Initiate Host Mode

As most of you know. I have two passions in my life. One is educating the young minds of tomorrow as a primary school teacher. The other is being an MC, a compere, a host! Call it what you want, my second love is entertaining a crowd on the microphone.

This trip to Chengdu has allowed me to craft my hosting game even more as I attempt to entertain people from across the world and engage an audience that potentially doesn't understand what I am saying.  

Each evening I have worked alongside a range of hosts from across China to bring games and events to the crowds of athletes who have finished their sports for the day and want to spend their Chendgu nights being  entertained.

The night starts around 6.30pm when   I get given a heap of prizes to award (merchandise, tickets, food and drink). It is my job to create and play games to find winners for these prizes. So far my activities have ranged from skilled tasks to group games, including...

• throwing hats onto panda ears or tables
  
• ping pong ball challenges
• paper plane making and throwing
• rock paper scissor battles
• heads and tails
  
• opposite attract

Once all prizes are given out and the seating area is appropriately filled, it is time for the party to start. At 7.30, the organisers have planned lots of different  performances and shows for the stage. So far I have seen:

• a fantastic Chinese band that played hits in their language and in English
• a choral evening featuring 5 touring choirs from countries including Estonia  and Sweden
• a night designated to the Chengdu Police and Fire department that featured singing and dancing. 
• an awards evening focusing on many medal winners across the range of sport.

Through all of these performances it has been a real thrill to MC the evenings alongside Chengdu residents, most of whom work for the local TV network.  I am the English translator for their Chinese  interjections  (As I don't speak Chinese I just make my own up as we go along).

This has been a huge experience for my resume and I hope it paves the way for more international opportunities in the future. 

The most important lesson I have learnt is, the best way to overcome a language barrier and the only way to teach is by demonstrations and modelling!