Building a Strong Demo Tape
Putting together a solid demo tape for a play-by-play job is an important first step in securing the gig.
play-by-play
How to Learn The Game
One of the most important aspects of broadcasting baseball at any level is to learn the game thoroughly. You build your credibility with the audience by demonstrating your understanding of the nuances of the game.
Best Big League Booths
Any booth in the big leagues is a good booth. Yet, after spending quite a bit of time traversing the land broadcasting in the major leagues, some booths stand out more than others.
Slumps Don’t Last Forever
Sooner or later, all announcers will cover a player that is battling a prolonged slump. It’s the nature of sports. All athletes go through it at some point in their careers. An 0-4 tuns into a 1-32 before you know it in baseball. I found in my career that a slump can find its way into the booth as well.
Do You Need a Home Run Call?
Not all home runs are the same. Some are majestic moon shots, some are line drives and some are wall-scrapers that barely get out. Trying to fit every home run into a single mold didn’t make sense to me. Not every announcer needs a home run call.
Three Simple Steps to Becoming a Better Broadcaster
It’s no secrete that finding longevity in broadcasting takes work and perseverance. Yet, there are steps you can take to make sure that you continually improve as your career progresses. In my view, there are three steps to improving your broadcasting game, whether your are brand new to the business or finding some footing in your career.
When a Promotion is Not a Promotion
The general attitude is sports broadcasting is that a job in television should be the ultimate goal of all announcers. While a TV job does provide much more exposure than most radio jobs, ultimately a job on television shouldn’t be viewed as a promotion if you won’t enjoy the assignment.
Major League Mindset
In December of 2021, I published my second book, Major League Mindset: Elevate Your Baseball Play-by-Play. The book is designed for young baseball announcers looking to improve their play-by-play skills. This concepts in this guide were gleaned from thirty-three years in baseball broadcasting, twenty-five years at the major league level.
