UKM Talent (MCU) Hybrid Seminar: “Professional MC: The Key to Communicating Effectively with an Audience”
Tangerang, April 11, 2025 – UKM Talent MCU of Universitas Bunda Mulia Serpong successfully held a hybrid seminar themed “Professional MC: The Key to Communicating Effectively with an Audience” on Friday, April 11, 2025. The event took place at The UBM Lecture Hall, 5th Floor, Alfa Tower from 10:30 AM to 12:45 PM, featuring guest speakers Syafri Dalimunthe, Founder of DEY Global Indonesia, and Fransiska Kharisma Christy, a journalist from Metro TV. The seminar was attended by 106 onsite participants and 84 online participants.
The event was opened by MCs Yehezkiel Samuel and Claudia Stevey Rivando, followed by the singing of the Indonesian national anthem Indonesia Raya and the Universitas Bunda Mulia anthem. The MCs then explained the seminar rules and extended thanks to both internal and external media partners. Welcoming remarks were delivered by Foebe Gavrilla Pratidina Rompies as the Event Chair and Miss Christina Tandaju, S.I.Kom., M.Si, as the Supervisor of UKM Talent (MCU).
Before the presentation of the material, participants enjoyed a special performance by Josevin Cindy from UKM Talent MCU. This was followed by the main presentation from Syafri Dalimunthe, Founder of DEY Global Indonesia. His session began with a discussion on public speaking. According to Mr. Syafri, public speaking is a skill that everyone must master.
Based on research conducted by Mr. Syafri, 75% of Indonesians are afraid of speaking in public, including university students. This fear stems from various sources such as anxiety, nervousness, fear of making mistakes, fear of criticism, and fear of going blank. Public speaking, he emphasized, is not a talent but a skill — one that requires consistent practice to develop.
According to Mr. Syafri, one of the most important aspects of public speaking is content. The content being delivered must be based on accurate data, use language that is tailored to the audience, and avoid discussing irrelevant topics. Another crucial element is style — the style used should be relaxed yet respectful. This includes making eye contact, using clear intonation and pauses, and maintaining natural posture and gestures. Connection is also a key element, which is why it’s important to engage the audience, understand them, and avoid being too self-absorbed during a public speaking session.
To liven up the event, Mr. Syafri and the MCU committee invited three audience members to come forward and share their public speaking experiences. This was followed by a Q&A session and an ice-breaking activity led by the MCs, before the material presentation by Fransiska Kharisma Christy, which took place online.
In her opening remarks, Ms. Christy shared that she originally aspired to become an actress or singer and often participated in singing competitions. However, over time, she realized the importance of using her potential seriously. She enrolled at Universitas Bunda Mulia and was accepted to work at Metro TV even before graduating. Currently, Ms. Christy works for one of Pertamina Gas Negara’s subsidiaries, PGNCOM.
According to Ms. Christy, there are several key aspects in the world of MCing, including building a connection and warmth with the audience, managing tension and anxiety when speaking in front of many people, and using proper language structure through thorough preparation. There are various types of audiences an MC may encounter, such as shy, confident, attention-seeking, or indifferent individuals. Therefore, thorough preparation through practice and personal grooming is essential.
One important thing to pay attention to as an MC is articulation — clear pronunciation and enunciation. Intonation, or the variation in speech tone, also plays a vital role in capturing the audience’s attention. Ms. Christy explained the three tones used in public speaking: low tone, typically used for formal events; medium tone, for semi-formal events; and high tone, used in informal settings. In informal events, tones can be combined for more dynamic delivery.
Ms. Christy then invited two on-site participants to share the challenges they commonly face when acting as MCs and offered them personalized tips. She also emphasized that personal branding is a crucial element. Social media can be a powerful tool for building one’s personal brand — the branding presented should be focused, consistent, and supported by actively uploading targeted content.
After the material presentation concluded, the event was closed with a second attendance check and documentation session, both onsite and online.
Written by Lourelia Lieviana (Communication Studies Student, Universitas Bunda Mulia Serpong Campus, Class of 2024)
Universitas Bunda Mulia
Bridging Education To The Real World