Getting involved in regionals

[Billfred]

Originally Posted by C.Lesco

So basically after 2 years I'm an alum now although i really want to get involved in the events as an official, especially as an announcer. Is this possible and if so how should i go about doing this?

I've been down the path to game announcer. Some tips:

1) Pay dues. It's highly unlikely you'll get the job right out of the gate--there will be a lot of queueing, field reset, flag attendant, robot inspector, and so on between now and then. And that's okay--do those jobs well. Volunteer coordinators can leave notes for other VCs, you want good ones (or at least not bad ones).

2) The secret to getting good at announcing* is taking reps. Work off-season events, work FLL or FTC events, work demos.

3) Communicate with your local people. Make sure they know you are interested in the position; if you don't ask, you won't get.

4) Accept that sometimes, the only way you'll get the position at an event is because the guy doing it now gives it up (or, rarely, gets fired). Palmetto had the same game announcer for about a decade before he decided to hang it up. Until then, see step 1. Fortunately, you're in an area going to district events so you'll see more opportunities than an area that only has one regional.

*There are some people that just don't have "it", and no number of reps is going to help them. This group tends to be recruited by an event due to some related thing they do that's kind of like game announcing, and it's unfortunate when that happens. I'm assuming that you have the basic "it", which you'll probably realize the first or second time out.

[DCA Fan]

Originally Posted by Billfred

I've been down the path to game announcer. Some tips:

1) Pay dues. It's highly unlikely you'll get the job right out of the gate--there will be a lot of queueing, field reset, flag attendant, robot inspector, and so on between now and then. And that's okay--do those jobs well. Volunteer coordinators can leave notes for other VCs, you want good ones (or at least not bad ones).

2) The secret to getting good at announcing* is taking reps. Work off-season events, work FLL or FTC events, work demos.

3) Communicate with your local people. Make sure they know you are interested in the position; if you don't ask, you won't get.

4) Accept that sometimes, the only way you'll get the position at an event is because the guy doing it now gives it up (or, rarely, gets fired). Palmetto had the same game announcer for about a decade before he decided to hang it up. Until then, see step 1. Fortunately, you're in an area going to district events so you'll see more opportunities than an area that only has one regional.

*There are some people that just don't have "it", and no number of reps is going to help them. This group tends to be recruited by an event due to some related thing they do that's kind of like game announcing, and it's unfortunate when that happens. I'm assuming that you have the basic "it", which you'll probably realize the first or second time out.

Pretty much the same advice as Billfred. Starting out, I spent years at official events as field reset, spare parts, real time scorer, whatever was needed. At offseasons and FLL/FTC, I juggled emceeing and announcing, eventually getting asked to announce at official events. It helps to get to know the local MCs and GAs as well - if they are invited to an event they can't make, maybe you can be a reference for them. Or sometimes they like to have a backup/trainee. Especially since your area is going district, there will need to be a lot of people shadowing key positions, I imagine it wouldn't be that hard to get your foot in the door.

[DonRotolo]

What they ^^ said.

I started as robot inspector, after a few years was asked to be LRI, and did. In-between was a lot of volunteering for whatever, getting to know the volunteer coordinators and event planners. They saw I wasn't an idiot* and I got the job.

*Or perhaps the least idiot compared to the others?

[GaryVoshol]

Originally Posted by DonRotolo

They saw I wasn't an idiot* and I got the job.

*Or perhaps the least idiot compared to the others?

Or was idiotic enough to take the job?

[Whatever]

Originally Posted by DonRotolo

In-between was a lot of volunteering for whatever.

I highly encourage this. BTW - my car needs washing.