You need to be able to get out of any situation, turning all the minuses into pluses, so as not to spoil the holiday. Invent on the fly, improvise, change the script if necessary. The success of a toastmaster lies in his positivity, ability to quickly navigate the situation and rich imagination. Read how to become a versatile person and develop the best qualities in yourself!

Toastmasters' clients most often include anniversaries, organizations (during corporate events), newlyweds, as well as school graduates and their parents.

Who is Toastmaster

The word “toastmaster” comes from the Georgian word “tamadoba”, which translates as “seniority during a feast”. Most people associate the host at special events with the Caucasus, with the image of an old man with a beard who makes long instructive toasts. Indeed, this profession comes from the Caucasus Mountains, where the art of wedding planning used to be taught from childhood, and philosophical toasts were passed down from father to son.

A modern toastmaster is not just a manager at a holiday - he is an erudite, sociable person who knows how to find a way out of any difficult situation, easily gets to know all the people and inspires confidence in the customer from the first words of the conversation. A true professional knows how to smooth out corners in conflict situations and always knows how, with what intonation and what needs to be said in each specific case.

Where to begin?

You should start by holding simple parties in your immediate environment. By doing this you will protect yourself from unnecessary tension and stress, work through the program and gain experience among a loyal audience. In the beginning, it makes sense to agree to a modest payment.

It is important to get the first experience that will relieve you of doubts and instill self-confidence.

After holding several parties and getting the hang of it, you can contact an agency organizing events or, for example, work in tandem with a more experienced host. This is the most effective way to quickly gain experience and useful connections.

If you are going to work independently, then it is worth considering how you will promote yourself in a new business in order to attract clients.

Tips for a beginner toastmaster

So that the inexperience of a novice toastmaster is not evident when receiving his first order, he needs to direct all his energy to preparing an interesting scenario. And we will give some useful tips to the novice party organizer:

Choose your manner of behavior, depending on the social status and general educational level of the participants in the celebration. If you still cannot determine this at first glance, then focus on the host of the holiday.
Don't dress provocatively or too flamboyantly. The host's job is to be funny and entertain guests, not to draw their attention to himself.
During the feast, the toastmaster is strictly forbidden to get drunk, so at every holiday strictly follow the smallest dose of alcohol.
Make sure you speak correctly. For example, often at holidays you can hear from the host: “let’s raise a toast.” You should say “raise your glass” or “make a toast.” Watch out for such little things, because educated people will notice this, and you will lose potential clients.
Play your role sincerely and with soul. The indifference and falsehood of the toastmaster are immediately visible, which means that only a person who loves his job can become a high-class professional.

Business registration

You can register as a self-employed citizen if the region where you operate provides such a tax regime. In this case, you will not have to register as an individual entrepreneur or register with the tax authorities - you can register online on the website of the tax service or through the application of the largest banks (Sberbank, Tinkoff, etc.). The tax rate will be 4% when working with individuals and 6% when working with legal entities.

You may be interested in: School of handicrafts - simple, fast and profitable

Another option is to register an individual entrepreneur. In this case, you need to submit documents to the tax office at your place of residence and pay a state fee of 800 rubles.

OKVED code 96.09 Provision of other personal services not included in other groups. The tax system is simplified (usually the simplified tax system for income at a rate of 6%).

Toastmaster is a dirty word

I don’t like the word “toastmaster” . I believe that in Russia this is a dirty word. Toastmaster is a Caucasian man and a man wise with life experience, who knows what needs to be said and at what moment. Therefore, I always ask: “Call me Natalya, I am the host of your holiday.” The host is the face and soul of the holiday, he is like that brownie who brings everyone together, preserves and protects.

Probably, at first it was a way of self-realization for me , because it was very difficult for me to appear in public. As a child, I stuttered badly - I was treated, taken to different doctors, but nothing helped. Until I met one wonderful woman psychologist who said: “Try to say all the words in a chant, don’t rush anywhere and don’t be afraid of anything - people will hear and understand you.”

