As announcers for a rodeo we are there to both inform, as well as entertain our audiences. To berate or belittle a bad ride, or timed event run does not inpsire an audience to enjoy the activity taking place. That does not mean we claim every ride, even if lost in 2 seconds is great; obviously it isn’t. But to suggest the cowboy who lost the ride is lacking talent or ability is insulting, in a manner of speaking to both the audience’s intelligence, AS WELL as an insult to the individual contestant.

To suggest however that “no matter of how good a rider may be, they do not always win, and in this case the horse has won the round; but the effort for the ride is certainl yworth your paying this guy off with your appreciation for that effort, isn’t folks”; or any variation on some such phrasing.

The intent of those of us behind the mike at a rodeo is to blend it all together for the audience, but also for the individual contestants, who, for the few moments each is up, they are, at that moment the star on stage. And beleive it or not, even though they may be very focused on what they are about to do, they do hear what the announcer has to say about them, in it can make a difference in their mental/emotional state of mind, and, and can aid in a win. It’s a ego boost to them because their is no one else, save but for the audience rooting for them.

Of all the sporting events in the country, I beleive those who announce rodeo have possibly one of the most diffuclt jobs, and we do 90% of it completely extepraneously. We have no other’s to fall back on; no statists to feed us information; no commercial breaks, just 2.5, or so, hours to be a sportscaster; statistical source; ego booster for contestants; a form of entertainer for an audience that is comprised of knowlegeable rodeo afficianados to complete novices, and straight-man for the rodeo barrel-man(rodeo clown.

I had no idea that freelancers could learn that much from rodeo announcers.

I guess the announcer you describe was a really good one.

I haven’t been to a rodeo but I think that the announcer there wouldn’t last very long if he was putting anybody down. His roll is to be uplifting and to create excitement and positive expectations.

He is constantly scrutinized by the performers and the audience.

That’s quite different from the freelancer who is more often than not out of the spotlight.

It’s therefore harder for a freelancer to stay focused on the positive at all times but the points you’ve made in your post make a complete sense.

For freelancers to be successful and to last it will really help them to view their roll as similar to that of announcers.

The people that work for them need to be cheered on in order to perform better and thus make the customers (the audience) enjoy the performance and come for more.

Vance
.-= Vance Sova´s last blog ..Alex Jeffreys Marketing With Alex Las Vegas Workshop 2010 =-.

One little pick!

Having done rodeo – I knew a hell of a lot of women who competed as well!

And I would add one more thing to your excellent list – you probably also noticed that the announcer never assumed.

Even as the events are just starting – he tells everyone what the goal is, what will have to happen to reach that goal, and what the outcome will be if parts are missed on the way.

So everybody is truly on the same page with what they are going to see!

Regards!
.-= Elliot Ross´s last blog ..Do You Stick Around? =-.