As a master of ceremonies, you have the duty to entertain your audience without getting an ornamental discussion” with your scoutmaster. This is NOT copied material, these are tips and tricks I learned from experience. I wish you will endure through this and learn valuable information. (This is also a resource for your Communications Merit Badge)
Tip #1: Try to not use the skits or songs that are done at EVERY campfire program. It WILL bore your audience. Try newer skits or songs you can find on the internet (there are gray area one mixed in too), books, or on this website.
Tip #2: Have more skits than songs (but still have songs). This entertains your audience with comical jokes instead and goes further in people’s minds if done correct than songs do. But still have song. Songs warm up your audience.
Tip #3: Treat each script with thought. Sure, they may be dumb jokes but if you don’t care whether the skits flop or fly, don’t expect the skits to get across.
Tip #4: Assign (or cast) the correct people into correct parts. Prior to the campfire, pick people based on their personality and match it with a part you think they will do justice to. Also, unless you are doing improv programs, do not cast or think of skits to fill in the next part. It wastes time and bores the audience.
Tip #5: Never have a skit be the opening thing besides welcome. Think of the program as you are writing a musical. The overture (or opening song) will show what the upcoming show will be (whether it is sad or jumpy). Original songs work best because it surprises your audience even if it is rewritten lyrics to the song “Don’t Stop Believing.”
Tip #6: Just because it is funny that the scoutmaster fell in the latrine or that a news reporter got a story from x amount of people jumping off a bridge doesn’t mean that it will pass your leaders or scoutmaster’s checklist of green area. When programing a script, think each skit through to see if it has the possibility of offending someone, be immature and awkward if female staff or viewers are there, or political. Funny isn’t always putting someone down; that is not the scouting way. Also, try to avoid skits that give the talk of bodily parts (yes, blood and urine), explicit war images, toilet talk, death, and politics.
Tip #7: If you hold auditions (which helps organize your program), hold them long prior to the campfire date. Pick people who can fit the part (I repeat) and won’t mess it up.
Tip #8: Do not place songs that involve the audience to get up and move around the end. You are getting your audience warmed up for what? Night? The End? yay! Don’t do that. Ghost stories and other haunting stories should go later into the program to give your audience something to think about when they walk away.
Tip #9: Don’t hesitate to personalize the program. Personality makes you enjoy putting it together more and will also raise your chances of a good ceremony with a pleased audience. Any APPROPRIATE parodies of your favorite songs are fine.