Business ideas for toastmasters

Test yourself for professional suitability

Find out how to become an event host and what qualities are needed without which there can be no success in this field. Evaluate yourself in advance so that you are not disappointed in the future. So, do you have:

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

I could go on, but the main thing has been said - you must be a leader and a cheerful person by nature, who will win you over. People should enjoy being around you, being influenced by your magnetism.

Inexhaustible humor and jokes, interesting competitions and exciting skits should pour out of you like from a cornucopia.

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, literally re-create your script if something threatens to “overflow its banks.” The success of a toastmaster lies in his creativity and imagination. Read how to become a versatile person and develop the best qualities in yourself!

Where to begin?

Start with simple parties in your immediate environment, don’t take on important events just yet. By doing this you will protect yourself from unnecessary tension and stress, and it is better to survive the first mistakes in a loyal and friendly company. Agree to a modest payment, because everything has its time.

Your main time is ahead. And now you need to get the first experience that will forever save you from internal trembling and instill self-confidence.

Next, take the next milestone, which is within your power and for which there is enough positive energy. The task is to feel “like a fish in water”, to feel everyone and everyone together, to set the tone and hold everyone’s attention naturally and naturally.

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 you should think about how you will promote yourself in a new business in order to attract clients.

How to become a successful event host - 10 tips from “experienced” people

To achieve success in your chosen field of activity, you need to try to establish yourself as a real toastmaster or DJ. Someone who can be entrusted with a significant event in the life of a person, family or team with confidence in the result. Namely, a wonderful holiday that will leave a deep imprint in the souls of people in the form of happy memories.

This is the responsibility that the presenter assumes, and therefore he must make thorough preparations for the event. What does it consist of:

When accepting an order for work, discuss in detail all aspects and nuances of the event until you have a definite image of what should happen. All little details must be clarified and taken into account, including those related to guests. It is better to record the basic requirements and wishes in writing in an agreement or contract.
Make a plan for the holiday and coordinate it with the customer, indicating the approximate time frame for each part of the plan so that you understand the whole scenario and the place of each part in it.
Prepare and write out the entire scenario with all its parts, think through important details, the ceremonial part, prepare a rich entertainment program, come up with fresh original toasts, include your own “zest” in the program. Print out the entire text of the toastmaster and put it in an elegant folder and keep it in your hands. This is normal and even prestigious, it increases confidence and respect for your work. Also show the script to the customer in advance and take into account his comments and wishes.
Before the start of the holiday, get into character and create a good holiday mood, it is designed to enter everyone and charge the holiday atmosphere - this is what those gathered expect from you. Smile!
Remember to have a sense of proportion, feel how the holiday is going. Do not suppress the initiative of the participants with yourself, guide them skillfully, but let everyone speak. This is their holiday, they must say and hear on this day everything that they prepared for each other.
Ask the customer in advance to give a list of expected performances at the formal part and during the feast part, so that they fit harmoniously into the script and do not forget anyone. It is important.
During the feast, alternate your program with suggestions and toasts from guests and hosts, giving this space and time.
Don’t bore people with an endless series of amusements, give them pauses - to eat quietly, chat, relax with relaxing music, dance. For smoking breaks, also take breaks between individual blocks of the program so that there is no chaotic scattering of guests.
Make it a rule not to drink with guests, this will incapacitate you and create quite predictable interference in the conduct of the program. Even if you are a relative of the hero of the day, you should adhere to this rule, except maybe “sip” a little for order.
In some cases, when it is necessary to involve relatives of the hero of the occasion or guests in the scenario, the organizer of the holiday should get to know them in advance and prepare these moments together. Then your script will be a success.

What you must discuss with the toastmaster before the wedding

Not a single modern wedding is complete without a professional host, or, more simply, a toastmaster. You plan to invite many or few guests, but in addition to the feast, the wedding will need cultural and entertainment events, without which it is difficult to imagine a wedding at all. The more guests, the more varied the holiday program should be.

Wedding and family photographer
Transcarpathia+Kyiv for May
Cakes to order

We have already discussed how to choose a toastmaster and what to consider when meeting him for the first time in the article. If you have made your choice, then it’s time to start discussing the stages of the wedding itself.

Advice: the more points you discuss, the more detailed information you provide, the better and calmer your wedding will be.

Start planning your scenario at least a month to 3 weeks in advance. This is the necessary time to have time to compose, prepare, buy and double-check everything. The point is not that you don’t trust the experience and taste of the toastmaster, but because of the many purely individual moments that can ruin the entire scenario in a couple of minutes, disrupt the course of the event, or even cause a huge scandal.

