I was looking forward to my inaugural formal hosting experience ever since I joined SP’s Compéres CCA. It would be at "Noir Et Blanc V" by the SPPE at Arts Fiesta where I finally got my opportunity.
From being a spectator last year to hosting this event this year, its been a thrilling journey. I'm incredibly grateful to my instructors Ms Glenda & Ms Ning, my mentors Leka and Meredith, and my co-host Divana for guiding and supporting me throughout this process.
Here are some of my reflections from this recent experience.
Strengths (& tips):
Preparation: The meticulous research put into preparing our script allowed me to connect more easily with the pieces and deliver more engaging introductions
Presentation: Cue cards are a simple but invaluable tool to help calm nerves when the spotlight is shining down on me. Even when I don’t need to refer to them, holding onto them in my hands felt like a “insurance” which calmed me down and gave me more confidence to deliver my lines smoothly
Synergy: Getting to know my co-host well and doing rehearsals prior to event helped build our chemistry. Also, simple actions like nodding and acknowledging each other when delivering our lines help make our dialogue more natural
Areas for Improvement:
Enunciation: Thanks to feedback from instructors, I now know that certain sounds like "Th," does not come across clearly. I will take note and make sure to practice and improve on my enunciation
Audience Engagement: When the audience's enthusiasm was palpable, I should have capitalised on that and further hyped them up. E.g. during moments like the piano ensemble's token of appreciation, everyone was full of energy and excited
Stage Presence: During the piano ensemble's impromptu token of appreciation moment, some audience members rushed to the stage. I was caught off-guard, and froze for a while. In hindsight, I could have handled the situation more gracefully, by politely asking them to leave the stage, so as to make the situation less awkward
Lessons Learnt:
Adaptability: Even though there were multiple last-minute script revisions, I learned that this is to be expected. It taught me the importance of being flexible so as to adapt quickly
Emotional Connection: By understanding the emotions conveyed in the pieces, I can better deliver my lines with authenticity and impact. e.g., if it was about the mournful cry of a soldier, I would deliver my lines more seriously with a solemn. Learn to “Read the room” as the saying goes… :)
In summary, speaking in front of an audience was a challenge I previously thought was insurmountable. However, since joining SP Compéres, I am pleased to see that I have overcome this fear. While this journey to step out of my comfort zone (seating as a member of the audience is so much easier!) was demanding, it was worth it. I'm excited to continue improving my skills and look forward to supporting the next event! 😎
Chia Howie
11 November 2024
TLDR:
Reflections on my first formal hosting experience "Noir Et Blanc V" by the SPPE at Arts Fiesta, since I joined SP’s Compéres CCA.
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