Event Hosts – Engage Your Audience, Enhance Your Event
Lauren Du Pree with Ian Lindsay (Landesa’s Seed the Change 2022, at Block 41). Photo by Michael B. Maine
[Image Description: Two people holding wireless mics on stage co-host while guests listen in the foreground.]
Another important element in a successful and meaningful event is the onstage host. Whether they call themselves an emcee, fundraising host, or fundraising auctioneer, having a powerful presence onstage to start and end your program, introduce other speakers and program elements, and facilitate the logistics and engagement are more important than ever. Your guests will relax and enjoy the event, knowing the ‘ship’ is being thoughtfully steered. And of course, an experienced fundraising host can make a huge difference in the joy of giving and the success of your donation drive.
Sasha Summer Cousineau (Shunpike’s GOLDEN 2022, at 2+U) Photo by Amy Pinon
This work takes talent and devotion. The best hosts are constantly sharpening their skills, updating their fundraising knowledge, and deepening their practice. A professional host is more than a good-looking face to read your script; the very best will bring their own talents to crafting a meaningful program, helping less-experienced speakers feel welcome and empowered onstage, engaging every member of your audience, consulting on fundraising strategy, and bringing their own unique voice and point of view to the event.
Lauren De Pree (Landesa’s Seed the Change 2023, at Town Hall Seattle) Photo by Michael B. Maine
Ian Lindsay (Pratt Fine Arts Center’s Polka Dot Party 2023, at Magnuson Park Hangar 30) Photo by Michael B. Maine
Angela Poe Russell (Washington Farmland Trust’s Love the Land 2022, at UW Botanic Garden) Photo by Rylea Foehl
Scott Carnz (King County Library System Foundation’s Literary Lions 2023, at Hyatt Regency Bellevue) Photo by Vivian Hsu
We’ve pictured a few of our favorite onstage talents in this post, and we ALSO highly recommend:
Mark Wright
For best results, empower your emcee (and everyone else who takes the mic) with an excellent sound system so their words can be HEARD and understood by every human in the venue.
Favorite twist - TWO hosts! The TV people have known this trick for decades. It’s fun to have that lively banter onstage, really keeps things moving.
And, one more hot tip: Popular hosts book up many, many months in advance. As soon as you have secured your date and venue, your very next phone call should be to your fundraising host, to make sure they are holding your date!
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