Meet Wayne Chew: Voted Number 1 Wedding Emcee in Singapore (And JB, And Some Say Batam)

Meet Wayne Chew, who is a highly sought-after professional emcee based in Singapore. Known for his dynamic presence and versatility, Wayne has hosted numerous events, including corporate functions, weddings, and large public gatherings.

His engaging personality and expertise have earned him a reputation as one of the top emcees in Singapore’s event scene. Today, he will share with us how he got started as an emcee and then continue to grow it into a thriving business.

What inspired you to start your own emcee company, and how did you get started in this industry?
For myself, when I first started, I just hosted for friends at weddings and all, but I found it fun. When I was in school, in Poly and JC, I also did some hosting, and I enjoyed the fun I brought to people when I was on stage. I’m naturally a very funny person when I’m with my friends, so why not bring this humour onto the stage to bring more joy to more people?

How did you feel during your very first emcee assignment on stage?
I think my very first assignment on stage was when I was 17 years old in JC. Back then, my Chinese teacher got me to host a Mid-Autumn Festival show, and that was how I started enjoying being on stage.

Of course, I felt nervous. Even now, after hosting for over 10 years, I still feel nervous for some shows. But once you step on stage and start working, the nervousness disappears.

Can you share some key milestones or achievements in the growth of your emcee company?
For myself, the growth of the company is normal—nothing much. But personally, I think I’ve done well. As the years go by, not counting the COVID years, the number of shows I get every year increases. Some companies keep engaging me year after year, which is either because they’re crazy or because I’m good enough to keep hosting their company anniversaries.

In 2017, I won the King Of Jokes title in a Love 972 FM competition. That stands out for me. Also, in either 2016 or 2018—I’m not too sure—I was voted the number one wedding emcee in Singapore.

What makes your emcee company different from others in the industry?
I wouldn’t say there’s much difference. It’s more about having your own style. Everyone has their own style of hosting. Some are very serious, some are funny, some are very fluent in English, some are bilingual, and some are even trilingual.

How do you create an unique experience for each event you host?
For myself, I don’t usually follow the script. I need to follow the event timeline, and that’s about it. It’s more about the interaction I have on stage.

Being spontaneous is one of the most important assets an emcee should have because it’s about how you engage with the audience, whether it’s a wedding, a dinner and dance, or even a community show. It’s how you react to the audience that matters.

Even now, after hosting for over 10 years, I still feel nervous for some shows. But once you step on stage and start working, the nervousness disappears.

On a scale of 1 to 10, how do you rate yourself as an emcee?
I’ll rate myself as 8 out of 10. There’s always room for improvement, but I think when I’m on stage, I’m very confident I can engage and entertain everyone who’s there.

What early challenges did you face when launching your company, and how did you overcome them?
When I launched the company, it wasn’t that difficult. I just went ahead and created it. But the main challenge was marketing and branding myself as an event emcee, and figuring out how to reach more people and more companies. It’s also important how you position yourself, so event organisers will come looking for you.

How do you manage a team of emcees, and what’s the company culture like?
For the emcees, I don’t usually own them—they’re free to grow and accept any job on their own. But let’s say there’s a popular date, and I’m already booked for an event. It’s possible that 2–3 other companies will come looking for me on the same day. I’ll pass those shows to other emcees. It’s about helping the community grow. This industry is not very big, but it’s not that small either.

Who do you look up to for inspiration as an emcee?
I grew up in the ’90s, watching a lot of Taiwanese variety shows. One of my favourite hosts in Taiwan is Jacky Wu (吴宗宪). He’s my inspiration. Locally, it would be Jack Neo or Mark Lee. The way they host on stage is very similar to my style, which I like to suan (tease) people.

I enjoy teasing, making fun of people, and disturbing them in a fun way. I think people will not fault you for disturbing them because it’s all part of entertainment.

How do you know if you have done a great job in this emcee industry?
For me, it would be when companies or event organisers keep coming back to me year after year. It shows how they rate me as an emcee. If you do one event and they don’t call you again, then it’s a joke already.

What advice would you give to someone considering becoming a professional emcee?
I would still recommend you to study hard. But you can start venturing into emcee work by hosting school events. If you want to do more, like karaoke hosting, you can do that too. I was a Chinese teacher before I became a full-time emcee, so I understand the challenges.

Being an emcee requires courage, especially if you’re starting a family, as the income isn’t stable. For example, during COVID, there weren’t many shows, though I was lucky to host a lot of online events. To succeed, you need a portfolio because event organisers often want to see your hosting videos before hiring you.

What is your vision for the future of your emcee company, and how do you plan to grow and evolve the business?
I’m 38 this year, and I’m not sure how many more years I can continue hosting. But as long as my energy allows, I’ll keep going. I’m also training a few emcees now and hope to see more younger emcees enter the scene. This market is so big—one emcee can’t host 20 shows in a weekend. I want to bring the next generation of emcees to another level and mentor aspiring event emcees. However, they need to like my style of hosting first. It might not suit everyone, especially those who prefer serious or solemn hosting styles.