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Hi People!
Thought I would give this a whirl in here…
The track I was the commentator at in 2008 decided in December to advertise my position for the 2009 season and eventually tell me I could reapply. Its not easy as much of the role they now describe for the commentator are things I did using my own initiative last year! A few people have been kind enough to write to the track GM asking for me to be the commentator in 2009, but so far, nothing has been forthcoming from them.
Right now, I know there are two other tracks interested in my services for 2009. Both would be great places to work, one I have auditioned at before and am acquainted with the decision maker. The other responded to a letter I sent them and I am currently asking them for some kind of commitment pending approval of their racing dates for the year.
It is my hope by the end of January, I may know where I will be spending the summer months.
Any thoughts or comments are welcome, but my specific questions are as follows:
1. If you were employing a commentator, would you take into account you received letters from the public recommending a person – as is the case with the track where I spent 2008? Should I have people who are punters and "fans" for want of a better phrase, write to tracks I am interested in working at?
2. Would having a British commentator at any of the tracks covered at ATR appeal more to British racing fans?
3. My calls (and I hope, myself) have gained a good reputation among many established commentators in the USA – many of whom are glad to recommend me for bigger and better gigs than the one I may or may not have at the moment. I have used quotes from them about me in my marketing letters to tracks. Any thoughts on this as a strategy?
Cheers
Craig
1 Yes, I would take them into account
The letters are a good push but dont sign them Craig2. I believe so, but I personally favour a twang or dialect as long as it is clear
and not too heavy.3. Direct quotes as marketing might be seen as a bit self seeking.
Better to refer to them in your blurb and supply later on requestp.s. only too pleased to help out a fellow gentleman
1 Yes, I would take them into account
The letters are a good push but dont sign them Craig2. I believe so, but I personally favour a twang or dialect as long as it is clear
and not too heavy.3. Direct quotes as marketing might be seen as a bit self seeking.
Better to refer to them in your blurb and supply later on requestp.s. only too pleased to help out a fellow gentleman
Hi Gamble! (My fellow Gentleman, I will have to send you a piccie of me in my 3rd Doctor Who outfit for my display of fine Edwardian attire. I am telling you the Inverness Cape is coming back in!)
1. On my honor, I have never submitted such a letter written by my own hand.
2. I am extremely thankful I do not have the twang or dialect of many West Virginians many of whom seem to have been extras in Deliverance.
3. The quotes are only a sentence long and I don’t think they are really self-seeking. Americans have different attitudes towards such things than Brits.
Thanks,
Craig
I look forward to that Craig
Many summers ago the cliffs around Scarborough
were acquainted with my nodding deerstalker
and eccentricity is an english virtue you have
subtly acquired it seems not only via your cape.
Don’t take this too far a little dialect is ok
as long as it doesn’t turn into dalek.1. I believe you are honest Craig, but you need to develop the rogue
in you, and as most people are rogues, they will warm to you more2. I once impersonated a Hamish and put on a broad dutch type accent,
but like you I wouldn’t go as far as the braces.
Distinctive but not overbearing, your career path has a better trajectory.3. Americans like a hard hard sell – I know from experience.
Apologies fpr my misunderstanding, I thought you were seeking employment here in Blighty. If it is in America you can go for the throat but in so doing protect your own.As an aside, I suppose it doesn’t really matter what you look like, however a heavy paunch can roll the r’s a bit, develop a hollow sound, and create an unecessary mid-race gasp with kickback on speakers.
I would be careful with Option 1 Craig.
Certainly at the course where you called in 2008 it would be an excellent idea.
However if there are "unsolicited" letters on recommendation sent to the other tracks you are interested in it may look like a) you are behind the letters, albeit indirectly and b) you are desperate.
I suspect, in all honesty, ATR would not give a stuff who was doing the calling. No disrespect to you Craig, they take the feed as a package and they probably have no interest in who is doing the calling as long he is understandable. Now ATR viewers may prefer a UK voice, how much weight that would carry is, I suspect, minimal.
I would say option three is your best bet. Peer recommendation is by far the best way to get on. It is always a truism in life that it isn’t what you know but who you know.
Good luck in sorting something out in 2009, I’m sure you will keep us updated.
Sorry to disagree Pauloster: It’s not a case of what you know and who you know – it’s more like what you know ABOUT who you know.
If I was in Craig’s situation, I’d probably be inclined to put a few bills in a brown envelope. Nod nod, wink wink. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not suggesting that all Americans are open to bribery but if you like a bet then perhaps the odds are in your favour.
Sorry, I’m being silly and disrespectful. The only advice I can give is be honest but above all else, BE YOURSELF. If they don’t accept that then it’s their loss.http://www.paceadvantage.com/forum/show … ge=1&pp=15
will give some idea of what race fans like or do not.
Craig, they must know you by now so concentrate on preparing lucid thoughts on what you are going to do for them, not yourself, in the future.
