Jaimie Abbott: Now, today's episode is a bit of a spicy one and it's one that a lot of people need to hear. If you've ever said, I don't know what to charge, I feel bad asking for money. It was just a few hours on stage. I probably shouldn't invoice. Then buckle up because today we are talking all about how to charge for MC gigs without apologizising, undercutting or spiralling into awkward pricing panic. Let's go. First of all, why you're not charging enough. Let's start with the brutal truth. Most people under charge for MC gigs. And why is that? I think they don't see it as a profession. They're comparing it to speaking for free at school events or their cousin's wedding. And honestly, we're scared people will say no. I used to MC gigs for a gift basket. A bottle of wine, bunch of flowers and that's nice, don't get me wrong, but that cheese wheel didn't pay my electricity bill. So here's your wake up call. You are not just holding the mic, you are the glue. The vibe, the person keeping the audience engaged. The speakers come and the event alive. And that, my friend, is billable. First of all, when we're working out how much we're going to charge as an mc, we need to know your value. Let's break down what you really bring to the table as a professional mc. Pre event planning and briefing calls. Run sheet mastery, Running time like a ninja, ad libiving like a boss. Crowd control without a whistle, setting the tone, keeping the energy up, saving the show when there might be a tech fail or a speaker goes rogue. That has happened to me many times. You're not just the voice between speakers, you're the experience between the keynotes. If the audience doesn't have a good time, they don't remember the content, they remember the vibe. And guess who is in charge of that? Yep, you. Building your rate card. So how much do you charge? There is not a one size fits all. But here is how you create your rate card. Number one. Start with time. So you might want to do an event price. A half day versus full day versus multi day. Ah, number of speaker intros and maybe perhaps the number of breakout sessions. Also think, do you need to facilitate panels that can take a lot of energy, a lot of research, a lot of preparation. Then when you've worked all this out, then add value. So are you writing your own MC scripts? Are you customizising intros? Are you hosting awards, doing interviews, MCing and facilitating that my friend, equals charging a lot more. When you are facilitating a panel on stage. You also need to factor in travel and accommodation, rehearsals or briefing meetings, your years of experience, your brand value. Yes, being you with your brand has a price. In Australia, beginner Mc'might charge 500 to 800 $ hundred. Experienced Mc's will charge 1,500 to $5,000 per event. Big name Mc'ten K plus easy. So start where you're comfortable, but push the boundary. If every single person says yes to your fee, or they say yes very very quickly upon receiving your quote, then you're probably too cheap. Dealing with we have no budget. Let's talk about that dreaded phrase in event land where people say we don't have a budget for an mc. What they're really saying is we've never paid an MC before, we don't understand the value of what you do, or we're hoping that you'll do it for free. Now here is what to say if that is what the client is saying to you. Thanks so much for thinking of me. I'd love to be part of your event. My MC fee is X which includes planning calls, full day event hosting, speaker intros and a post event wrap up. Let me know if that fits within your budget. If they still say no, offer them options. So you might be able to say to them, I can offer a reduced rate if I receive full professional videos and photos for my reel. Or I can offer a discount in exchange for a testimonial, social media coverage and a client referral. Or I'm happy to refer another MC who might be a better fit for your budget. Just don't apologise, don't shrink, and please don't work for exposure unless you're getting something very specific in return. Packaging your offer. Create products, not prices. Here is how you do that. So package one could be the essentials. That might be an mc, rate for up to three hours, intro and outro for speakers and perhaps a briefing call. Package two is your full day rockar. So that might be MCing for up to eight hours, custom scripts, perhaps award hosting, voiceovers for sponsor reads, pre event and post event support. Package three is to be the VIP everything. So you get all of the above. plus pre event, planning consults, social media promotion. I've got a huge social media following so if I promote that event on my LinkedIn, my Facebook, my Instagram, we're talking sort of 30,000 plus followers, you might Use audience engagement tools on site rehearsal. The more that you package it, the easier it is for clients to say yes. How to say your price confidently? Here's what not to do. I usually charge around or if that's too much, I totally understand. Or I can do it for free. Just this once. Here's what to do. My MC rate for a full day event is $5,000. That includes full prep, scripting and hosting. Or you might want to say to them, I'd love to send you my rate card. What's your email? Or if you're after someone, to elevate the energy and run the show seamlessly. That's what I specialise in. Say it like you're offering the client value, not asking for a favour, because you are. And here is the secret. Every few events, bump up your rate. Simple as that. Did you emc a high profile event? Have you got a killer testimony? Or perhaps some m third party media coverage? Are you now booking out in advance? Raise your prices. You can even say this is my 2025 pricing, new financial year, new rates or due to high demand've, I've updated my rate card. You don't owe anyone an explanation. You owe yourself financial growth. Let's be real for a sec. I want to talk about some mindset blocks, that you'll need to overcome or to drop. if you're holding back on charging because you feel like a fraud, you think you're not experienced enough, you're worried you'll scare people away, then I need you to remember that confidence is built through reputation. Nobody will value the work that you do more than you do. And the right clients pay the wrong ones. Ghost. And you didn't come this far to do it all for exposure. Let's wrap it up. Charging for MC M gigs isn't about ego, it's about value. You're not just a microphone holder, you are a stage leader, energy shifter and an audience experience architect. If you are ready to stop second guessing and start getting paid, join my free challenge. It's called Lights Mic Paycheck and it's happening next Monday the 11th of August at 6pm Sydney time. So 6pm Australian Eastern Standard Time. You can just go to jamieabbott.com.au LightsMike Paycheck and I've spelled it the American way. C H E C K or send me a message and I will send you the link. But it kicks off next Monday. Until next time, stand tall, price confidently and take the mic like the pro you are.
