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17 Jun 2013, 23:46 (Ref:3264063) | #1 | |
Rookie
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 1
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How to become a Motorsport Commentator?
Hi
Well I'm 16 and have just finished my exams. I don't know why, but I've always loved the idea of being a commentator; I've always thought it would be something I'd be good at and something that I'd deeply enjoy. For example I always seem to end up shouting at the TV telling Ben Edwards or Tim Harvey that they've told their audience the wrong car's crashed when it was his team-mate! I have a huge passion for motorsport, inparticular Sportscars and Touring Cars. I attend as many events as I can, including the British GT, BTCC and I've been to what is now the FIA GT series as well. I have a very good knowladge, (well at least I think I do ) about motorsport, including Formula 1. I could tell you any British GT driver, team track and car! I've loved motorsport since I was little, and the fact that I could show my passion doing commentry would be brilliant for me. I know that I'm not going to be the next F1 commentator for the BBC, but does anyone know how I'd go about starting at the botttom of the commentry ladder and working my way up? Who should I ask? Where should I ask? What should I be aiming for? Thanks! |
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18 Jun 2013, 00:16 (Ref:3264079) | #2 | ||
Veteran
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 1,030
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You're probably better off getting into contact with circuit commentators at local/amateur meetings, wherever is your closest track. I suspect if you annoy them enough and they know you're genuine, they'd help you out.
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18 Jun 2013, 02:01 (Ref:3264111) | #3 | ||
Racer
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 196
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I would expect that an education in broadcasting or possibly broadcast journalism would be helpful.
Start now practicing calling races and recording yourself. Create a portfolio. Get involved wit a local club or circuit and see about getting involved at that level to start. Lastly, learn about what you're commentating. There's nothing more appalling than a commentator that doesn't know his arse from a hole in the ground. |
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18 Jun 2013, 16:19 (Ref:3264407) | #4 | |
Race Official
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Posts: 9,117
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If you do it, don't read the comments on your commentary here unless you have a thick skin.
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18 Jun 2013, 16:31 (Ref:3264411) | #5 | |
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Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 5,274
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Contact some of the clubs - 750MC as one example. See if they'll let you sit with the existing commentators for a day to see how they work and get a feel for it.
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18 Jun 2013, 17:28 (Ref:3264429) | #6 | |||||
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Posts: 10,673
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I also don't recommend you to focus in this or that category. Decent journalists can switch easily ever few years. About studying, do journalism, of course. But don't just take classes. As others have said, learn about motorsports. From the drivers and teams, to the different disciplines around the world. All the technical stuff you learn will also help: mechanics, physics, strategy, psychology. Then, practise. Do news articles, analysis and opinion pieces - on both text, audio and video. And learn from the best of the best: read, hear and watch the best journalists of the world - not just motorsport guys, not just sports journalists. Be professional: work hard, be honest, be respectful. And enjoy life! |
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18 Jun 2013, 19:42 (Ref:3264502) | #7 | ||
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Contact your local BBC Radio Station, and enquire about their recruitment process, and try and speak to the sports editor as well. Many stations use freelance staff for things like motor sport.
Contact your local paper's Sports Editor and offer to write stuff on local drivers/teams, if you can get bits published it gives you credibility when going forward in your career. Don't ask for payment from either source, it would probably put them of. Silverstone has a motor sport college I believe, as does Cranfield, worth asking there, and I would also recommend contacting the MSA direct. Best of luck. Bob. |
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18 Jun 2013, 20:36 (Ref:3264542) | #8 | ||
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Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 4,320
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With some of the events that do an online stream, that have a pdf of entries and live timing, you could do your own stream, stream it on justin.tv except you provide informed commentary yourself.
Record that and develop a portfolio of work? Networking and meeting and greeting with experienced commentators and decision-makers should be your top priority though complemented by a course in journalism, media..etc. Prepare for a long slog going unpaid when you do get your foot in. Good luck. |
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18 Jun 2013, 21:31 (Ref:3264575) | #9 | ||
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Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 552
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A couple of years ago there was a similar 16 year old who was given an opportunity alongside the regular commentator at Brands.
He was excellent, he commentated on a couple of races at a high profile meeting. Apart from being fluent, he had done his research and knew about all the teams. Moreover he understood race strategy and was knowledgeable about the drivers history. There was comments here on 1010ths, maybe a search could help. He made some of the old timers look vulnerable but sadly I have not heard of him since. |
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20 Jun 2013, 07:52 (Ref:3265323) | #10 | ||
Pie On 'ere
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Join Date: Mar 2005
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You will need 100% single-minded determination. That's all. The rest are just skills and all skills are learnable. Learn the skills.
