Bhubaneswar, Jan. 12: Many youngsters in the state are finding fame and money as comperes owing to the growing number of national and international events hosted here.

Unlike the past, when age hardly mattered and a striking and confident voice was the only requisite, the advent of youngsters on the scene has transformed the art of anchoring itself.

Today, anchoring has changed from fad to profession. Dozens of young hosts keep busy with events and travel all the time, not only within the state, but also beyond, to leave the audience charmed at cultural shows, corporate events and government programmes. The act of performing as an anchor may not be new, but the presentation definitely is. From perfect attires, the right hairdos to stylish and interactive staging, there is a remarkable freshness and novelty that the young emcees offer.

There’s no dearth of jobs for those good at it and the pay is good as well.

At cultural events in the city, there is as much appreciation for performing artistes as for Srinivas Ghatuary, the most popular compere in town for classical music and dance programmes. Better known as Milan, this young host has added a new definition to the art of anchoring shows. As an emcee, Milan wins over the audience with his poetic language and impressive ways of introducing the artistes.

“I believe the compere is entrusted with the responsibility of creating the right ambience for the audience to be receptive to the performer. When we announce an artiste and his performance and say it’s going to be fascinating, it sets the bar high for not only the performer, but also the audience, who looks forward to the performance,” said Milan, who finds time for his passion despite being a government employee.

“The key to being a good host for live shows is to give the written script a miss and be spontaneous,” said the anchor, also a trained Odissi dancer.

The 25-year-old has hosted shows across the country and abroad, featuring big names such as Birju Maharaj, Hariprasad Chaurasia, Kelucharan Mohapatra, Amitabh Bachhan and more. He makes up to Rs 15,000 for a three-hour show.

The new kid on the block is Pratyasha Dash, a professional playback singer, who says she does it just for fun.

“Initially, my sister Lipsa, an Odissi dancer, encouraged me to host a couple of shows. Since I love interacting with people and am very talkative, I did not find it difficult. If a bigger opportunity comes by, I will be more than happy to take it,” said Pratyasha, who recently hosted Dhauli Kalinga Mahotsav. She charges around Rs 5,000.

While the attractive incentives and popularity pull many to anchoring, there are also some important attributes that show organisers look for in the presenter. The hosts are expected to have not only a good idea of the subject of the event, but also a good voice, personality and communication skills.

“When we choose an anchor for our show, we ensure the person has a pleasant personality and an idea about dance and music. We expect the presentation to be natural with the use of proper language and style,” said dancer and organiser of several cultural festivals Aruna Mohanty.

“Many young anchors have groomed themselves just right for the job. We have had wonderful comperes in the past but the new hosts are showing great professionalism,” she said.

Comperes are also making efforts to meet the expectations of the organisers.

“You need to do your homework before an event. Wearing the right attire, accessories, hairdo and make-up counts a lot. Knowing about the protocols if the President, Prime Minister, chief minister, governor or other guests are on the dais is very important. You need to know what to say and also where to stop. Researching about the organisation and understanding the schedule of felicitations, performances or deliberations of the event only help,” said popular twenty-something host Sulagna.

“Also, one must not get intimidated by the crowd. Being comfortable comes with experience but one must try to understand the psychology of the audience that differs from event to event,” she said, adding that she has not learned anchoring through a course, but through experience.

Other comperes also spoke about the challenges of the anchor, who also has the dual tasks of managing backstage affairs such as the requirements of artistes.

Sulagna, a law student, constantly keeps moving around the country for events. But, she says this experience only helps in academics because one learns to balance time.

“Our state has been hosting many national and international symposiums, conferences and cultural programmes now. Hence the remuneration of emcees is also growing,” she said.

“If someone wants to polish his or her talent, there is no harm. These courses not only teach you the art of hosting a show, but also bring confidence in you, which is extremely important,” she said.

Nilambar Rath, who runs a media and communication institute, said there was a visible rise in youngsters opting for anchoring courses.

“Anchoring is not everyone’s job. One needs to be proficient in Odia, Hindi and English and also an understanding of the technical aspects of presentation. A training may not create these qualities in an aspirant, but if there is a spark, it helps to attain finesse. There are many who wish to be popular while earning anything between Rs 10,000 and Rs 20,000 for just a couple of hours on the stage,” he said.