On Cue with Kafui Dey: Jet, not trotro: Why great events must always take off on time

Last Sunday gave me one of those rare, double-feature masterclasses that no training manual could ever script.

I emceed a charity fundraiser in the afternoon and later served as auctioneer at a book launch in the evening. Same host. Same microphone. Same city. Completely different timing philosophies…and dramatically different results.

At the fundraiser, showtime arrived…and our marquee guest speaker wasn’t there.

The organisers insisted: “We start.”

No panic. No dramatic suspense music. No endless “please be patient while we wait.” We followed the programme. Speakers spoke. Donations flowed. Energy built organically.

Plot twist: The guest never showed up at all.

But because the event had marched forward on schedule, no one cared. The mission of the day, raising funds for a good cause, was achieved without disruption.

Now imagine if we had waited.

Forty-five minutes of restless fidgeting.
One hour of irritated guests checking phones.
Two hours of slow exits and whispered complaints.

All for someone who wasn’t even coming.

Later the same day came Event Number Two: a beautifully planned launch, except for one fatal organisational error:

“We’ll start shortly,” the MC announced.
Ten minutes passed.
Then thirty.
Then sixty.

The organisers were waiting for “a bigger turnout”.

But midway into the event, the early birds quietly left — adults with Monday morning jobs to prepare for, babysitters to relieve, traffic to beat.

By the time my auction moment arrived, the once hopeful hall was barely a third full.

The tragedy? The people who valued the event most, the punctual ones, were the ones punished.

The real rule of hosting: Respect the clock

Event hosting is not just about sounding good. It’s about honouring the audience’s time.

In Africa, we have inherited an informal scheduling culture, what I jokingly call the “Trotro Mentality”:

“Let’s wait till the bus is full before we move.”

Events run the same way:

• Wait for “important guests”
• Wait for “more numbers”
• Wait “just ten more minutes”… repeatedly

The problem?
People who arrive early are treated like they arrived wrong.

In professional environments, whether conferences, charity fundraisers, product launches, or leadership forums, every delayed minute communicates:

• Your time isn’t important
• Organisation isn’t a priority
• Punctuality doesn’t matter here

And make no mistake, your brand is speaking when your programme isn’t.

Adopt the Jet Mentality

Professional events should operate on the Jet Mentality:

Planes do not wait for late passengers.
They take off at the scheduled time because discipline protects everyone involved.

This mindset builds:

• Respect for guests
• Confidence in organisers
• Credibility for sponsors and partners
• Order for the entire programme flow

Latecomers should catch up not cause everyone else to wait and wonder if they chose the wrong event.

Lessons for event hosts and MCs

For my fellow MCs, here are some professional commandments from the studio floor:

1. Start the programme on time, even if the VIP isn’t present.
   Run what’s available. Adjust later.
2. Don’t repeatedly announce delays.
   Every “we’ll start shortly” deflates momentum and irritates the audience.
3. Respect the early birds.
   They came on time, reward them.
4. Advise organisers firmly but respectfully.
   If planners want to delay, remind them of the consequences:
   • Audience attrition
   • Low energy
   • Loss of trust
   • Damage to event credibility
5. Be the guardian of the programme clock.
   The MC is not a talking decoration: the MC is the conductor of time.

Your job includes protecting the audience experience even when that means politely pushing back on organisers.

Final cue

Events succeed not because halls become full, but because schedules remain faithful.

Last Sunday proved the lesson beautifully:

• The on-time fundraiser flourished without its star speaker.
• The delayed launch slowly emptied despite a strong programme.

The clock does not negotiate. Neither should professionals.

So to every MC, event planner, and organiser across Africa:

Stop going trotro. Start flying jet.

Take off when you said you would.

Your audience and your reputation will thank you.

Until next time…stay On Cue.

>>> Need coaching? Email [email protected] today.

The post On Cue with Kafui Dey: Jet, not trotro: Why great events must always take off on time appeared first on The Business & Financial Times.

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