Nathan Cassar is an award-winning Master of Ceremonies with over a decade of experience, including as a former Entertainment Host with Princess Cruises.
Based in Sydney, Australia, Nathan specializes in bringing energy and excitement to every event he emcees, from weddings to festivals, gala evenings to award nights, and charity events to trivia – he really does it all! Nathan’s dynamic stage presence, charming smile, and professional attitude have earned him a reputation for being able to elevate any event to the next level and create truly unforgettable live event experiences.
For more information about Nathan’s journey, industry awards and achievements, past work and clients, testimonials, and bookings, please visit www.nathancassar.com.au.
Here we sit down with Nathan, to know a bit more about his journey as an entrepreneur.
Q. Tell us a little more about your journey as an entrepreneur – how did you get started? What inspired you?
Nathan: My journey as an entrepreneur began with a fateful voyage on a cruise ship at the age of 14. All it took was seven days at sea and an incredibly captivating Cruise Director, and a spark ignited within me that led me to one burning desire: to become a live entertainer one day. This experience had unwittingly uncovered something I had never discovered within me before: an innate passion for entertaining and public speaking that would transform the rest of my life.
Fast forward through a series of early adulthood life experiences, I knew my ultimate goal was to become a Cruise Director. In 2015, I achieved that dream when I joined Princess Cruises as a Junior Assistant Cruise Director. Over the next six years, I was promoted to Fleet Supervisor of Entertainment Experience and was tasked with creating some of the most exciting and innovative game shows at sea. However, the COVID-19 pandemic brought the cruise industry to a halt and forced me to rethink my career path.
That’s when my brother’s wedding in April 2021 served as the catalyst for my next chapter and I became a professional MC. I registered my business and debuted my website just two weeks later, and I haven’t looked back since. With well over 50 weddings and corporate events under my belt so far, I am proud of the success I have achieved as a multi-awarded entrepreneur in the live entertainment industry. I took my passion for entertaining, my love for public speaking, my experience in the cruise industry, and a splash of my unique style and flair for the extraordinary and turned it all into what is now a successful career as of Australia’s premier professional MCs.
Q. What’s one thing in your routine that you do consistently that has made a huge difference in your personal or business life?
Nathan: Self-reflection is a crucial part of my daily routine and has played a huge role in my personal and business success. It’s almost like a superpower that I’ve discovered, and I make it a point to use it regularly. I take a step back and look at my past decisions, actions, and the way I present myself, whether it’s on stage or off stage. I analyse the language I use, the humour I employ, and how it all affects the way others perceive me. It’s a process that may seem tedious to some, but it’s been a game-changer for me.
As I’ve grown older, I’ve come to realize that not many people like to reflect on their actions retrospectively. But for me, it’s a weekly, if not daily, occurrence. And it’s not always easy, but it’s necessary. I try to see myself from the third person and understand how my actions affect my personal and business life. It’s a way for me to constantly improve and be better, both as an entertainer and as a person.
I’ve learned that humans are obviously not perfect, and embracing that fact, especially in an ego-driven industry like mine, is critical for success. I may not land every joke, or make an impression on every person in the room, but the most important part of my routine is to look back, question what went wrong and how to do better next time, but also question what went right and how to replicate or make it even better next time. Rinse and repeat, and you have yourself a winning recipe. I guarantee it!
Q. Who are your mentors and inspiration? and what knowledge or insight did they give to you that was valuable?
Nathan: My mentors have played a vital role in shaping who I am today. From my primary and high school teachers who taught me the importance of humility, self-expression, and public speaking, to my colleagues and managers at Princess Cruises who imparted wisdom and guidance on how to excel in the entertainment industry.
One mentor that stands out in my mind is Ryan Fitzgerald, a former Director of Entertainment at Princess Cruises. He taught me the importance of not sacrificing the good for the perfect and it’s a mantra that has stuck with me to this day. Another mentor, James Cox, current Fleet Entertainment Manager at Princess Cruises, challenged me to always strive to be the best version of myself, on and off stage.
In my current chapter as a professional MC, I am grateful to have Derrin Brown, an international event producer and friend, as my mentor. He has taught me to never sweat the small stuff and to have the courage to pursue my passions with wild abandon.
Q. What has been your most satisfying moment in business?
Nathan: My most satisfying moments in business are the ones where I get to witness the pure joy and magic I bring to people’s special days and events. Over the course of my career as an entertainer and MC, I am grateful to have unlocked a unique ability to elevate, energize, excite, and delight an audience, and there’s nothing quite like seeing the smiles and hearing the laughter of guests who have had the time of their lives at an event I was a part of.
