I Want To Be Remembered As An Individual & Not An Imitation: Ridhima Bhatnagar

In the latest entry for this exclusive interview series, we delve into the dynamic world of event hosting with the seasoned professional, Ridhima Bhatnagar. With over a decade of experience as a news anchor under her belt, Bhatnagar offers invaluable insights into the evolving role of anchors and emcees. She shares her expertise in navigating the ever-changing demands of the industry and much more.

In your opinion, what qualities are essential for a successful anchor or emcee?

I think it is important to understand how the definition of an emcee has changed over the last decade or so. For emcees, hosts and anchors that definition of coming and reading out on a stage has shifted to being a lot more, having your own personality on stage, involving the audience and reading the room among other things.

The qualities that make you stand out vis-a-vis the 5,000 other emcees are how you adapt to the changing needs of your clients, your shows, and your audiences. The second, which I think that I find lacking in a lot of youngsters getting into this business, is that there is just not enough research, hard work or thoroughness that has gone into identifying how one show differs from the other.

In a nutshell, a few qualities that are mandatory for anyone wanting to make it big in this industry is to try and understand your clients’ and audiences’ needs, because no two shows are the same. Research and hard work are absolutely paramount. I see a lot of people thinking that they can wing it because they’ve done 100 shows. Absolutely not, the more you practice, the more you prepare yourself and you will see those clients coming back to you.

How do you prepare for different types of events, such as corporate conferences, product launches, or weddings?

My background as a news anchor has helped me here, when you've done over a decade of news anchoring, you know that no two days are ever going to be the same. True adaptability is exactly what I use for different shows. A live show is very different because it is never going to go as per plan, there are going to be last-minute changes and if you get scared of that change, then that is going to be a big problem. Because I have been a news anchor where I have known that any breaking news can come at any minute, you must adapt yourself and the rest of the show will then follow.

Secondly, I see a lot of people wanting to just stick to the script. That is not possible in live events. You must be prepared for those last-minute changeups where a guest might not reach on time, or a presenter is not available. So many things can go wrong, not being rigid and being adaptable to make those last-minute changes is something that I use on a day-to-day basis.

If you can have a pre-event briefing call, which I do almost every time I have a show, try and take out that half an hour, have if you can a physical meeting and understand the needs of the client. At the end of the day, you are only a facilitator.

How is presenting on TV different from hosting live events?

It is the same and it is not so same. It is the same in the sense that you know that it is never going to go as per the script. The biggest change is that when you are anchoring in a studio, you are not speaking to a live audience, you are speaking to a camera. You cannot see live reactions and feedback. In a live show, if you have made a mistake or have done something right, you can see it on the audience's faces. So, it is very different because you're getting feedback in real-time, which is both good and bad. You know you are on the right track if the feedback is positive, but for a live event emcee, it can also be very unnerving if you see a negative reaction because that can throw you off. Both platforms require an immense amount of preparation.

As an anchor, how do you balance being professional and building a rapport with the audience?

This was one challenge for me when I shifted to hosting full time, because how do you still have a bond with the audience, but you do not want to come across as unprofessional as well. This, I think is a tightrope walk. You can't not have a conversation with the audience or with the client, but you do not want to go the extreme side as well.

What I typically do is wait for the show to end and I try to meet the guests, panellists and some audience members, I do that, but I limit it. There comes a point where you know that you have done your pleasantries and it is time for you to exit.

What upcoming trends do you see in the event-hosting industry and how do you plan on adapting to them?

I think the client and audience needs have changed completely. If you go back 10 years, when I used to do a lot of branded content, shows and news channels, the demands that we used to see from clients used to be pretty much the same. Today, every client comes with a very clear idea of what they want and that is vastly different, so, you must evolve. I see a lot more clients wanting the inclusion of technology for instance.

The other is that they don't want somebody to just come, announce four names and go back. Typically, when a client comes to me and asks me to host a conference or a summit, I throw in the idea of moderating a panel for them as well, because that is something that comes naturally to me. I love reading about different topics and holding conversations, so this is something extra that I'll offer and that is what makes more clients come back.

Hosts and presenters have to find a way of reinventing themselves, understanding what is that extra thing that they're bringing to the table without the client asking for it.

Do you have any tips for aspiring anchors or emcees who want to excel in this field?

Do not try to copy people. That's not going to help you in the long term because with almost 12 years of experience as a news anchor, it was the same. If an audience has been given the option of 500 news anchors, why should they come back only for your show, so, you have to stick to your USP. It might not always yield results because the audience also has a mind of its own. They might like you on certain days, but they might not like you on certain days, if you change what your authenticity is, then you're not going to be in it for the long run.

The second is hard work. You must have enough preparation, because what if there is a new addition to the show, what if they suddenly want you to interview a guest, you won’t be able to hold that conversation if you don't know enough about the show.

The third is to get a good night's sleep before any show. Don't think that you can do it after a red-eye flight, because what you feel physically is also going to be very important in what you present emotionally, mentally and in front of the audience.

Lastly, what legacy do you hope to leave in the event-hosting industry?

She was an individual and not an imitation, I think this is something that I tell almost everyone, you might see a lot of people who become role models and that's great, you should always take inspiration, but do not aim to become them, because they have also stood out in that field just because they were themselves.

You may not be the best, but if you put in enough hard work with diligence, punctuality and preparation, you will be remembered.