The following is an email I received verbatim, September 2009.

“Wondering if you are booked on December 12?  I need a Superman and I think you’d be great for it.  Below is the costume – although you come with your own muscles, so does the suit   He comes with a latex wig, but we would like to use your hair because the wig is just freaking ridiculous.”

Yes, the wig is freaking ridiculous.  Only the wig is freaking ridiculous.

If you’ve never been to the Magic Castle in Hollywood, I suggest you check it out!  Very cool place.. rich in history, mystique, and charm.  I’m still not quite sure how I weaseled my way into “The Palace of Mystery” show as a juggler, but I had a fantastic time!  A few highlights…

If you think being a corporate emcee is no different from a regular performance (or that any “funny guy” at work can do it), think again. Being an effective emcee requires a distinct skill set. Think about it…as the emcee, you set the tone for the entire event. You have to be able to cut or expand your planned material on the fly, often based on circumstances you have no control over, such as a last minute agenda change or technical problems. All in all, it’s a stressful role, and you have to pull it off with ease.

Unfortunately, many people believe that anyone can emcee an event – that the funny guy at the office can handle the role or that any entertainer can jump in and do it. Such a mindset does not give the role of emcee the respect it deserves. No wonder so many emcees do an average job at best.

When it comes to effectively emceeing an event, you need to do your homework. You can’t be so confident in your regular material that you blow off the emcee role as “easy” or “a cake walk.” Being an emcee really is a big deal, and you need to approach the role as such.

The following guidelines will help you emcee any event so you appear professional, confident, and in control of the agenda.

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I had the pleasure of filling in one night last week in “V: The Ultimate Variety Show” in Las Vegas.  This was a particularly exciting moment for me.  I remember seeing this show many years back when I had just started performing professionally.  It was a very inspirational night for me.  I recognized one of the acts, Russ Merlin, from that show several years ago- he was still in the cast of V.  It was quite surreal to tell him how he had inspired me and to share the stage with him that night.