But it’s not just the immediate impact that brings me satisfaction, it’s also the long-lasting memories I help create. When past clients tell me that their guests are still talking about their event and how much fun they had, it’s a feeling that is truly indescribable.
Another satisfying moment for me is seeing the recognition and success I’ve achieved in such a short amount of time. In less than two years, I’ve built a reputation as a leader in the live entertainment space in Sydney, and it’s all thanks to my commitment to top-tier entertainment and client service. It’s a tough industry to establish yourself in, but the awards and happy clients I’ve accumulated are a testament to my hard work and dedication.
Q. How do you market your business, and which tactics have been most successful?
Nathan: When it comes to marketing my business, I like to think of myself as someone who is on top of things and proactive. I understand that as an entertainer, having a solid reputation and an attractive portfolio is essential to attracting new business. That’s why I’ve made sure my website is at the centre of my business strategy. I’ve been running an active SEO campaign on my website since the day it was launched in April 2021. I firmly believe that if you’re invisible on Google, what’s the point of doing business?
To complement my website, I’ve also been running AdWords campaigns with some success. These campaigns have centred around my professional showreel, which I produced in March 2022. This showreel effectively showcases my story, my brand, and my past work, and it’s by far the most valuable piece of content I have to date. Several couples and corporate clients have become new leads or have been convinced to book me as their MC just from watching it.
I also have a healthy network of entertainment agencies and vendors who refer me or directly book me for work. While it currently accounts for about 10% of my business, it has helped me to scale well while piggybacking off other agencies and vendors who have been in the industry longer.
Finally, my social media channels are growing month by month as I continue to focus on new content and posting more regularly. I’ve recently started filming reels before an event, shouting out to various vendors, and cross-promoting their services, which has seen an increase in engagement and brand reputation as they appreciate being plugged publicly.
Q. What have been your biggest failures or challenges?
Nathan: My biggest challenge by far has been overcoming the negative effects of bullying I experienced as a child. From Kindergarten to my senior year of high school, I was constantly bullied for being different, and it took a toll on my self-esteem and confidence. But I refused to let it define me. I worked hard to build resilience and to find my voice, and it’s paid off in spades.
The second biggest challenge I faced was the “Tall Poppy Syndrome” which is prevalent in Australia where people are criticized and marginalized for standing out and being successful. This affected me in many ways, both as a child and as an adult, but I refused to let it hold me back. I continued to be passionate and committed to innovation and success in my career, both as a crew member and a corporate representative for Princess Cruises, and it has led me to where I am today.
Q. How did this failure, or apparent failure, set you up for later success?
Nathan: Instead of letting the bold-faced rejection and ridicule from my peers defeat me, I used it as fuel to drive me to become a better performer. I knew that to succeed in the entertainment industry, I had to develop a thick skin and learn how to handle criticism and rejection.
Through the years, I was fortunate enough to have mentors and friends who supported me and helped me develop the emotional coping mechanisms that are crucial in this industry. I learned that to be a great MC and live entertainer, you need to strike a balance between confidence and humility, and always be prepared to rise above the negativity.
It’s not a secret that the entertainment industry is tough and ego-driven, but I’ve learned that it’s all about finding the balance between being assertive and professional and not being arrogant. I’ve learned to take the lessons I’ve learned from my past experiences and channel them into my performances. The fact that I’ve successfully overcome the challenges of my past has given me the strength and resilience I need to handle the highly opinionated and judgemental aspects of live performance and the entertainment industry.
Q. If someone was to create a TV show about you, what would it be about and what would it be called?
Nathan: If someone were to create a TV show about me (what an honour!), it would absolutely have to be called “Cruise to Success.” It would be a whimsical mix of reality and fiction, showcasing my passion for entertaining and public speaking, my unique approach to creating unforgettable experiences for clients, and the challenges and obstacles I faced along the way.
Each episode would revolve around a different theme and follow me as I navigate through the different stages of my journey, from the early days as an aspiring entertainer to the present as a successful professional entertainer and MC. The show would be visually striking and feature cameos of family, friends, and loved ones who supported me. It would be a fun, inspiring look at the pursuit of my dreams and the obstacles I overcame to reach success in the entertainment industry.
To keep up to date with Nathan and his journey, connect with him on Facebook, and Instagram.
