Francis Merriweather, from The Corporate Focus Group, works with companies large and small, providing programmes that will motivate and inspire participants to excel. He is an accomplished public speaker and an expert in corporate culture. He has also rapped for a number of blue-chip clients, and regularly lectures on best practice in lyrical technique.

BEING AN MC depends on defining your personal objectives and linking these to your lyrical flows. Get your hand on your “ho” and check out the following key performance indicators to ensure your shizzle is the bizzle.

Step in the arena

Before you even open your mouth, your listeners are asking “what’s in it for me?” Get them onside by greeting them as soon as you step out.

Show respect – don’t be a “wack MC”. As a minimum, salute the local town (“Kings Lynn! Make some noise!”), or better yet, reach out to your hosts (“GlaxoSmithKline! I wanna hear you scream!”)

If you’ve forgotten any names, just ask who’s in the house – it’s a great way to build buzz, and most audiences are only too happy to remind you!

Follow the icebreaker with your own introduction. Detail any tricky spellings (for instance, I might say that I am “F-R-A, N to the CIS”). Now ask them what your name is. You’ll soon see who’s been paying attention!

Move the crowd

Make sure your listeners fully engage in your programme. Be specific in setting out your agenda, whether it is to recount an amusing anecdote about a “cap” you recently “bust”, or to discredit your competitors, ensuring that a certain “Fisher Price MC” does not “hang”.

It’s often said that the secret of public speaking is to “tell them what you’re going to tell them, tell them, and then tell them what you told them”. This establishes milestones for listeners and, crucially, minimises half-steppers.

Show ’em whatcha got

Now everyone knows what you’re here to say, they are wondering what makes you so qualified – are you really the “playa” you claim to be?

Explain how you are the most excellent. Perhaps you have the most innovative flow, maybe you have the most “ducats” (money), or perhaps you excel in matters of a sexual nature.

Support this with statistics to prove that you won’t stop – even that you can’t stop. People respect someone who sticks to their guns. (NB, to underline this gun metaphor, describe how your 9mm goes “bang”.)

Express yourself

Now you have established yourself as a Mack Daddy, take the opportunity to drop both science and English. Key words include yo, dope, blunt and bum rush.

The message

So, you’ve delivered your oration, name-checked a few additional towns, and surveyed your audience for any candid feedback. Did the programme work for everyone, and did it deliver tangible results? Could anything have gone better?

Of course not! You’re the MASTER of ceremonies – word to the mother!