I held my first wedding when I was still studying at a pedagogical college - it was a friend’s wedding for 130 people. I, a 17-year-old girl, was thrown into the sea - will I swim or not? And this had to happen - everything worked out for me! Moreover, back then there were no microphones, no background music - two taps, three taps. I had to tap the glass with a fork to attract the attention of the guests, and then in a loud voice... And all 130 people “danced to my tune.” I was very pleased. Then my friends began to ask: let’s spend a holiday with us. And for more than 15 years now I have been hosting a variety of celebrations - from corporate parties, anniversaries to large, luxurious weddings. True, I have been exclusively involved in organizing holidays for the last two years - before that I had great pleasure in working as a music director in a kindergarten. To be honest, now I regret that I didn’t leave when I was 30, but then it was very difficult for me to leave kindergarten. I came there, looked at the children’s faces, smiles, joy... in general, I couldn’t leave.

What to prepare for clients

Here's what you'll need for clients:

1)
Resume
containing the following information:

a list of corporate events and holidays you have held.
education indicating the educational institution, year of graduation and profession received;
completed courses, schools, trainings in acting, voice production, etc.;

2) Portfolio

your own beautiful photographs in high-quality design;
vivid photos of your most successful events;
positive reviews from satisfied customers;

3) Video

, showing you in action. This could be a story about yourself, your video business card, as well as footage from weddings and corporate events that you hosted;

Business cards on good paper, with clear font, with a photograph, name and list of services provided, contacts;

A website and social networks are very important, because most orders for presenters come either through word of mouth or via the Internet;

6) Supporting documents

— certificates, diplomas of completed courses (if any).

How to become a toastmaster?

Good, professional presenters of various events are always in demand, they have good earnings and communicate with many interesting people. And it’s also so nice to work on holidays, where fun and high spirits reign! Interested in trying it? Then read our tips on how to become a sought-after toastmaster.

What kind of successful presenter is he?

It would seem that answering the question “what a successful presenter should be” is not difficult, everything is on the surface. However, this work is so complex, complex and multifaceted that not all the qualities required by the toastmaster can be named offhand. A significant part of the presenter’s work is hidden from the eyes of customers, but without it there is no way to become successful and in demand. Let's try to identify the main personal qualities that are necessary for such work:

Communication skills. Naturally, the toastmaster must communicate absolutely freely and easily with any people and find a common language with them. They also say about such people “they have a good tongue.”
Friendliness. It is very important to be able to treat everyone equally attentively, not to divide people into more or less important ones, never to be rude, and to smile often.
The ability to win over. When communicating with the toastmaster, people should feel at ease; they should have the impression that they have known each other for a long time and have a lot of common interests.
Sensitivity. Not in the sense of sentimentality, but precisely the learning to feel the moment, the situation, the ability to capture the emotions of other people.
Energy. A toastmaster is a “lighter” person who must literally charge people with his energy and give a positive attitude.
Scrupulousness. Yes, this quality is also necessary for the host, since he must constantly pay attention not only to the overall picture of the evening, but also keep a lot of little things and details in his head. And for this, they all need to be worked out and prepared.
Tenacious mind, intellectuality. The presenter must certainly be well-read, intellectually developed, quick-witted, and charismatic. Without such qualities there is no point in trying to hold the attention of a large diverse audience.
Sense of humor. Another mandatory quality that you can’t do without.
Health and performance. Believe me, after six hours of working with a microphone in front of a hundred guests, you are physically no less tired than working a full shift at a factory, and even more emotionally. So, good health is necessary for the toastmaster.

Ѵ Since the toastmaster must win people over, he simply must look good and have a presentable appearance. This is not about the appearance of the winner of a beauty contest. Neatness, accuracy and a sense of style are extremely important for the presenter. Moreover, it is better that the appearance is neutral, without subcultural manifestations (piercings, tattoos, etc.)

The good news is that with the right skill and perseverance, the qualities necessary to work as a toastmaster can be developed in yourself.

7 tips for a novice toastmaster

The work of a toastmaster, like any other, needs to be learned. In order to become a successful, sought-after specialist, it is imperative to develop professional skills and abilities. In addition, this work also has its own nuances and secrets, which are often understood only with experience. We have prepared 7 tips for a beginning toastmaster that will help you quickly adapt and understand your new profession.

