There is a common demo reel mistake that can kill your big break when it finally comes your way.
An STAA member granted permission to share this story with you about the price he paid for not keeping his reel updated.
Here it is in his words . . .
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An STAA follower is a rugby, cricket and soccer broadcaster in Sydney, Australia.
He’s worked hard to get his name out in the industry but wonders: what else he can do to create his big break?
In 1997 I was the play-by-play voice for the Arena Football League’s Anaheim Piranhas. It was that summer in Des Moines, IA when I enjoyed the most legendary pregame meal of my career. The team and I were served an entrée of spaghetti and meat sauce. After 45 minutes all the players and all but one coach had finished and left the banquet room.
I was still eating. The remaining coach looked at my skinny frame and said with wonder, “You eat more than the players.”
Did you know that eating certain foods before going on the air can help or hurt your broadcast?
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Years ago, I broadcast a high school football game in the worst conditions imaginable for a broadcaster.
Dense, impossible to see through fog.
At kickoff, the fog was hanging threateningly low over the field. By the second half, I couldn’t see fans sitting five rows in front of the press box, much less the field or even the sidelines.
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When the Washington State University baseball team traveled to San Diego years ago, a family obligation prevented their broadcaster from making the trip. Two days before the series opener, I was asked to fill-in.
I was torn. A chance to do DI baseball was exhilarating. On the flip side, I worried about my ability to do my best with so little time to prepare.
Here are three tips for preparing for a play-by-play broadcast on short notice.
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Have you ever lost your car keys? You know they are somewhere in the house, yet you can’t find them.
Finding NCAA Division II play-by-play jobs can be similarly frustrating.
Aspiring NFL and major college play-by-play broadcasters often see DII as a step towards their goal. Finding those jobs, though, is hard.
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Time is one of the most important investments you can make in your life as a sport broadcaster. Dedicating time to developing your on air abilities, maximizing job market strategy, and expanding your non broadcasting skills pays off. It keeps you moving forward.
Are you investing time in your career? The following email is one of my favorites I have received from a sportscaster on this topic:
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A sportscaster emailed me to explain he was getting out of the industry.
“I’m only 30 but I feel 50,” he wrote. “It was fun to dream but sometimes you have to wake up and do something you might not like to stay relevant in the world.”
I reviewed this guy’s work history, his efforts in the job market, and the way he was presenting himself to employers. After, I came to a poignant conclusion:
He gave up before he sincerely tried.
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A TV sports anchor was negotiating a new contract. He wondered if negotiating via email, phone or in person was best.
The sports director at a radio station that covered one of the premier college football programs in the country was torn. He loved the people he worked with and covering the team. The tradeoff was the job didn’t give him as many play-by-play opportunities as he wanted.
He wondered if it was justifiable to move down in market size.
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