PORTALJABAR, BANDUNG CITY - The Mayor of Bandung, Muhammad Farhan, believes that the Master of Ceremony (MC) profession plays an important role in determining the rhythm and success of an event.

He conveyed this when attending the Inauguration of the MC.BDG Management for the 2026–2029 period as well as the celebration of the 9th Anniversary of the MC.BDG Community entitled “Nawawarna: One Stage, a Million Stories” at the Cultural Center Building, Jalan Naripan, Bandung City, Thursday (11/6/2026).

In front of professional MCs from various regions in West Java, Farhan compared the MC profession to drinking water, whose presence is often taken for granted, but it will be very noticeable when it is not there.

"As MCs, we're as valuable as drinking water. When we're present, it's often taken for granted, but when we're not, everyone asks, 'Where's the MC? How's this event going?'" he said, to laughter from the audience.

According to Farhan, an MC isn't the main star of an event. At a music concert, the audience's attention is focused on the singer or band performing.

At state events, the public's attention is focused on the speaker. However, the entire event wouldn't run smoothly without the role of an MC.

"Anyone performing on stage will not begin speaking until the MC has invited them to. That's where the key role of an emcee lies: setting the pace and flow of an event," he said.

Farhan also shared his career journey in the media world which became the foundation of his current profession.

He recalls when he first applied for a job at a radio station in Bandung in 1993 with the hope of becoming a broadcaster.

However, he was accepted as a scriptwriter because he was considered not to have sufficient vocal qualities to be a broadcaster.

"I applied to be a broadcaster and was accepted as a scriptwriter. It meant my voice wasn't considered good enough for broadcasting," he joked.

However, this experience actually taught him many lessons about communication, message delivery techniques, and the importance of building personal character.

He reminisced about the golden era of radio in Bandung, which produced many renowned broadcasters and presenters. Fierce competition forced many talented individuals to find other ways to survive, one of which was by developing a strong and distinctive character.

According to Farhan, major changes occurred when the media industry boomed in the mid-1990s. The presence of national private television opened up opportunities for Bandung-based talent to make a name for themselves in various regions across Indonesia.

"What we're looking for isn't just a good voice, but character. It's that character that ultimately differentiates us and meets market needs," he said.

Farhan believes that the current media landscape has changed drastically compared to the era of conventional radio and television.

However, he asked the MCs to continue studying the basics of radio broadcasting because it is an important foundation in building communication skills.

"From radio we learn intonation, expression, and how to manage the flow of communication," he said.

He believes that the digital era has changed the standards of a presenter.

While physical appearance and voice quality were once dominant factors, audiences now value honesty and authentic expression more.

Farhan gave the example of the communication style of the Governor of West Java, Dedi Mulyadi, who he considered capable of showing closeness to the community through honest expressions.

"What the public is looking for now is honesty. Unpretentious expressions. People want to see someone who speaks like themselves," he said.

On that occasion, Farhan reminded the MC.BDG members not to fall into the trap of imitating famous figures. He stated that each host must have the courage to develop their own identity and distinctive characteristics.

"If there's a great MC, don't even think about trying to be like them. Because if I had the budget, I'd just hire the real thing, not a look-alike," he said.

He said there's no definitive formula for discovering one's character. The only way is to keep learning, trying, and never stop developing one's abilities.

"Character can't be created instantly. It has to be sought and continuously honed," he said.

Farhan also reminded that the main focus of a host is not the guests on stage, but the audience who are present to watch the event.

According to him, an MC must be able to put himself in the audience's shoes and understand what the audience feels during the event.

"What we should focus on isn't the people on stage. It's the audience. Imagine ourselves in the audience, then think about what they want to hear and feel," he said.

He added that the main task of an MC is to ensure that all parties get the right portion to appear and receive balanced attention.

Closing his remarks, Farhan invited the MCs to utilize technological developments, especially artificial intelligence (AI), as a means of professional development.

He admitted to having witnessed firsthand how AI technology was able to produce videos and voices that closely resembled world figures.

However, he believes that this development is not a threat, but rather an opportunity for presenters to improve the quality of their work and creativity.

"Artificial Intelligence must be utilized wisely. Don't use it to fake things, but rather as a tool to improve capabilities and productivity," he said.

Farhan hopes that the new MC.BDG management can become a forum for presenters to continue learning, collaborating, and developing themselves in the face of increasingly rapid changes in the world of communication.

"Being an MC is a noble profession. Who knows, maybe someone could go from being an MC to becoming mayor," he said, to thunderous applause from the audience. (Bandung City Communications and Information Office/rka)