On Cue with Kafui DEY: One microphone, three different worlds

There is a quiet disaster that happens regularly across conference halls, hotel ballrooms and community centres from Accra to Addis Ababa. An MC steps on stage with confidence, microphone in hand, dressed impeccably—and proceeds to host a state-level event like a birthday party, or a wedding like a board meeting. The outfit is right. The energy is wrong. Completely.

Not understanding the difference between VVIP protocol, corporate formality and social flexibility is one of the fastest ways for an MC to lose credibility in front of organisers, clients and audiences. The microphone may be the same, but the rules change dramatically.

Let’s start with VVIP protocol, the most unforgiving of the three. VVIP events are not about personality; they are about order, respect and hierarchy. Titles matter. Seating matters. Acknowledgements matter. The sequence of who speaks, who stands, who sits and who is announced first is not decoration—it is the event itself.

An MC who cracks jokes too early, rushes acknowledgements or casually introduces a high-ranking official as “our next speaker” without full titles is not being relaxed. They are breaking protocol. In VVIP settings, humour is seasoning, not the meal. And if you add it at the wrong time, the dish is ruined.

Corporate events, on the other hand, operate under structured professionalism. They are less rigid than VVIP functions but far more disciplined than social gatherings. The language is controlled. The tone is purposeful. Time is sacred. Brand reputation is always in the room, even when the CEO is not.

This is where many MCs get confused. They hear laughter in the room and assume it is permission to freestyle. It is not. Corporate audiences enjoy humour, yes—but humour that respects the business objective. A joke that delays a product launch, undermines a sponsor, or contradicts the company’s values is not funny. It is expensive.

Corporate formality demands clarity, clean transitions, proper introductions and a visible understanding of the organisation’s mission. The MC is not there to entertain alone; they are there to enable outcomes. When the MC forgets this, the event becomes noisy but unproductive.

Then we arrive at social events, where flexibility finally stretches its legs. Weddings, anniversaries, milestone birthdays and celebrations allow more warmth, personality and improvisation. The audience expects connection. Emotion is welcome. Humour can be generous. Timing is elastic.

But even here, flexibility is not carelessness. A funeral is not a wedding. A traditional ceremony is not a nightclub. Social events still have cultural codes, elders, sacred moments and emotional boundaries. An MC who over-entertains at a solemn occasion or under-energises a celebration has misunderstood the assignment.

The real skill of a professional MC is knowing which version of yourself to deploy. Same voice. Same confidence. Different rules.

For event planners, this distinction is non-negotiable. Booking an MC who thrives in social events and placing them in a VVIP policy dialogue without guidance is setting everyone up for embarrassment. The reverse is also true: a rigid corporate-style MC at a lively wedding can drain joy faster than a power outage.

Clients, too, must be clear. When you want a relaxed feel, say so. When protocol must be followed strictly, insist on it. Ambiguity is the enemy of good hosting.

Across Pan-African events—often layered with tradition, corporate expectations and high-level presence—the lines can blur. That is why professionalism matters. The best MCs do not guess the tone. They read it. They ask. They prepare.

The rule is simple:

Protocol demands precision. Corporate demands discipline. Social demands sensitivity.

Confuse them, and the microphone will betray you.

Understand them, and the event will remember you—for the right reasons

The post On Cue with Kafui DEY: One microphone, three different worlds appeared first on The Business & Financial Times.

Read Full Story