Mack Dryden - The Perfect Host:
Whether your event is an awards show, or anything in between, your Emcee can be the difference between a couple of hours of drudgery and a rollicking good time. As a comedian, actor, and host, Mack Dryden has delighted corporate audiences for more than a decade with his quick wit and uncanny ability to customize his clean material for any situation. He has Emceed major events for such Fortune 500 companies as International Paper, Southwestern Bell Global, Pfizer, and Peterbilt Trucks.
As a staff writer on ABC's Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher, he honed his skill at writing hilarious, up-to-the minute special material. He's performed on everything from The Tonight Show to An Evening at the Improv and shared the stage with such stars as Rosie O'Donnell, Jerry Seinfeld and the Osmonds. All this experience has given Mack an astonishing ability to put an audience at ease and turn a usually-dull occasion into a fun-filled laugh-fest, as these delighted producers and clients happily attest.
When groups want a message with their merriment, Mack is the comedic motivational speaker they call. Creating hilarious custom humor for each client comes naturally to the former staff writer for Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher, and his stories of surviving two battles with cancer, a stay in an African prison, “the sharks in showbiz who stab you in the front,” and one “near-fatal marriage” are as inspiring as they are laugh-out-loud funny. If anyone knows about overcoming adversity to achieve his goals, it's Mack, and his proven 7-Step Formula is simple, practical, and inspiring.
From humble beginnings as “the funniest paper mill employee in Mississippi,” Mack became an award-winning journalist, a black belt karate champion, and finally a professional comedian whose talent and perseverance eventually got him hand-picked by Bill Maher to write on the acclaimed show. As a performer, he’s appeared on The Tonight Show with both Johnny Carson and Jay Leno, many other TV shows and movies, including JAG and a recurring role as a judge on ABC’s The Guardian. (His credentials as a Renaissance Man were boosted in 2008 when a Canadian firm began the manufacture and worldwide distribution of his invention, the Canvas Keeper, www.canvaskeeper.com).
After hearing of Mack’s harrowing survival stories, a TV producer asked him to speak to a group of graduating students. Mack’s presentation, "Laugh to the Top: A Hilarious Guide to Achieving Your Goals," was so moving and funny (he's made his living onstage for more than two decades) that he got immediate spin-offs and has since shared his inspiring story and unique, clean humor with thousands at corporate and association meetings nationwide. Said the president of the Arizona Dental Association: "Mack presented a wonderful, thought-out and prepared message…but some of his funniest and best received comments were from the information we provided him (custom humor)…we couldn’t be happier.”
Mack Dryden's Emcee Testimonials:
"...you hit big time in every category for us: client handling (Pfizer, Inc.), content sensitivity, eye on the watch, pitching in to help, handling things on the fly, enthusiasm, humor, and all-round great guy. So thank you a million-fold."
-- Richard B. Williams, Michael Carson Productions
“He was so professional, funny and crowd pleasing and did it within the planned time, not an easy thing to do (reading 100 names for honorees – 40 there to receive certificates). The event was a tremendous success and Mack was the reason. The following day was our luncheon entertainment and once again Mack was huge hit. During the remaining portion of our convention, the buzz was all about the Brunch and Mack’s presentation. The Illinois’s Telecommunications Association 100th Annual Convention was indeed special do in large part to the talents of Mack Dryden.”
Douglas Dougherty, CAE President Illinois Telecommunications Association
“We asked Mack to serve as host of the talk show, a la David Letterman or Jay Leno. His task was to interview the guests and help them impart their fleet management-related information – but also to liven up the program, add humor and fun and keep everyone awake. Mack was absolutely terrific. He prepared extensively…enhanced our script… and developed such great rapport that the guests actually loosened up and joked back with him. More important, we’ve been getting feedback that it was the best client event PHH has ever had – and we’ve been doing this for over 10 years. They said they loved the format because it was so different and they loved Mack, who made it all happen so fluidly and successfully.”
Pilar Page – Public Relations Manager, PHH Arval
"Having you emcee our ‘awards’ segment was pure fun! There wasn’t a single person in the room that didn’t laugh long and loud. You played a significant role in the conference’s success."
-- James E. Foster, International Paper Company