Communications is two way and race calling is one way – who are you calling for and how does it help their enjoyment and enlightenment?1 Yes, I would take them into account
The letters are a good push but dont sign them Craig2. I believe so, but I personally favour a twang or dialect as long as it is clear
and not too heavy.3. Direct quotes as marketing might be seen as a bit self seeking.
Better to refer to them in your blurb and supply later on requestp.s. only too pleased to help out a fellow gentleman
Craig,
Being a fellow gentleman, my only advice would be to listen to Richard Hoiles commentating! he could capture an audience just describing 2 flys running up a wall! Why? his tone of voice bubbles with
enthusiasm like a Bollinger RD! although recently its as flat as a cheap cava ( bit of a cold). An English gentlemans voice would certainly please
us ATR viewers instead of hereing "1,25 and change" and "Stretch" i hate
those Americanisms! The Gigs probably already yours anyway, they are just going through the Equal opps scenarios that are enforced upon us nowadays! I hope "Gambles" not secretly after the job seeing how he is Masquerading as an English Gentleman! Good luck!77
very good avice from you, and others.
It is true I did the tramp a bit but that was my chrysalis stage,
and I flowered later on the pavement of Saville Row – not a butterfly
but a beast of a man with blood to beat a royalCraig, your communication from what I have read is excellent
and you seem to be on a constant learning curve.
I wish you all the best and am pretty damn sure
you have got what it takes. Belief and confidence are
your best assets.
I wouldn’t stand a ghost of a chance of taking your job
so that’s one less to worry about. I might get a job down
the 77 strip sorting out the roughies, or tasting wine for
a major house but I couldn’t call a race for the life of me.
Doctor Who is a remote possibilty but I would never venture
out of the tardis, fearful of old age.Get you fan club to write to you over a period of time thanking you for the hours of enjoyment you have given them etc….Yanks are nuts and do cazy things like that anyway. Throw the letters in a box and take them to an interview when you get one. Oh! and thrw in few bras an panties…….they may think you could be the next John McCririck who I heard has a massive collection of them
Craig,
Have a look at your job spec and maybe suggest ways that you can expand it within the organisation.
At tracks I work for, such as Arlington Park, the "commentator" has a much wider role than they would here. There John Dooley not only calls the races but hosts pre-racing tipping forums for the public and TV, is MC for press conferences and social functions etc. He is the "face" as well as "voice" of Arlington Park to most racegoers.
Anything where you can add value may be appreciated in your application.
77
very good avice from you, and others.
It is true I did the tramp a bit but that was my chrysalis stage,
and I flowered later on the pavement of Saville Row – not a butterfly
but a beast of a man with blood to beat a royalPOET LAUREATE O9 goes to "Gamble" already!
Craig,
Have a look at your job spec and maybe suggest ways that you can expand it within the organisation.
At tracks I work for, such as Arlington Park, the "commentator" has a much wider role than they would here. There John Dooley not only calls the races but hosts pre-racing tipping forums for the public and TV, is MC for press conferences and social functions etc. He is the "face" as well as "voice" of Arlington Park to most racegoers.
Anything where you can add value may be appreciated in your application.
Hi Adrian!
That is something I really try and emphasize in my applications. At my last track, I did the things you mention Dools does, went downstairs before racing to welcome people, went downstairs after racing to socialize, answer questions, etc.
Have offered to help write media guide, handicapping seminars, manage an interactive part of the website for them. I regularly do the TV and other voiceover work as well.
Craig
Dave C. from ATR informed me last night that Mark Johnson is going for a commentator’s job in the States. Is he likely to be competing with you, Craig?
Dave C. from ATR informed me last night that Mark Johnson is going for a commentator’s job in the States. Is he likely to be competing with you, Craig?
Mark Johnson went for the job at Churchill and was auditioned. They have yet to make an announcement. Although I was not auditioned as a contender for the job I went there and called for another project. Results of which are on my website.
I did hear a rumor he was also going for one more job, which I am going for, but it would involve a 5 month stay here from May-September and although I have not spoken to Mark about it, someone who does know him says it is highly unlikely he is going for that job.
If he is, good luck to him.
Craig
For what its worth I like the metronomic say what you see style of the American callers, and I can see from your style Craig you have adopted this.
I think a lot of our modern UK callers have become a little bit keen to get their personalities across adn inject humpur at times which I don’t like.
I like Aussie Jim as he is probably the nearest we have to the stateside callers now. I loved POS because he did what he was paid to do – commentate, something I think is sometimes overlooked in the UK.
I guess Dessie Scahill would also be more in the American style than modern UK.
Hi Firefox:
Some interesting comments, there. I know most of my American colleagues still think my delivery is very different from theirs and it is not soemthing I am overly keen to adopt but may be it is slipping in there with age.
What kind of accent do you think my voice has?
I am not sure Dessie Scahill’s style of calling would be a huge hit in the USA, mind you.
Craig
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