Take acting classes. Speaker and public speaking courses would also be helpful. This is mandatory, since the ability to work in public and communicate with people is the basis of the presenter’s profession.
Watch your own videos. This is very useful advice for a wedding host, because only by looking at yourself from the outside can you see shortcomings, as well as discover strengths that need to be emphasized and developed.
Practice. Try to find a good, professional wedding host and “get an internship with him,” that is, hold several events together. You will be lucky if an experienced toastmaster takes you “under his wing” and shares the basics of the skill.
Educate yourself. Always and constantly. Try to keep abreast of all the latest entertainment news, always keep your finger on the pulse of the foreign market for such services, try to be one step ahead of your competitors.
Never steal other people's work. Of course, in the work of a presenter it is not easy to constantly invent something radically new, but you definitely shouldn’t blindly use other people’s scripts. If you liked someone else’s find, rework it, add something of your own, try to make it your own.
Don't drink with your wedding guests. Before you know it, excitement and work stress will lead to you becoming more intoxicated than usual and simply not being able to continue the celebration. And for a presenter there is nothing worse and more dangerous than a “tarnished” reputation.
Make connections, gather your team. Many couples ask the toastmaster for advice on where to find a photographer, cameraman, or musicians. If you can recommend good specialists, this will be an additional plus to your professional reputation. In addition, it is always easier to work with your own, trusted people at a wedding.

What should a good toastmaster be able to do?

To become a successful wedding host, the ability to behave in public and manage an event is not enough. An essential part of the toastmaster's work is the preparation and development of wedding scenarios. After all, few people today want the holiday to be held according to a standard, thousand-times-worn plan. And creating a truly original, interesting and unusual program can take a lot of time and effort. Especially when it comes to preparing a thematic event. And in addition to developing the script itself, you need to pay attention to preparing the props, compiling a suitable playlist, recommendations for the newlyweds regarding costumes, the first dance, etc. That is, the toastmaster must be able to think through the plan of the special event in detail, without missing out on any details.

It is also important to be able to convey your vision to customers, to be convincing, but flexible. In addition, the ability to instantly “catch” the audience’s reaction and be able to change something in the developed script on the fly is very important. Rigidity of thinking is not something that a good toastmaster can afford, but the ability to improvise is very welcome.

For a toastmaster, it is very important to be able to calculate the behavior of guests in advance and “see” the room. To do this, you need to be very attentive, notice various little things, and grasp incoming information on the fly. A good toastmaster will definitely, when communicating with customers and drawing up a holiday plan, take an interest in the list and composition of guests, their personalities, inclinations, etc. All this will help make sure that all guests at the wedding feel relaxed and at ease.

Well, of course, the toastmaster must be able to hold the attention of a large number of people without pulling the “blanket” over himself. This is a fairly common problem when the host becomes the highlight of the program and the central figure at the wedding, forgetting that the main heroes of the occasion are the newlyweds.

First steps in working as a toastmaster

If you have all the above qualities, are ready to study and work hard, you can start building a career. But where exactly to start working as a toastmaster? First of all, you will have to engage in self-promotion. After all, in order to receive an invitation to a wedding as a toastmaster, you need people to know about you. Tell everyone you know that you are starting a career as a wedding host, indicate this on your pages on social networks, and advertise in specialized publications.

Ѵ To start working as a toastmaster, you will definitely need your own website. And it’s not worth saving on it! It must be of high quality, representative and informative, so you should entrust its creation to professionals.

When communicating with your first customers, do not hide the fact that you are a novice wedding host, but do not focus too much attention on it. It’s better to tell us about your experience in related fields, about your skills and achievements. Don’t hesitate to ask your customers to leave feedback about your work, as well as permission to post photos and videos from their holiday on your website.

Of course, even if you strictly follow all the specified instructions, you will not be able to instantly become a good, successful wedding host. Everything comes with experience, and for this you have to work hard.

It is very important for Toastmasters to express themselves, because there is high competition in this niche. The best way is word of mouth. Tell all your friends and acquaintances that you offer your services as a toastmaster, and ask them to recommend you to guests. Post on social media, ask your past clients to leave reviews and recommend you to someone else.

You can advertise in newspapers and on bulletin boards, and also set up contextual advertising on your website and targeted advertising on social networks.

