Khyati Kava
Khyati Kava has hosted shows in over 15 countries in the last few years. Beginning her career as an emcee and hosting many high-profile events, she went on to take on more challenges as a video presenter for corporate and lifestyle brands, award nights, industry conferences, press conferences, CSR events and more.
In a brief chat with EVENTFAQs, Khyati tells us about her journey as an anchor, how she prepares for different types of events, and what she sees for herself in the near future.
Tell us how you prepare before an event?
Well, apart from all the technical stuff, there’s a lot of content preparation that goes on before every event, and there’s a lot of research and curation of content to determine how the flow of the event is going to be, what kind of language is going to be used, and also what the core message is or what a company or brand wants their audiences to take away from the event. I also do a few vocal exercises, gargling, basically to keep my throat comfortable and at ease. We also do tech rehearsals before the show to make sure nothing goes wrong on stage during the show, but working closely with my clients to develop a rough script or communication plan is what I enjoy the most since I believe in being a part of my client’s team and not just a spokesperson for the event. And most importantly I have to be completely present at the event – Spontaneity comes in when you are aware of all that’s happening.
Your event for the Indian Flag Hoisting Day in the Andaman and Nicobar islands that was graced by the prime minister of India was very different from your other events. How do you switch your style of hosting from one event to another?
Although I’ve done a lot of events which are government affiliated with different industries where different ministers have been present, the Andaman event was one of my biggest government events yet, where I addressed over 20,000 people. The presence of the Prime Minister had created a lot of buzz because it was his first visit to the islands so it was a big day for the people as well.
It was a big one for the agency and especially for me because I hadn’t hosted before on such a grand scale and also I was working with this agency for the very first time. Personally, for me, there was a lot at stake as I wanted to give it my best and also experience hosting an event of this magnitude. I don’t think I have ever prepared so much for any event before this, there were a lot of protocols to be followed, the language was very controlled. In comparison to my other events where I can be spontaneous or casual, this was a complete contrast because everything had to be just perfect. And of course, the feeling of 20,000 people listening to you and the Prime Minister himself being there was enthralling.
You’ve hosted in English, Hindi, Marathi and even in Gujarati, was this part of your plan all along? Which language have you always wanted to learn?
It wasn’t a part of my plan to speak different languages on stage. Marathi is not my first language, I owe my fluency in Hindi and English to my school and Gujarati being my mother-tongue helps in a few events. The languages I use on stage depend on the demands of the event and the regions where I host, more than the on-stage script, it was about the conversations I have with my audiences during the event which they can connect with. So local languages help a lot and that’s how knowing a few more languages gave me an edge. And I’d really like to learn more languages because it’s definitely an advantage in my field. I’d like to learn a few languages from the south of India. And internationally, I’d like to learn Spanish. After all, my craft depends on communication and language. It’s what makes my world go round.
Is there any destination where you would like to host an event someday? Any celebrity or artist you’d like to share the stage with?
Having met and worked with many celebrities from India in the course of my career, two international celebrities with whom I’d really like to work with or share the stage with are Ellen DeGeneres and Bryan Adams, for different reasons. As for a dream destination, I guess I’d like to host an event in the Eiffel Tower because I know that there’s a space for events there.
You use the hashtag #BornForStage in all your social media posts. What was going through your mind when you thought about it?
When the whole trend of hashtags began, every artist started using hashtags to represent what they believe in or what they do. I experimented with different hashtags and it actually helped me rediscover what it is that I love so much about the stage and that’s when I realized that from a very early age, I was always inclined towards anything that had to do with the stage like acting, singing, dancing, or just talking and I’ve enjoyed it since my school days. I realized that the stage is my happy place and being on stage makes me feel most alive and it’s what I was born for. I can relate to my hashtag and it represents who I am as an artist.
What’s next for you? Future plans?
I’ve always loved traveling and exploring new places and experiences, and I also enjoy my work with all my heart so I think my next plan is to create a better network overseas. I plan to start creating a base beyond India. I’d like to create a name or brand for myself internationally as well that people can trust in the event industry across countries. After all, each new event that I host is a new opportunity to explore new business, a place, meet new people and learn new things.
In a brief chat with EVENTFAQs, Khyati tells us about her journey as an anchor, how she prepares for different types of events, and what she sees for herself in the near future.
