I guess anyone could buy a long-tail red coat (useless fact – it’s called a Hunting Pink) and set themselves up as a professional Toastmaster. In fact, I have heard of a wedding DJ who ‘adds value’ to his clients by doing exactly that. But has your ‘Toastmaster’ been trained and accredited by a professional association? Have they learnt all of the technical detail that makes the difference between ‘okay’ and ‘spot on’?

It may not make a huge difference to some events, as long as the person in the red coat is at least proficient at organising and announcing. But even then, has the surrogate Toastmaster benefitted from the wisdom of seasoned professionals in their development? Will they avoid the mistakes that a lack of experience can so easily lead to? 

Knowledge and experience are even more vital at an event with VIP guests to announce, or a civic event with orders of precedence to be observed. That’s when knowing how to address and announce guests is important, and they won’t thank you for getting it wrong!

At Men in Red Toastmasters, we were all trained by experts from the National Association of Toastmasters, which has been upholding standards in the profession for decades. We were subjected to a written examination and panel interview – including a rather rigorous uniform inspection (pro-tip – I wore blue socks. The outrage was palpable. I now own several pairs of black!). 

We also picked up loads of useful tips for running events (aka mistakes to avoid), ensuring we deliver the very best to our clients. An example? Those ‘Reserved’ signs at the front of your ceremony… unless you add ‘for Auntie Flo’, the aforementioned doyen of the family will doubtless think it’s reserved for someone else and plonk herself down at the back!

You can be sure that when we are Saving the Earth from Dull and Disorderly Events, we are doing so with competence and confidence.