We work in a business which relies on our skills to swifly describe what we see to those who aren’t in attendence, so it might feel counter-intuitive to read something to our audience. So I have to ask, is it okay to read a script to your audience? I say, at times, yes. I began…
In the past decade or so, the idea of instant replay and this notion of constantly checking and double checking plays has had a negative impact on broadcasters. Some of the most significant plays are those that aren’t immediately apparent. Stay in the moment, and call the play as you see it and as it’s…
If you follow Sportscaster Life on Twitter, you may have noticed on Friday afternoon we sent out a tweet for followers to offer up topics for a future blog post. Joseph Matthew Orozco (@JochaDay) suggested talking about the worst sportscasting booth setups. It’s a great topic, we’ve all had to call some games in a…
Sports is something where anything can happen, and as sports broadcasters, we have to be ready for anything that might occur before, during or after a game. From injuries to weather delays to long stoppages, all manner of interruptions are known to impact the action…however that doesn’t even cover the tip of the iceberg of…
A few weeks ago, the eyes of the state of Indiana were on New Palestine High School. Charlie Spegal, the Dragons’ senior running back, entered the day needing just 12 yards to become the state’s career rushing leader – one of the most notable and considered unbreakable records in Indiana. I knew it would be a major…
Do you ever find yourself going back over audio or video and finding words you hate, words you should stop using? The average sports broadcast lasts around three hours. The average words spoken per minute is around 150. That means you’re saying around 27,000 (probably more in most sports) per broadcast…so there’s bound to be…
Like any good broadcaster, I self-critique. Simply put, it’s a vital part of doing this job to the best of our abilities. How else can we truly understand our skillset, our strengths, and our weaknesses, without hearing our broadcasts through the ears of the audience? If you don’t already self-critique, or if you’re a seasoned…
A little while ago, Alex talked about the differences between broadcasting a game solo versus having a go with a partner. Sometimes, the most difficult thing in being a broadcaster is communicating with a teammate who is only six-inches off your shoulder. With a hot mic in your face, our words are curated to the…
“… with 12:25 left in the second period, the Fuel lead Kalamazoo 2-1. You’re listening to Indy Fuel hockey.” For years, the outcue is a signal to the station producer to fire up the next station break. But what if there is no station and no producer, because you – the play-by-play announcer – have that…
Anyone who’s known me long enough knows that since high school, some 13 years ago, I’ve always had a small notebook tucked in my back pocket. It’s something I have on me every day and it wasn’t until very recently that I realized how important that pocket notebook is to my career. Since it became…