What MUST be discussed:

Holiday decoration. If the wedding is themed, then the appearance of the toastmaster should correspond to this. For example, a toastmaster in a tuxedo at a cowboy-style wedding would look out of place.
Scenario. This is the largest, but most important part of the toastmaster's job. The professional should have examples of the script, photos and videos from the events. A ready-made script is someone’s script that has already been seen and already carried out. Perhaps even your guests have been to such a wedding. Therefore, carefully read the finished scripts and make your own adjustments. Suggest, cancel, correct, advise, choose! Your wedding should be positively remembered by you and your guests, and it will be easier for the toastmaster to choose an option for you if you actively participate in drawing up the script.
Consider the wishes, interests and characteristics of the public. Even the most interesting and fun competition may suddenly not find a response from the guests; 2-3 people will jump and dance, and the rest will contemplate this spectacle from their seats in bewilderment.
Props. For each stage and each competition there must be certain props. Discuss in advance what the toastmaster has, what condition these things are in (you definitely need to see them), make a list of items that you need to buy. Specify what date.
Discuss souvenirs for guests, when and how they will be presented. The toastmaster will make sure that there is enough for everyone, and no one leaves without a memorable trinket.
Discuss with the toastmaster whether there will be traditional stages of the wedding (loaf, breaking glasses at the entrance, ransoming the bride, drinking from a shoe, throwing a bouquet, cutting the cake, etc.), what they will look like, how long they will last and in what order.
An important quality is the ability to improvise. Rarely does a wedding go without unforeseen situations (a drunken, active guest, misunderstandings or conflicts between guests, problems with music or a time discrepancy), but even an experienced host may not know how to solve and beat them.

⇒ Book: Animators for a children's party

Musical accompaniment, ensemble, repertoire, DJ. Whether they work together with the toastmaster or need to be invited separately, their services are included in the price or paid separately. Study the list of compositions, the number of fast and slow dances (they should alternate so that guests do not get tired), the preferred musical style or styles. Most likely, the toastmaster already has a list of music, but you should familiarize yourself with it in detail, and it is better to first compose your own in order to combine them later. If musicians will play at the wedding, then you need to listen to their sound in advance (2-3 songs will be enough to get an idea and approve). The coherence of the ensemble is also important. If the musicians were hired separately, they are unlikely to play well and disagreements may arise.
Toastmaster's schedule. How many hours do you hire a host for, will he work until the last guest or will he leave while the guests still want to dance. Specify until what hour there should be musical accompaniment. How will the overtime of the toastmaster and musicians be compensated?
Agreement. When it comes to money, it is better to draw up an agreement or receipt. Indicate the required points: the amount of the fee, the amount of the advance and the time for full payment, the main responsibilities of the toastmaster, etc. If you hire a presenter through an agency, then the agency will deal with these issues. This will be easier for you, but also more expensive.
Details about the competitions. Describe what is possible and what is not, what you can joke about and how, discuss the style of the celebration (unobtrusive, active-aggressive, etc.), the sequence of stages of the wedding and the alternation of “feast-competitions-congratulations-dancing”.
Whether or not to say “bitterly”, how many times the host will act, if the guests still shout out this toast and insist on kissing.
How will the gifts be presented to the newlyweds: do this in a separate stage or simply designate a place in the hall where guests can come and put gifts, congratulating the newlyweds.
Provide the toastmaster with a complete list of guests, indicating the name and patronymic, who they are to the bride, groom, each other, possible prohibitions and peculiarities regarding jokes, competitions, etc.
Who and how many can be involved in competitions. It is advisable that even the most silent and shy guests participate at least once. But here you need to take into account a sense of tact (so that the guest does not shout “I won’t, I don’t want to and I won’t go” in the middle of the event). Mark who should not be paired up (unfamiliar and shy people, relatives who don’t like each other, ex-spouses, etc.).

How should the toastmaster address the parents: by name and patronymic or “mother of the groom”, “father of the bride”, “mother-in-law”, “mother-in-law”.
Other important information: if this is someone’s second marriage, and the toastmaster says it’s the first and plays it up; wishes to have children, if suddenly one of the spouses cannot have them or the bride does not want to focus on a noticeable pregnancy, if the spouses already have children and they do not plan any more, or there are tragic moments associated with the personal lives of the spouses.
Place and time of the wedding. A good presenter will visit the cafe or banquet hall several times where everything will take place in order to think over a place for competitions, an ensemble, placement of equipment, a place for props and changing clothes for guests, a table for gifts, etc.
How much and how the bride and groom will be involved in competitions, and when to give them a rest.
Conducting and decorating the first dance of the bride and groom; Will the dance of father and daughter, mother and son, son-in-law and mother-in-law be performed separately?
Is it worth it or not to “extract” money from guests with the help of quizzes, competitions, trades and auctions. Of course, the wedding should pay off a little, but you shouldn’t be overzealous with it, because not everyone can contribute money beyond what has already been donated.
How the cake will be served: already cut for each guest or ceremoniously cut by the bride and groom.

