It’s an age-old question in sports broadcasting. What do I put on my radio demo tape to get a job?
Unfortunately, there is no simple answer to this question. It depends on the sport you’re doing, the amount of actual broadcast tape you have and what job are you going for. Sounds complicated, but once you cut through it all, it will become a little clearer for you.
I find myself in this situation right now, sending out demo tapes for Major League Baseball jobs. For the first time in a few years, I am without a team to broadcast. It meant updating my website and putting together fresh tape from the 2020 season. I have a little bit of time to refine what I have on my tape and to try and understand what it is that PD’s and team broadcast directors are actually looking for.
The task of putting together a tape after a full-season of broadcasting, whatever sport you call, is a daunting one. You have so much material to work with, so how do you sift through it all? During the season, I find myself “starring” things in my scorebook during a game. I then will listen back to those innings I deemed “star worthy” and go from there. My star system doesn’t always include what I think might be my best stuff.
Let me explain.
I realize that big home runs and walk-off wins are a dime a dozen. I want to find other things that showcase my skills as a play-by-play announcer. Maybe something made us laugh, maybe I brought up a great piece of trivia and so on. Sometimes that “best inning” may not be the one to send.
How can we be certain what it is to send? Well, I enlisted a few expert decision makers in the industry, on the radio side and the team end of things to help share some insight on the process.
To illustrate my point, Mike Swanson, the Vice President of Communications & Broadcasting for the Kansas City Royals offers up what he wants you to send.
“For me personally? It’s not just sending what they think their best few innings of work was,” said Swanson. “Though time consuming, I really prefer entire games and a couple of them. I get a feel for entire game rhythm, the ups and downs of a team’s play,” he said.
Swanson says there are a variety of things that he’s listening for in a prospective broadcaster. “First and foremost an excitement in his voice that remains relatively constant throughout the game,” said Swanson. “If there is a dip in enthusiasm in a game, then how can I be convinced he can do it for 162 or more? Also, knowledge of the game and its lingo. Don’t go overboard with the cliches, try to have some originality and don’t impersonate other announcers, Lastly, let the game breathe a little. You’re not being paid by the word and you can allow the crowd or stadium ambient sound cover for some pauses in talking. Announcers that just go and go and go kind of wear me out.”
Mark Chernoff of WFAN in New York, who oversees the Yankees broadcasts on his own station and the Mets broadcast on sister station WCBS-AM has some specifics that he wants to hear too.
“Best to send an inning where something exciting happens but I also get to hear how the game is handled without exciting moments,” says Chernoff. “I’m also wanting to hear if the announcer has a sense of the field and situation (one out, two men on—first and third—score is tied, it’s the bottom of the fifth, etc.), Then want to hear if the announcer is able to follow the ball and what else is going on (ball rolls to the fence, one-man scores, one guy is on third, cut-off man throws to second, etc.). I will also look for some ‘banter’ either with the other announcer or how one handles things when solo.”
Makes sense doesn’t it?
The former Vice President for Communications with the Angels, Tim Mead, who now is the President of the Baseball Hall of Fame has heard countless tapes over the years.
“When I listen to the submissions, I think a good fan can, sans the radio or tv voice, call something exciting, and they may stumble a bit but you can get excited,” said Mead. “I wanted to listen to the 90 percent of the game where there wasn’t action. I didn’t just want to hear highlights, I wanted to hear an inning or two of that Tuesday night in the 3rd week in April, where it’s 10-0 and you just have to pull out your best stuff to entertain and get through the next seven innings because it’s 10-0 in the third. I really listen to that,”
He even told me, over the years, broadcasters have sent tapes with their team on the losing end to showcase what they can do in those situations.
So, the bottom line is this is a very subjective industry. Radio and TV in general are all about who is listening and what they might be listening for, right? How do you sift through it all? Chernoff has a bit of advice for you.
“When putting together a demo, always listen to it yourself and critique it. If you’re not happy with it, it’s doubtful who you’re sending it to will like it,” he said.
The other bit of advice is how the PD’s or broadcast directors want to receive your demo.
“In this world of links that’s how I prefer to receive the audio. Hell, I’ve got a computer that I’d have to get an adapter to use a CD or DVD,” Swanson told me. Chernoff agreed, “Send me a link that’s easy to receive so it doesn’t take up endless space on the computer.”
It’s a difficult task to produce your specific demo for your specific sport. That’s understood. Nobody said this was going to be easy. Mead says, it’s not easy for those listening either.
“What always popped out to me and I really believe this,” said Mead. “I don’t think anybody can anymore tell you why you didn’t get something as opposed to why you could or did. Especially when you listen to 130 (demos). When you make one decision over 130, I will tell you the baseball analytic guys will tell you that you missed a talented person in 129. You feel good about the hire, but there was somebody else out there.”
Hopefully armed with some new knowledge, you’ll head back to the drawing board and listen, really listen to what you’re putting out there. It could be the difference in getting that dream job or not.
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.
