Commentaters

[Guest JumpinJackFlash]

Does anyone know? I'm interested. Is it just luck?

[Guest j.o.b. squad]

What advice would you give to any aspiring commentators looking to

get into the business?

Eric: Take whatever bookings you can get at first. Don't even ask for pay, because

you likely won't get any. Drive 10 or 1000 miles if you have to in order to get a start.

There are opportunities out there, you just have to find them. I was very lucky in that

CZW found me, but that is very rare. Contact promoters either by email or by phone

and just ask them if they need an announcer. Most promotions film their shows with

no commentary. That means there are a ton of spots open, but you have to go out there

and find them. Once you start announcing, find an announcer that inspires you.

Wrestling or non-wrestling and study him or her. Practice, practice, practice.

My favorite place was and still is the car for practicing. Picture a match in your

head and call it. I don't know if this is the winning formula, but it is the best advice

I could think of to give you. Also, learn locker room and wrestling etiquette from a

wrestler or promoter you admire. You do not want to get an opportunity and blow

it immediately because of a silly etiquette mistake. Respect the business, learn the

business, and never take your position for granted. Try to remain as loyal as you can

to the guys that helped you out on the way up. A lot of my bookings over the years

have come from connections or a reference from a friend within the industry.

from an eric gargulo interview

[Guest JumpinJackFlash]

Wow! Thanks

[Tawren]

[JR mode]

Make sure to say "bah gawd" a lot.

[/JR mode]

[The Kid]

I'm in the process of working on getting there now. I'm also going the wrestling school route, alot of promoters would be interested in getting a fill-in too. If you want to make it big though you're going to have to go to college and get journalism and broadcasting degrees. I have my foot in the door of Stampede Wrestling and other promotions as well, it takes a hell of a lot of work. I'm 16 and I'm already working towards it, so start early, make contacts and get your education.

[Jingus]

As an indy TV commentator, let me say that Eric's completely right on pretty much everything he said, and he even gave me an idea with the practicing in the car thing. (I already do that with promos, but hadn't thought to do it with announcing.) Follow his advice.

[Guest Basswitch]

I wanna do that route.

 

But i also wanna go to college (either for Computer Programing or TV and Radio Production) and get a degree, just in case i get injured or something that f**cks up my chances for wrestling.

 

I donno how I'll do it, But i will.

[Jingus]

A side note, the WWE generally doesn't hire production people or commentators unless they have college degrees in broadcasting, so stay in school, kiddies.

[Just John]

I don't know if this would help, but you could try calling matches in No Mercy or any other wrestling game (although, I'd recommend NM because the computer tends to incorporate more psychology).