Video: how to be a good wedding host

We have already talked about how a toastmaster should behave at weddings in order to be successful. Now I would like to note what the presenter should not do. Firstly, familiarity should not be allowed, regardless of the age of the guests. Even small children at weddings need to be addressed as you. Secondly, the toastmaster no longer shouts “Bitter!” Modern newlyweds are no longer loyal to such calls, and do not want to kiss in public on command. Well, and thirdly, the host should not strain the guests with toasts, because not everyone knows how to speak in public and does not feel comfortable near the microphone.

Becoming a sought-after toastmaster is not easy, but it is possible. The main thing is that a person has a goal and desire. Well, if there is talent, then it is much easier to achieve heights in the profession. But if God did not reward him with talents, it means that he wanted a person to study, and with diligence you can overcome any obstacle. Wedding toastmaster A. Byuksel will talk in a video about how to become a famous leader in the modern market and reach heights:

How to become a presenter, toastmaster? Get a huge pantry!

I especially want to talk about my treasury: it was collected over the years, accumulated, multiplied and grew. There’s a lot of stuff there: kilograms of scripts, costumes, makeup, wigs, CDs with music, flashlights, candles and New Year’s paraphernalia. I also try to leave at least ten photos from each celebration I hold, and I dream of someday, in retirement, sitting in a rocking chair, wrapped in a blanket, drinking my favorite cocoa and remembering these wonderful moments of my holiday life.

Author - Olesya Dunyasheva, interviewed by Alexandra Chernichnaya

About money

There are a lot of presenters in Petrozavodsk . Different. Someone has already deservedly earned a name, and I respect such presenters. It’s very impressive when a holiday is led by a man, not a woman, and there are showmen in Petrozavodsk who do a good job - well done! But there are presenters who also sell well, but they charge a low price. Some clients manage not to even meet with the presenter - they say, we agreed on 7 thousand, which means he will come and do something. I don't understand this.

You can find a presenter for five thousand rubles , but another question is what product will he provide you with? If you want the left half of the table to shout all evening: “We need a drink for this!”, and the right half to answer: “We don’t mind!” - and collecting money in sliders is not a question. And for 5 thousand you are unlikely to find this either. The services of a good presenter can cost from 10 thousand (this includes a DJ).

The fact that the presenter does not need financial investments to celebrate the holidays is a big misconception. The most serious investment I made was when I had to buy high-quality equipment in order to have good sound, stress-free light and good microphones. What about a multimedia projector? What about a big screen to show a love story? Or the same Skype for communication with another city or even another country - guests could not come to the holiday, but they can personally congratulate the newlyweds or the hero of the day. Technical support for the holiday must be serious. In order to prepare the New Year’s program beautifully and efficiently, I will first invest 60-70 thousand in it. If you do it, make it delicious.

About scripts

Maybe I’ll say it pompously, but you have to love what you do and love the people with whom you are at the moment - people came to the holiday, they want to relax, have fun, and not “move” on command: sit up straight, raise your hands , raise your legs. And there are many of them among the presenters. It is also very important to have creative potential and not work on old material. It is fundamentally.

It is impossible to update a five-hour wedding program from start to finish , because all the highlights do not come up immediately. First, you spotted an idea somewhere and transformed it in your head into something worthwhile, then slowly, in parts, you begin to try it out, then test it completely and get used to it. This is my approach to work.

I am often asked: show us the script of our wedding in A4 format . I do not have that! I haven’t seen the guests, I don’t know in what mood they will come, what they can do, and what they will flatly refuse. It usually takes me 15-20 minutes while the guests are getting ready for the party to understand how to work with them and what “things” will never work. I prefer improvisation.

The party organizer must be a good psychologist . I have a higher education in psychology, which, of course, helps in my work. It is advisable to have a musical education - you can surprise guests by giving them a surprise if there is an instrument in the hall, and musical taste is of great importance. People are all different - some die of love for Stas Mikhailov, while others give rap. But you can quietly mix any styles of music into one holiday and please everyone. But in order for it to really sound, you need taste. And experience.

There are people who are naturally gifted with eloquence and the ability to hold an audience. For example, I worked it all out. I am absolutely not embarrassed to rehearse at home “on my own”, so that later I can look decent in public. Now yes - if they tell me that in 15 minutes we have a party on such and such a topic, and we want to stand on our ears - no question. Before, we had to work through everything. I hate it when the presenter stands with a red folder and broadcasts. No, you should only have a microphone in your hands.