Emens Auditorium is expected to reach maximum capacity as Air Jam gets underway at 9 p.m.
Traditionally, 20 acts representing a gamut of student organizations on campus draw crowds of upwards of 3,500 students. Between the acts, however, students can also look to be entertained.
Rachel Martin and Cody Pagels beat out 18 participants who auditioned to serve as Masters of Ceremonies for Air Jam.
Although Martin is serving as Master of Ceremonies for just Air Jam, Pagels was selected to emcee for two other Homecoming events this week: the opening ceremonies and bed races.
Both Pagels and Martin attended Air Jam last year, but neither was involved with any of the committees or emceed events.
Martin auditioned this year to get more practice speaking in front of people, to represent the Ball State University chapter of the National Association of Black Journalists and to "get her face out there," she said.
"I've always liked being in front of a crowd. I'm a big ham," she said.
A telecommunications major, Martin plans to work in television broadcasting after graduating, she said.
For Pagels, also a telecommunications major, auditioning to be an Air Jam emcee was more of a spur-of-the-moment decision, he said.
He never really considered auditioning to be an emcee until the greek relations chair of his fraternity, Delta Gamma Iota, suggested he go and try out for it.
However, he wasn't surprised when he found out he was asked to emcee for Air Jam because he's had prior to experience, but he didn't expect to emcee for three events, he said.
Pagels has emceed at comedy clubs in the past, does comedy sketches on YouTube and plans to move to New York City after graduating to break into comedy scene, he said.
As a child, Pagels watched game shows such as "The Price Is Right" and noted how Bob Barker was able to charm a crowd.
"[By age four or five] ... I felt then that I was always destined to do something with a microphone," he said.
Because they both auditioned separately to emcee for Air Jam, Martin said it was fun to get to know Pagels and feels like they've come up with some funny material for the show.
"At first I thought he was really quiet, but I've gotten to learn how funny he can be," Martin said.
She said she hopes some of the jokes she and Pagels came up with when writing the script get through to the audience and that she looks forward to seeing the crowd's reactions to them.
While there will be a couple parts throughout the show where they go into a bit lengthier comedy bits, Pagels said their goal as emcees is to keep the event going at a decent pace.
"We want to be funny and entertaining, but we don't want to hijack the show," he said. "They're not here to see us, they're here to see the acts."
Martin said more than anything she thinks students will have a good time.
"There will be some Justin Timberlake and *NSYNC acts that will be humorous," she said.
Pagels said it's important for students to get out to events this week to support campus organizations.
"This is an instance of 20 of Ball State's organizations coming together to put on an event. I think their efforts should be recognized and we should celebrate Homecoming as something that's bringing us all together on campus," he said.
Meet the Emcees
Rachel Martin- Auditioned for Air Jam to get more practice speaking in front of people, represent the Ball State University chapter of the National Association of Black Journalists and to "get her face out there"- She plans to work in television broadcasting after graduating
Cody Pagels- Telecommunications major- Also emcee for the Homecoming opening ceremonies and the bed races- Member of Delta Gamma Iota- Emceed at various comedy clubs in the past
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