At festivals and events, the compere is the face of the event and the bridge between the audience and performer. When compering is done with consideration and kindness, it is welcoming for everyone and creates a friendly and inclusive atmosphere. 

 

Esperance wants to celebrate positive, professional compering and encourage introductions at events to be inclusive, appropriate and welcoming. Esperance has received reports from artists and audience members about comperes using inappropriate and discriminatory language, which has been off-putting and unsettling for both performer and audience. In order to avoid this happening in the future, we want to support positive change in the folk scene. We have created this guidance for comperes, performers and event organisers to download and freely use:

 

• Comperes - guidance for inclusive introductions at events  

• Performers - template of information to send to organisers in advance and give to comperes at events

• Event Organisers - guidance on selecting and briefing comperes for your events

• Checklist - for comperes and organisers to fill in and use at events 

 

This guidance was published by Esperance in 2021 in collaboration and wide consultation with artists, comperes and organisers working in folk music, responding to a need to make change in the folk scene. If you have any feedback or suggestions relating to the guidance, please email esperancefolk@gmail.com.