From Small Town Dreams To Big City Spotlight - Vyoma Parihar

Emcee Vyoma Parihar, hailing from Madhya Pradesh has shaped a dynamic career over twelve years and 12,000 shows. From an assistant director in Mumbai to a seasoned emcee, Parihar’s journey is marked by adaptability and energy. Her unique selling points are her vibrant vibe and electrifying presence, making her an ideal host for diverse events.

In the interview, Parihar underscores her client-centric approach, following briefs closely and infusing her style when permitted. Addressing industry challenges, she advocates for skill-based hiring, challenging norms favouring appearances and much more.

Excerpts:

How did you develop your interest in anchoring, and what motivated you to pursue a career in this dynamic and challenging industry?

I am from a small town in Madhya Pradesh. I’d come to Bombay in search of work. I was looking for a job, I met so many people from different industries and I worked as an assistant director. Later on, I realised that I am good at speaking and I started spreading the word in the event industry. One of the event managers was kind enough back in 2010 and he offered me an event to host. Now it’s been almost twelve years that I’ve been in the field of emceeing.

Could you share some insights into the preparation process that goes into hosting live events, and how do you ensure that you deliver an engaging experience for the audience?

I am an emcee who will just follow the brief. I don’t put in my things until clients allow me to. Firstly, I’ll read the script and I underline my pointers. Secondly, I record my voice when I’m reading and I listen to it again and again. The reason is that I want to hear myself and how I sound while saying particular words. It also helps me remember a few of the words and a lot of content. When award shows or brand launches are concerned, I bring a lot of energy to the table. My clients prefer me for my energy, my USP is my energy, my vibe and the electricity that bring onto the table.

What are some of the key strategies you employ to maintain a strong connection with the audience and effectively capture their attention during various events that you host?

I start on a high note. I do a power-packed energiser, then I get straight onto the content. I make sure that I do two to three audience engagements. I first talk to the audience so that I create a bond with them instead of just making them do things.

Can you discuss some of the challenges you have encountered in your journey along the way?

To be honest, there’s a challenge in our industry that the women who are ultra beautiful looking, ultra slim, are preferred. They prioritise the women who look ultra beautiful and all of that. Of course, that’s how it goes everywhere, not just in our industry. The people who are very presentable, get priority. I think for emcees, skills should be the priority of any employer or any agency that hires us.

How do you adapt your hosting style to suit different types of events and diverse audience demographics, and how important do you think this adaptability is in the realm of professional anchoring?  

I believe I have a very different style of doing things. I keep it per the brief and whatever the client says. I’m very adaptable in the sense that if I realise that keeping the act subtle isn’t engaging enough, I change my style immediately and keep it vibrant. I am very flexible. I am an agency’s emcee, to be honest. If they say, Vyoma, we have to do this, I’ll do this. I take permission from them for every little thing. I’ll never be like, okay, I’ll do what I want to do.

What role do you believe effective communication plays in engaging the audience during live events, and how do you ensure that your communication style remains relatable and inclusive for all attendees? 

There’s only one thing that I’ve experienced to date. In my beginning years as an emcee, I used to follow the brief blindly. My show used to not connect with the audiences at all. I believe there is only one language that connects you to any audience all across the globe, irrespective of what language you speak. It's the language of energy and I think even if I smile brightly, I talk to them brightly, they will receive my energy. So, I keep it that way. My language is very rhythmic and I am great at voice modulation.

How do you stay updated with the latest industry trends and techniques, and how does this continuous learning process contribute to your growth and success as an anchor? 

A week back or so, I thought that I learned enough but then the next day another challenge came up and then I realised, okay, learning is an ongoing process. It is going to happen lifelong and I’m up for it. I’m a great listener too. I watch the news all the time. I am a journalism and mass com graduate. I am addicted to watching the news. It’s not like I’m watching it just because I have to be updated. I love it. That’s my routine. That’s the ritual that I follow every day. In the morning even if I have to report at an event at say around 07:00 a.m. I’ll get up at 4:00 a.m. and I’ll watch my news first.

Lastly, could you share your vision for the future of your anchoring career? 

To be honest, I’m a person ‘one day at a time’ person. But then again, as an emcee, I am just going to be working hard on myself. I realise that it is equally important to look extremely beautiful on stage. So I’m working on myself in that direction, I started my gym again. That is the first priority as of now for me. As far as speaking is concerned, I think I’ll be learning a few more languages. 

There are so many emcees who have come up all over the world. To stand apart and get more business, you have to keep yourself kind of equipped with as many things as possible. By things I mean the languages, of course, and your style. There’s one thing that nobody could take away from you, which is your style. Nobody can copy that. While you talk, the sound of your words, your speech, everything has to be very sharp, clean and clear. That’s also something I actively work on.