In this episode, Scott Bloom and Jeff Rogers, both dynamic emcees, get into the unique skills and behind-the-scenes responsibilities of professional emcees at live events. They begin by reminiscing about how their paths have crossed over the years and how they finally got to know each other at the National Speakers Association (NSA) The conversation quickly shifts to the true role of an emcee—one who not only brings humor but also acts as the “red thread” throughout an event, connecting all the moments, reinforcing key messages, and serving as a relatable advocate for the audience. Both speakers discuss the misconceptions companies often have about hiring emcees versus comedians or internal staff, emphasizing how a professional emcee can elevate an event’s energy, engagement, and outcomes while avoiding potential pitfalls. They discuss the importance of preparation, customization, and the consultative work emcees often do with event planners, offering suggestions to enhance experiences beyond just what happens on stage. Jeff introduces the concept of the “total package” emcee, who can seamlessly blend hosting, keynotes, awards, and thought leadership for bigger value and stronger audience connection. Throughout, both Scott and Jeff share entertaining anecdotes from their careers, including moments when they were mistaken for company insiders and strategies for making themselves essential, trusted parts of the event team. Toward the end, Scott answers rapid-fire questions about improv games, favorite cities, musical talents, comedy legends, and why Chicago’s fleeting good weather is so special. Overall, this episode is a masterclass on the impact a great emcee has behind the scenes and in the spotlight, and why bringing in a pro means “no more bad events.”
GUEST BIO:
An award-winning TV host, best-selling author, and TEDx speaker with 30+ years of audience engagement experience; Jeff is a Second City Theater alum and Virtual Speaker Hall of Fame inductee. Today Jeff is an acclaimed event emcee and owns The Players Workshop. His improvisation expertise has benefited numerous Fortune 500 companies, transforming team dynamics through interactive entertainment.
HIRE THEM TO SPEAK:
Follow Jeff Rogers: https://www.jeffrogersunlimited.com/
Follow Scott Bloom: eSpeakers Bio
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ABOUT NO MORE BAD EVENTS:
Brought to you by eSpeakers and hosted by professional emcee, host, and keynote speaker Scott Bloom, No More Bad Events is where you’ll hear from some of the top names in the event and speaking industry about what goes on behind the scenes at the world’s most perfectly executed conferences, meetings, and more. Get ready to learn the secrets and strategies to help anyone in the event industry reach their goal of putting on nothing less than world-class events.
Learn more at nomorebadevents.com.
ABOUT THE HOST:
A veteran comedian and television personality who has built a reputation as the go-to choice for business humor, Scott has hosted hundreds of events over two decades for big and small organizations alike. Scott has also hosted his own weekly VH1 series and recently co-hosted a national simulcast of the Grammy Awards from the Palace Theater.
As the son of a successful salesman, he was exposed to the principles of building a business at an early age. As a comedian, Scott cut his teeth at renowned improv and comedy clubs. As a self-taught student of psychology, he’s explored what makes people tick and has written a book (albeit a farce) on how to get through life. He’s uniquely positioned to deliver significant notes on connecting people and making business seriously funny. And who doesn’t like to laugh?
Learn more about Scott: scottbloomconnects.com
PRODUCED BY eSpeakers:
When the perfect speaker is in front of the right audience, a kind of magic happens where organizations and individuals improve in substantial, long-term ways. eSpeakers exists to make this happen more often.
eSpeakers is where the speaking industry does business on the web. Speakers, speaker managers, associations, and bureaus use our tools to organize, promote, and grow successful businesses. Event organizers think of eSpeakers first when they want to hire speakers for their meetings or events.
The eSpeakers Marketplace technology lets us and our partner directories help meeting professionals worldwide connect directly with speakers for great engagements.
Thousands of successful speakers, trainers, and coaches use eSpeakers to build their businesses and manage their calendars. Thousands of event organizers use our directories every day to find and hire speakers. Our tools are built for speakers, by speakers, to do things that only purpose-built systems can.
Learn more at eSpeakers.com.
SHOW CREDITS: