Host/Emcee Fees & What’s Included

The right emcee makes the night feel effortless—welcomes land, names are honored, and transitions snap into place. Fees vary for reputation, prep work, hours on mic, and travel. Use this playbook to compare inclusions, spot hidden add-ons, and shape a program that flows.

What’s typically bundled

• Discovery and script shaping: pronunciation sheet, tone goals, do-not-mention topics
• Run-of-show alignment: cue timings with planner, band/DJ, and AV
• Hosting window: commonly 3–5 hours from doors to last formal toast
• Audience pacing: welcomes, transitions, game or icebreaker if requested
• Light showcalling: on lean programs, the host may cue SDE, first dance, and speeches

Ready to meet candidates who do this every weekend Start with a curated short list of experienced program leads: find polished voices who can carry a room.

What pushes fees up or down

• Peak dates and late endings
• Bilingual or tri-lingual patter (Filipino/English/Visayan)
• Ceremony VO or same-day rehearsal add-ons
• Destination travel, per diem, hotel early check-in for prep
• Custom segments (scripted tributes, interactive games, live VO over SDE)

If music shares the spotlight, align airtime with your act type so intros and dance sets flow smoothly: compare stage formats and rider realities.

Packages you’ll see in the wild

Essential — 3–4 hours, one prep call, script polish, one attire.
Extended — up to 6 hours, two prep calls, rehearsal attendance, two attires, ceremony VO optional.
Destination — travel day buffer, local liaison, curfew-sensitive pacing.

Tech the host depends on

• Mics: one wireless handheld plus a backup; lapel for formal tone or movement-heavy sets
• Front wash: flattering light so expressions read on camera
• Playback: walk-in, first dance, SDE, and exit cues pretested
• Monitors/record feeds: clean audio to video crew, confidence return for the host

Lock the backbone early with speech-first AV crews who publish power and mic plans clearly: compare dependable stage and audio teams. For screen size and lighting layers that actually fit your room, this primer keeps expectations realistic: scale screens and sound without bloat.

Timelines that protect pacing

• Host call time: before doors for mic check and graphics run
• Doors → welcome → dinner service starts
• Speech block: grouped for one gain setting
• SDE / first dance: when guests are seated and AV is steady
• Party handoff: to band/DJ with closing remarks and thanks

Costs to clarify upfront

• When the clock starts (doors vs first cue) and stops (final toast vs program end)
• Rehearsal on a non-event day and its rate
• Script build vs light edits
• Travel and lodging terms, parking/valet at hotels
• Teleprompter or confidence monitor needs for long tributes

Emcee vs showcaller vs coordinator

• Emcee: voice of the room and on-mic pacing
• Showcaller: calls light/sound/video cues on comms
• Coordinator: vendor arrivals, seating, backstage flow, contingency triggers
  On complex builds, add ops so the emcee focuses on delivery: bring in run-of-show captains who keep cues tight.

Hiring checklist

1. Watch full-show reels, not just highlight cuts; listen for clean recoveries.
2. Normalize quotes to the same hours and list rehearsals separately.
3. Confirm backup policy and your approval rights for substitutes.
4. Share the draft run-down for feedback on pacing and cue order.
5. Put overtime tiers in writing (+1 hr, +2 hrs) with curfew caps.

Budget framing inside the bigger picture

Hosting sits beside AV, entertainment, and program design. Keep categories balanced so you don’t fund a voice without the tech it needs—or tech without someone to land the moment. For a macro view of sensible splits and regional drivers, ground choices in a PH-wide baseline: anchor emcee spend to a countrywide budget plan.

Next steps
Shortlist two or three emcees, align hours and tech, pencil soundcheck on the schedule, and finalize cue sheets with AV and your act of choice. If the goal is seamless flow, build the trio early—voice, tech, and ops—starting with the mic you trust: book a calm, crowd-smart host for your date · secure audio-lighting partners who keep speech clarity first · lock planners who keep timelines honest.