Island Life Magazine Ltd December 2006/January 2007 | Page 70

INTERVIEW

A toast to the
Master of
Ceremonies!
When Peter puts on his red tailcoat, everyone
can relax – knowing that their event is in his
capable hands
There are times when even the
best-laid plans can go adrift
– and when that happens on an
all-important wedding day, it’s
difficult not to panic.
But that’s where the calm,
diplomatic approach of Peter
Tautz comes into its own. The
Nettlestone-based
professional
Toastmaster and Master of
Ceremonies is used to thinking
on his feet, and coming up with
solutions that can save the day.
At one wedding, for example,
the newlyweds arrived to find the
seating had been laid out wrongly
for their reception.
“It was potentially a rather
difficult and fraught situation”
recalls Peter, “but I quickly got
the staff to re-arrange the seating
and whilst it was being done, I
occupied the couple with more
photographs outside”.
By chance, Peter heard there was
another gathering in the hotel for
a couple who were celebrating
their Golden Wedding anniversary,
so he introduced them to the new
bride and groom and suggested
photographs of the four of them
together.
“So, instead of the bride and
groom remembering a problem,
they had this little memory of
their meeting with the anniversary
couple” says Peter.
In fact, introducing people is a
big part of Peter’s role: “Any event
that needs introductions and
has people moving around will
benefit from having a Master of
Ceremonies” he says.
And
in
his
traditional
Toastmaster garb of red tailcoat
with white gloves, shirt, waistcoat

70

and bow tie, he certainly
becomes a focal point for any
event.
“Having that big red coat
on means people ask you all
kinds of things – right down
to where the toilets are!” he
says. But it means he always
carefully researches and does
a ‘reccy’ at each venue in
advance, so he’s never put on
the spot.
Peter, who started out on
the Toastmaster route by
acting as an unofficial MC
for events at his local Round
Table, decided to train
professionally two years ago,
and did a residential course
with the London Guild of
Toastmasters.
There, he learned everything
from voice projection to health and
safety rules, and over the past two
years he has officiated at weddings
and events both here and on
the mainland. Recently, he was
appointed resident Toastmaster for
the Bourne Hall Hotel in Shanklin.
As well as weddings, he also gets
bookings for ladies’ dinners and
corporate events, which rather
suggests that he spends much
of his working time eating fine
dinners – although nothing could
be further from the truth.
“If I’m lucky I might get into the
kitchen and grab a bite to eat” he
says, “but really if I am doing the
job properly, there’s no time for
eating. My job is to keep on top
of all the protocols - announcing
speeches, having gifts and flowers
ready to hand, that kind of thing so that everyone else can sit back

and relax and enjoy their day”.
He says the first rule for being a
successful MC is to “understand
what the client wants - and then
get on with making it happen as
efficiently as possible”.
He regards himself as a
“progressive” toastmaster who
is prepared to bend the rules of
the old etiquette books if a client
requests it.
For instance, he’s
worked with a female “best man”,
introduced a bride and groom who
wanted to do a joint speech, and
often arranges the cutting of the
wedding cake during an evening
reception rather than in the
traditional slot after the wedding
breakfast.
He hasn’t been called upon for a
same-sex partnership celebration
yet, but reckons it’s only a matter
of time. “I regard myself as quite a
progressive Toastmaster” he says.
“I think it’s good to combine old

traditions with more modern ways
of life”.
When Peter isn’t striding around
in his red tailcoat, he can often be
found in less pristine shorts, teeshirt and boots, in his other role as
a gardener. As well as working for
private clients, he also tends the
gardens at the Priory Bay Hotel.
“You’d hardly recognise me in my
gardening gear!” he laughs.
So why the unusual double life?
“I retired early and decided I
only wanted to do things I actually
enjoy doing” he says – which in
his case, was seeing people enjoy
themselves, and tending the earth.
“I always believe that if you can
do what you enjoy doing, then
you’re really very lucky – and I
think I am” says Peter.
Contact: 01983 613571
www.wighttoastmaster.co.uk

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