You’re looking to hire a play-by-play announcer. Where are you looking? The traditional route of those already working for a team? Probably a safe way to go, but these days there is play-by-play talent across many platforms. Have you ever considered an alternative route?
With all the different streaming services, ESPN+, internet radio and even apps, there are many people calling many game, whether it be a young broadcaster looking to earn his/her first job, or a veteran looking to stay in the game and continue to do what they love. Both are out there and readily available to hear probably without even leaving your desk.
Opportunities abound for broadcasters in the play-by-play realm. I always tell young broadcasters to get on the air in any way possible. I started as a DJ, but it proved to an employer that I knew how to handle myself and gave them an idea of what I sounded like.
These days, does it really matter if your tape comes from an internet broadcast? Is it so bad to be heard and/or seen on a college basketball team’s video stream on ESPN Plus? No! If you are able to perform the job at a high level, sound great, be descriptive and be prepared, to me you’re on the right track.
Now these “alternate” platforms can create some issues. To me there are too many of them and they seem to be popping up every day. New apps like “Hot Mic” give anyone a chance to call a game with a “home team” flavor. I’m not sure that those charged with hiring new broadcasters are looking to this sort of free form site to make their decisions. Not to disparage the newcomers but “Hot Mic” is more of a fan thing, where you don’t have to watch the professional guys on TV and can join this app and watch whoever you want call the game. All good, but I don’t think this is the place to get that job. It’s definitely a place to hone your skills if you take it seriously.
So, while I know that my last two paragraphs may sound like a contradiction, they really aren’t. Established platforms are taken a little more seriously by those in the business than the newer ones. As we all know, this broadcasting business has a lot of grey areas. What is wrong for one executive is correct for another and vice versa. My thought would be to pursue the more “heritage” avenues until you’ve exhausted those. Then take to the alternatives to get your craft up to speed and try again and again.
There are also more places and teams to call games for these days as well. This gives you an opportunity to get involved with a team in the G-League, the XFL, indoor lacrosse leagues, and even independent baseball leagues. Expand the net that you cast in these directions as well.
The problem some will run into is the person doing the hiring may go with a known commodity as opposed to the up and coming sportscaster that’s only done games on the internet. It’s not fair. But you have to put yourself in their shoes. Sometimes their own job will depend on who they hire and how that person works out. On the other hand, a younger broadcaster may work a little more “inexpensively” and not price themselves out of the market like a veteran.
I would love to see a time where minor league clubs and even those in the four major sports, take the time to develop a roster of broadcasters. How much easier would a hiring process be if you as a major sport broadcast executive already knew about several announcers on the rise? Why wouldn’t they want to make the process as easy for them as possible by following someone’s career path and how they’ve grown in the industry?
Let’s not expect this to happen overnight. Also, let’s not think that some of these rising stars will be ready for the ‘next’ hire a team makes, maybe it’s one or two down the road. Maybe this is going on in some organizations already, developing a pipeline for lack of a better word to their club. To make it tougher on those in the hiring position, you as a broadcaster have to continue to grow and not look at a game on a streaming platform any differently than you would a television or radio network. To make your mark you have to be on the mark every time you crack the microphone. While we never have a completely mistake free broadcast, you can hear effort, you can hear potential and you can certainly hear growth.
There are countless numbers of examples of announcers starting from nothing and ending up with terrific jobs. The difference between those that made it and those that didn’t is constant work. Shop your wares, do your homework, put in the time and effort.
The same can be said for those doing the hiring, expand your scope, check out a game on the internet every once in a while. You might be surprised at what you hear.
Andy Masur is a columnist for BSM and works for WGN Radio as an anchor and play-by-play announcer. He also teaches broadcasting at the Illinois Media School. During his career he has called games for the Chicago Cubs, San Diego Padres and Chicago White Sox. He can be found on Twitter @Andy_Masur1 or you can reach him by email at Andy@Andy-Masur.com.
