What are the mistakes done while compering?
Answers
Explanation:
Mistake #1
Once at college, a friend of mine at the end of a debate competition announced that our Professor would share his valuable ideas on the topic. It was a tense moment. For my friend had not informed our Professor that he would be asked to speak. And the auditorium was packed to full capacity. Anyway, he spoke as he is a great speaker. But later he called my friend and advised him quite strongly never to do this to another person.
Mistake #2
At an Inter-University Debate competition a young college student was made the compere of the programme. She might not have had much previous experience. When it was time for the Chief Guest, who was the Vice Chancellor of a University, to be invited to speak, she did so while she sat down at the rear of the stage. It was shocking to say the least.
Mistake #3
I once learned a valuable lesson unexpectedly. I met a person known to me. So we talked for some time. Then he asked who the other person with me was. I introduced him saying he is a painter because that is what I thought he did. At that time he said nothing. But later he told me that he is not a painter but an artist who also paints for a living. I then understood that his esteem suffered a blow when I said he is a painter. Therefore we should seek to understand how people like to be introduced. Here many who compere fail.
Mistake #4
“Our Chief Guest of the day is so and so. He’ll be speaking on the topic xyz. We can expect some great insights from him today. But before I invite him to speak let me share some of my ideas about this topic.” This kind of compere is an insult to the Chief Guest. If this person could do the job, why call a Chief Guest and then destroy anticipation, and interest in the topic he has prepared by giving a mediocre presentation just before the keynote address?
Mistake #5
Much damage is done when those who compere misuse their freedom with the person being introduced. The compere might crack jokes from their shared past by saying that while studying together at college the Chief Guest was called, “. . . .” That might be true, but a public function is not the occasion to share it. Such remarks definitely destroys the serious mood of the audience and will make them view the speaker in a light-hearted manner. That is disastrous as far as the speaker is concerned.
Mistake #6
It is not good to indulge in what many have termed “verbal gymnastics” while compering. Recently I heard a compere, who, instead of simply inviting the choir for the welcome song, went on to present a thesis on the importance of music. What he said was mostly irrelevant even as many bombastic words were stringed together without ryhme or reason in his short speech. It was totally inapropriate and uncalled for. He should have simply said, “May I invite the choir for the welcome song.”
Mistake #7
Gestures with the hand can spell trouble if not used with caution. Many who compere spread out their hands in wild sweeping motions to their sides and towards the person who is being introduced or invited. Except perhaps in informal settings, this has to be avoided as it destroys the ceremonial propriety that has to be observed. Casual, lazy gestures that spell over-familiarity with the speaker has to be avoided at all costs.