Going to an event can be seen as an easy task to do but I have learnt that there is one particular aspect about this that is easily often taken for granted – crowd control.

Events have the potential of bringing in a crowd at once. Events can range between numbers (small to extremely large) to the capacity expected and catered for. You can talk of a stadium where a derby is being played, concerts to weddings. Crowds are expected and are needed when there are invitations.

As a person who enjoys attending events myself, I must admit I am afraid of huge crowds and disorder when it comes to the management thereof. Shopping malls during pay month weekends are always a mission for my endurance so any chance I have to escape that, I will jump for. Effective management of a crowd is crucial towards ensuring that an event reaches its success or not. I have learnt this the hard way just recently when I had to be an MC at a wedding over one weekend. It is important to have a good handle on a crowd to ensure the success of the event.

1. Forget the ‘RSVP’ line for township weddings

I must admit, this is something we clearly must forget especially when planning an event in the community or township. The mere sight of a tent or cow being delivered is enough to bring in a hundred people plus. But go ahead and try, maybe, just maybe one day, the whole purpose of the exercise will be achieved.

This is a famous line on all invitation cards by the way. It would however be nice to find out its etymology. The word and it’s intended meaning sadly gets ignored and questioned by most. It got me asking, is there a limit to planning for when inviting people over for a wedding in the township? The rules are an exception if a lodge-type of wedding is envisaged. But I must admit, I have seen lodge-type weddings being gate crashed heavily as well so there too lies exceptions.

2. Breathe

Not all is going to go according to plan and be fine and open with that. I remember having planned out so much for a wedding that I failed to take into account that time will be a factor (not all township events start on time, I am still hopeful that this spell can be broken. One day). I took a hard knock lesson on just breathing and letting the flow and mood direct how to handle the situation and the crowd.

3. Let other people lead

As an MC, I had a very difficult task: to ensure that the right people are seated where they are supposed to. And this was a difficult task indeed, I mean imagine, I had to stand and say, where is Karabo or where are the colleagues? That time, I don’t even know whether Karabo is male or female or what he/she looks like or who the colleagues are. I learnt this the hard way as well. I tried my best to control seating arrangements and seating arrangements but there came a point in time where I gave in and asked the family to take the lead.

Where the family members were supposed to sit, I deployed one of the elder uncles and aunts to do that task for me. For the colleagues’ table, I asked one of the colleagues to help me out with that. Luckily the friends and community members, I was familiar with so with those, I was sorted. At this stage of the wedding, I learnt it’s okay to let the people lead. You must focus on ensuring the program goes well.

4. Interact with the people

People have limited attention spans and when that link is lost, it can be lost for good. Be careful to not lose your crowd. Speak their language, speak to the setting and engage with them. The program is for them to enjoy after all. Gone are those days when programs were one directional and monotonous. The one sure way to get a firm grip on a crowd at a wedding is to capture them by engaging with them. With engagements, you ensure that you do not lose the crowd.

5. You can’t control what the speakers will do or say

Eish, this is another tough subject. I always try to ensure that there are themes to the speeches that the speakers will share though bulk of it is for the discretion of the speaker obviously. There is always a limit to the mind the speeches. Some people get carried away, others get stage fright and things tend to not go as per plan. Be open to this and accommodating. Play around it and let it work to your advantage. One guy I recall from the top of my head, started a song out of the blue while another speaker turned the speech into a political campaign. Expect anything really, and just work around it. At the end of the day, your job as an MC is to run the show the best way you can.

We never stop learning and I appreciate the confidence this is giving me. One day, I will look back at these moments and be grateful for the lessons that I have gathered and maybe I would be good in handling big crowds and events.