Flat-rate fee, quoted upfront
No hourly surprises, no per-segment add-ons after the fact. A fixed fee is quoted before the booking is locked, with travel and accommodation itemised separately.
MC for hire
Hire an MC in Melbourne for corporate events that have to land.
The fastest path from "we need a corporate MC" to "briefing the host". Hire a dedicated corporate MC in Melbourne with 20+ years across Australian event work.
Why a dedicated MC
Why hire a dedicated MC instead of a DJ-MC or in-house host.
A DJ-MC carries music announcements and dance-floor energy — perfect for weddings, light corporate work, social events. A dedicated corporate master of ceremonies owns the run sheet, hosts the speakers, recovers the timing when it slips and bridges sponsor moments. These are different jobs.
In-house hosts (your senior leaders, your producer) know the business cold — and that's also the problem. They're a participant, not a host. Hiring a professional MC means you get someone whose only job that night is to make every other voice on stage land properly.
What you get
What's included when you hire John Edney as your MC.
A complete hosting engagement, not just stage time.
Bespoke run-sheet collaboration
Two to three working sessions with your event producer to write the host script, lock the timings, agree the sponsor moments and pre-empt the risk points.
On-night hosting and recovery
Full event hosting from arrival through to formal close — and the kind of timing recovery only an experienced MC can pull off when the run sheet slips.
Speaker briefings and panels
Pre-event check-ins with keynote speakers and panellists, and on-the-night panel moderation where the agenda calls for it.
Sponsor and partner segments
Properly timed, properly weighted sponsor recognition that lands the partner moment without derailing the programme — a regular feature of awards nights and conferences.
Voice-over capability
Broadcast-quality home studio for pre-recorded VO — sizzle reels, sponsor stings, segment intros. Bundled with the host fee when booked together.
How it works
How to hire an MC in Melbourne — the booking process.
From first enquiry to event night, in five steps.
02
Availability + fixed fee (within 24 hours)
If the date works, you'll have a flat-rate quote and a hold offer in writing within one business day.
03
20-minute fit call
Quick call to confirm tone, agree scope, walk the programme outline. Both sides decide if it's a fit.
04
Deposit + date locked
Deposit invoice issued. Date locked in. Run-sheet work begins three to six weeks out.
05
Run-sheet collaboration
Two to three working sessions with the producer to finalise the host script, sponsor moments and timing structure.
06
On-site, full hosting, wrap
Early arrival, AV check, full programme hosting and a short post-event debrief if you'd like one.
"Hiring the right MC is the single highest-leverage decision a corporate event producer makes after picking the venue."
- JohnPeak season — March/April and October/December — fills fast. The earlier the brief, the higher the chance of a flat-rate hold on your date.
Or by event format
Corporate MC Melbourne
The flagship offering — full-event hosting across Melbourne and Australia.
Corporate MC detailsConference MC
Multi-day, multi-stream conference hosting with panel facilitation.
Conference MC detailsEOFY & Christmas Party MC
End-of-year functions and Christmas parties — the busiest booking season.
Seasonal MC details
FAQ
MC hire questions — answered
The questions producers and P&C teams ask first.
How do I hire a corporate MC in Melbourne?
Send a brief with date, format and audience size via the contact form. I'll come back with availability and a fixed fee within a business day. A 20-minute call usually follows before the booking is locked.
How much does it cost to hire an MC in Melbourne?
Corporate MC fees in Melbourne vary by event length, format, travel and scripting requirements. A short awards-segment host sits at one end of the range; a full-day conference plus gala dinner host sits at the other. I quote a flat fee, not hourly.
What's the difference between hiring a dedicated MC and using a DJ-MC combo?
A DJ-MC handles music announcements and dance-floor energy — great for weddings. A dedicated corporate MC owns the run sheet, hosts speakers, manages timing recovery and bridges sponsor moments. Different jobs, different skill sets.
How far in advance should I book a Melbourne MC?
For peak season (October to December and EOFY events), three to six months ahead. Off-peak, four to eight weeks is usually fine. If you're inside that window, message anyway — I keep a small buffer for late bookings.
Can I hire an MC for a one-hour segment rather than the whole event?
Yes — segment hosting is common for awards moments inside longer events. I'll quote a half-rate for short engagements, though four hours is the practical minimum for most bookings.
Do you work weekends and evenings?
Most corporate MC work is evenings and weekends — that's when the events are. No surcharge for standard out-of-hours work; public holidays attract a holiday rate, which I quote up front.
What's included in your MC hire fee?
A pre-event brief call, run-sheet collaboration, scripting of host segments, on-night hosting for the agreed event window, and one round of post-event feedback. Voice-over recording and full scriptwriting are quoted separately.
Can I hire you to MC events outside Melbourne?
Yes — Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, Canberra and regional Australia regularly. Travel and accommodation are agreed in writing as part of the booking.