Style & Technique

You will have developed your own style by now and most of what you do will still apply, but there will be a few things that you may not have been aware of up to this point that suddenly become very important during your commentary, so lets take a look at a few of those now. There is no hard and fast rule about when you learn these and they are equally useful to apply on Radio Commentary too, but they really are very important when you do live video casting from a tournament.

Pacing and Volume

The first of these is something called pacing, which again may seem obvious but rarely do gaming casters use it properly. There are times in the game that require genuine and raw enthusiasm. The trouble is, if you start off too excited, those exciting parts won’t seem all that exciting and often people will accuse you of having false excitement or enthusiasm. So the pacing is very critical as to how others listen to you and watch the match. This is true of video and audio casts alike. Try and get a clear and precise level volume voice for the introduction, with enthusiasm, but not speaking quickly. Build the excitement in your voice with the play, although in some games this is harder than others, but for example in Counter Strike, there are many parts of the round that the players are creeping around trying not to be heard.

I developed a technique where by I would almost be whispering when this happened and leaving gaps of dead air and then only commentating louder and faster as the rush to a bomb site occurred or the guns started blazing. Again, there is no rule that says you have to do it this way and you will, over time, find your own unique way of doing it.
Although you will want to increase your vocal level at some points, it’s also important to ensure you don’t go off the scale or drop down too low. Both are as bad as each other and drive sound technicians mad when you do TV.

Dead Air

Dead air is also very important and I have lost count of how many times I have heard even experienced casters either leave it way too long to speak or, potentially worse, never have a gap in what they say and allow the game to come through itself. Unless you are commentating on a PC conversion of horse racing manager, you will need to understand what dead air is and how to use it. Unfortunately its difficult to give precise information to you about what is a perfect length and what isn’t, however as a general rule of thumb, take pauses during commentary if things aren’t all that interesting. Don’t leave it too long, perhaps just a few seconds each time and don’t do it too often. One of the best pieces of advice I had for TV was from legendary sports producer Mike Burks (11 time Emmy award winner for sports production) who told me “A great commentator knows when to shut up and say nothing”.
If you get something on screen which is obvious, particularly an emotion showing through from a player or team, let it play out and resist the urge to talk over it. Often capturing the most emotional part of the game requires no words to be said, particularly if the player is on screen and is crying/rejoicing over victory/defeat. Pictures say a thousand words is the obvious phrase that springs to mind. When you have left it to play out, be prepared to come back in with plenty of volume and enthusiasm to keep the thrill of the moment alive for as long as possible for the viewer.

Cameras

Having moved from video casting at home to doing the same thing at a LAN tournament, it’s a perfect chance to talk about cameras. At home, its unlikely you will have had a camera on you, just in game ones that you control. When you attend a LAN tournament, the camera will not only be in game and on the players and teams, but more than likely, also on you.
I wont kid you, its an unnerving experience the first time round, but it gets easier and you can even come to enjoy it with practice and more time in front of them. At first, I had no idea where to look for example and whilst many people will tell you to simply stare down the barrel; I prefer to look just beyond the top of the camera. I usually try and find something to fix my eye line with that’s not too high above the camera, but never the less not directly down its throat. This way, my eyes, which naturally look half open (and therefore make me look sleepy), are slightly wider to the viewer. It also makes you look more alert and more comfortable (especially if you are feeling nervous). Don’t forget to smile either, you are supposed to be enjoying this!

Nerves

Whilst on the subject of nerves, its important to have them, don’t be fooled by anyone who says “I don’t really get nervous”, they more than likely do. I’ve always felt that the day I stop having the butterflies in my stomach before going on camera, particularly for live broadcasts, that’s the day I know I have had enough of the job. The butterflies and therefore the adrenaline help make it more real and exciting and should, if used properly, help you deliver a far better experience to the viewer.

If you are overly nervous there are a few things you can do to help yourself as being too nervous will of course make the presentation or commentary sound like you aren’t in control. Remember the viewer is looking at you as the expert and if you stumble over words or sound like you are standing in a fridge, you wont be winning anyone over.

There are several breathing exercises you can use and some relaxation tools too. For example, close your eyes before you go on air, think about the top of your head and feeling floaty, relax the muscles around your head and neck, working slowly down to your shoulders, rotating them and down past your arms, shaking your hands out and slowly thinking about your entire body right down to your toes. Then open your eyes. I found this helps me relax my muscles and makes me feel less nervous. The breathing technique is simple but effective. You simply draw a deep breath and hold it for 5 seconds releasing it slowly. Do this a few times until you can feel your heart rate dropping down and as a result you will feel calmer.

If these examples don’t help you, I apologise, I am no expert on this side of things, but you can do what I did and pop down to the local library and ask for a book on relaxation techniques, there is bound to be a few things that will suit you.