ZaraStudio is my favourite, number one, most loved, bestest program on my computer for sportscasting. When I first started out broadcasting, I used either iTunes or Windows Media Player to cue up my elements. It worked fine for playing one at a time, or maybe a few back to back. However what I didn’t like…
Not long ago, I got an email from a colleague in the BCHL asking about my goal calls. He was looking for ways to change up his goal call, feeling that it was too repetitive particularly when put into a highlight pack. So I thought it might make for an interesting post if I broke…
Note: I’ve never hired anyone or been in a position to influence hiring for an on-air broadcast position. The following post is based on feedback I’ve received when applying for jobs, and also on advice I’ve received during my career. The days of a tape or CD demo reel are long gone, now it’s an…
The more years I’ve called games, the more I’ve come to believe that play-by-play broadcasting is like riding a bike. Once you learn it, get good enough to do it yourself, you never really forget it. Sure if a while goes by between games (ie: an off season), then it might take you a few…
My background in this industry, the on-camera side of things at least, is all from the school of life and practical experience. I never majored in journalism at University, and outside of a part-time sports broadcasting course taught by two local TV anchors in Vancouver, I’ve never been to school for the journalism and on…
Purchasing your own equipment is a big investment. In this industry, money is usually at a premium, especially starting out, and it can be a big task to set aside $500+ on your own set of gear. It’s an investment that can be a big benefit, or a waste of money. Purchasing your own gear…
Before I start this article, I should clarify something. I’ve never hired anyone, and thankfully never fired anyone, so this article is purely based on my experiences, and the feedback I have received when asking this question: What do I put on my demo-reel to send prospective employers? The one simple lesson I’ve always been…
It’s happened to all of us. You’re calling a game, everything is going well, and then the referee/umpire becomes memorable for all the wrong reasons. He or she “blows” a call, which has a direct result on the game. Maybe it’s multiple bad calls, which turn momentum. As both a referee and a broadcaster, I’ve…
Do you spend hours collecting and transcribing information from team and league websites, into a format that’s easily accessible when you’re on air? Did you know that Excel can automatically pull this information from the internet and have it available to you in a way that is easy to work with? You can also set…
Excel can be a powerful tool to help collect and organize information for your broadcasts. The follow video is a step by step tutorial on how to use functions in Excel to pull individual statistics for easy formatting on your spotting charts.