✏ Interesting: Who to choose: a male toastmaster or a female toastmaster?

Transportation of the toastmaster and his props. You will have to come for the leader to the specified place on time, or he will bring everything you need to the place of celebration.
Payment method. It is advisable that you agree on an advance and payment of the second part of the fee when the guests begin to leave. This way you will know for sure that the toastmaster will not make an appointment for another couple on your wedding day and will not go home while everyone is still sitting at the tables.
Even if the toastmaster works hourly, discuss that during the specified time he undertakes to carry out all the main stages of the wedding. If this is not done, a situation may arise: the time is up, the toastmaster has done his work, but the cake is not cut, the bouquet is not thrown, the last dance is not organized. Then you will have to pay the host additionally, and he can blame everything on “slow guests”, “problems with the music”, “untimely organization of the table or a hitch with props”, etc., and you will not be able to do anything.
Discuss the time for competitions, for a feast, for rest, so that you can replace something, shorten something or extend it in time and not miss anything. If guests are still dancing and are not ready for competitions, or they are eating, and the toastmaster stubbornly pulls them to dance, this can ruin everyone’s mood.
How will the newlyweds be greeted before the banquet, how long will it last? This is also important so that the dishes do not get cold and there is time to set the tables.
Who will accommodate arriving guests? If the toastmaster does this, then he must have a placement plan.

We hope that our tips will help make your wedding flawless!

What else will help you succeed as a presenter?

It will be a big plus if you gradually form your own team - a photographer, video and sound engineer, designer, good dancers and vocalists. The quality of professionals is immediately noticeable and leaves itself in the photo and video materials of the holiday, which will be viewed for a long time and with pleasure together with friends and relatives and work in your favor.
Carefully prepare your clothes and appearance - they must be impeccable and appropriate to the specifics of the event. Elegance must be combined with restraint in details, without being too decorated or pretentious. The subtlety is that the hero of the occasion does not get lost against your background, but that you and him are in tune.
In order for your work to distinguish you from others, you need to constantly look for new forms, fantasize and invent fresh numbers and competitions that have not yet existed. Read books, collect good poems and toasts, create original jokes and effects. Improve yourself, and your demand will not keep you waiting.

History of origin

This hint was first introduced in the Thai version of the game, which was used in 2003-2006, although at that time it was more like a “50 to 50” hint. The meaning of the hint was that the player could choose the answer that, in his opinion, was correct (choose up to two answers or let the host do it), then the host could remove two incorrect options. If the player's answer is correct, the host removes the other two incorrect answers not chosen by the player. If the answer is incorrect, the host will delete the two mentioned answers.

In its current form, this clue appeared in 2021 in a revived British version. When using a hint, the presenter can tell the player which answer he considers correct or incorrect and why, or say directly if he does not know the answer (the correct answer is displayed on the presenter’s screen only after the player fixes one of the options, until this moment the presenter can rely only on your erudition). The clue is complete when the leader says “This is my final answer.” Then it’s up to the player to decide whether to trust the presenter’s opinion or not.

Following the British, the Italians introduced a new clue ( Chiedilo a Gerry

) at the end of 2021, the French (
Le feeling de Camille
) in mid-2021, the Danes (
Spørg værten
) at the end of 2021, the Slovenians (
pomoč voditelja
), the Americans (
Ask the Host
) in 2021, the Australians (
Ask the Host
) with October 2021 and Russians from January 2021.

How to become a party host from scratch

Very simply, this activity is one of the few that will not require your own investment. All costs of providing the event are paid by the customer in full, you just need to include everything necessary in the costs - prizes, costumes, masks, items for competitions and jokes, etc.

Your own expenses are only needed for your outfit with all the necessary elements. But this is not a one-time thing; you will spend many evenings in one suit or dress. And it will always be “new” for guests, and you will feel more and more comfortable in it, because it is your acquired aura that helps you.

The only expense item for you is advertising costs, but this is really minimal money, over time it will more than pay off.

So business as a toastmaster in itself brings almost pure profit without investments and does not require any special equipment or materials. Only the intellectual work and personal qualities of the toastmaster create a personal product for each customer. Prices for toastmaster services range from 20 to 50 thousand rubles and above, depending on the package.

Armed with knowledge and advice to open your own toastmaster business? Or perhaps you have felt the strength to become a wedding planner? Focus your efforts on acquiring skills, believe in your success and become a professional!

Interesting Facts

Jeremy Clarkson admitted that he was very afraid that if a player asked him for help on the first five questions and he got it wrong, the participant would leave the studio with nothing.
Player Howell Davies became the first to save the clue until the penultimate question. The second was Calum Hind.
In Vietnam, this clue was used in a parody of this version. Member Kim Lành used it in question 2. However, the difference is that the host will automatically read the correct answer and the contestant does not have to make a decision.