You will screw up, you will be criticised, you will be made to look like a fool. But all of these are part of the learning process. Each 'failure' is a stepping stone. The only real failure is when you give up. The only person who can make you fail is you. Surround yourself with positive people and ignore the nay sayers. Before you take advice from someone, look at what they've achieved with their own lives. That will tell you how much weight to give the advice. Listen to winners - they will invariably want you to win. Get onto YouTube and watch all you can by Brian Tracy or the late Jim Rohn. These guys will give you the confidence to go on when all the wing-clippers try to stop you. "Let this be the mark of true genius. That all the dolts are united against you." Oscar Wilde. Good luck - although you tend to make your own luck. |
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20 Jun 2013, 08:05 (Ref:3265327) | #11 | ||
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Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,589
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First off, for most of the people you hear commentating on most televised sports, that is not their sole occupation.
Journalism seems to be the de facto route (Allen, Buxton etc) Ben Edwards was a mechanic/part time racer. I don't know how he got his start in broadcasting but he also has his own business: http://www.entreprix.co.uk/ Good luck. I have tried commentating on races (in private) and i run out of things to say pretty quickly. |
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20 Jun 2013, 13:45 (Ref:3265464) | #12 | ||
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Join Date: Jul 2009
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I'd suggest you also spend some time listening to commentators on other sports. Cricket may not be the preferred cup of tea for some motorsport fans, but spend a couple of days in the company of the Test Match Special team and you'll get a lot out of it. They know what to talk about when, how to fill in the gaps when nothing particular is happening and (perhaps most important) how to make space for each other on air.
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Paul Norris |
22 Jun 2013, 23:10 (Ref:3267550) | #13 | ||
Racer
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 131
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Then as others above have said. I would look to contact a local circuit and maybe begin working and researching local club meetings. I assume if you did well you would gradually progress up the list of higher profile events. Good Luck |
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23 Jun 2013, 17:18 (Ref:3268441) | #14 | ||
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Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 4,067
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I've tried and unfortunately, unless you have a piece of paper to wave about in front of their faces, you're only looking at commentating on virtual racing, which is more and less unpaid.
Selby |
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Run-offs, chicanes, hairpins... Think you can do better? Let's see it! Check out the "My Tracks" forum here on Ten-Tenths. |
23 Jun 2013, 17:46 (Ref:3268459) | #15 | |
Veteran
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 1,500
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I have no journalism experience , but as a fan here are my ideas:
1: What ever event your are commentating, know the stats and history backwards and forwards. 2: Never use the worn out cliche"what does this mean to you" when interviewing. 3: Go spend time in the paddocks talking with teams about about their operations. 4: Write down and memorize 25 questions 10 words or less to ask as needed. 5: What ever you see S. Pruett do in the booth, do the opposite. |
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CanAmMan |
23 Jun 2013, 22:20 (Ref:3268636) | #16 | |
Racer
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 131
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Murray Walker started on hill climbing I remember hearing.
Local hill climbs. He used to go through the runners names and numbers etc. Then moved on to bigger events as time passed. Probably not that easy these days. |
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24 Jun 2013, 20:00 (Ref:3269117) | #17 | ||
Rookie
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 1
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Commentary
Quote:
Regarding getting into commentary I would recommend sim racing for experience. Contact some leagues that conduct live streams who may well need a reserve commentator and push up from there. I started out there in 2011 and had the chance to interview Anthony Davidson at the WEC at Silverstone! The one tip I would give above all is to not give up, it's a tough world and you may very well get rejected or put down but use it as motivation to turn their heads and make them go "wow this guy has some talent". If you don't give up, you'll never lose! Anything else I can help with please let me know Liam |
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25 Jun 2013, 17:30 (Ref:3269645) | #18 | ||
Racer
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 260
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Yeah, pretty much what Liam said.
SimRacing is a great way to practice, plus you then have something to watch and improve from, as well as something to show your ability. Four years ago I made this post: http://tentenths.com/forum/showthread.php?t=116966 And now I'm commentating on FIA GT and stuff, so it can be done! |
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25 Jun 2013, 21:48 (Ref:3269747) | #19 | |
Veteran
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 692
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As people have already mentioned virtual racing would be a nice avenue to explore. More and more online racing leagues involving sims like rFactor have started broadcasting their races online, especially now that certain mods make it possible to display live timing and TV style graphics from those races on-screen. I have tried doing it a bit myself and wasn't very good, but some of the others in my racing league really sounded professional and were able to keep on talking.
There are a couple of websites around which racing leagues go to and ask if they can commentate on their races, so see if you can get in contact with them E.g. RLM TV Quite a big one is PSR TV If you start there then (as others have said) you can start building a portfolio which will help when you start commentating on real events. Good luck, hard work is what you will need more than anything. EDIT: Oh wow I didn't realise that John Hindhaugh had started doing sim commentating, that's incredible that you got the chance to commentate alongside him Liam! Really good commentary! |
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10 Nov 2013, 19:52 (Ref:3329713) | #20 | |
Rookie
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 3
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Hi mate!
I too am a aspiring motorsport commentator, and I have been broadcasting online for about a year and a bit now. It is a lot more difficult commentating than many people understand, but luckily I can keep talking for hours on end on my own |
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