"How to Become a Sports Broadcaster, Radio DJ, or Talk Radio Show Host"
Without a clear-cut strategy for breaking into broadcasting - you're just one of the crowd
Learning how to become a sports broadcaster, radio DJ, or talk radio show host at any level is not easily navigated on your own.
You’ll need much more than luck.
It takes hard work, dedication, determination – and access. Access to the principal decision makers. Access to influential broadcasters - producers and directors - and top executives - in order to maximize your chances for success.
Resumes and demo tapes ALONE don’t work anymore. Whether your goal is to become a local DJ, radio talk show host, or make it to the sidelines of the Super Bowl, courtside at the NBA Finals, or in the broadcast booths at ABC, ESPN, CBS, Fox, or NBC - you need an advantage – an insiders advantage...
"...Broadcast Mentoring Gives You the Insider Advantage Over Others"
You certainly can attempt to go it alone – a lot of people try, and meet with mixed results.
But you don’t have to go it alone anymore.
There’s a far more effective way available to maximize the radio broadcasting opportunities that surround you this very minute.
It is to your advantage to seek out those who have gone before you in broadcasting and take advantage of their knowledge, contacts, and experience to work on your behalf.
SMA has chosen the mentor-apprentice model to enable you to realize your dream of becoming a radio broadcaster for one simple reason – IT WORKS.
Mentoring provides you two critical advantages that traditional broadcasting schools and University communications programs typically fail to provide –
Your radio station apprenticeship allows you to access another broadcasters experience, knowledge, and contacts - then enables you to leverage these for your benefit.
In truth, traditional broadcasting schools or University programs don't intend to deny you access to real broadcasters and a real broadcasting environment.
They're just not structured to provide you with the insider access to the people, equipment, and environment that enables your success to happen faster and easier.
No Need to Relocate or Quit Your Job
Regardless of where you live, SMA has a broadcasting ‘school’ nearby. That’s because your ‘classroom’ is actually inside a nearby state-of-the-art radio station. Your ‘professor’ is a working sports broadcaster, DJ, talk show host, or play-by-play announcer - employed by the radio station or local team of your choosing.
No boring classroom lectures or training on outdated and useless equipment. No training in classrooms far removed from where real radio broadcasting is conducted.
Instead, you’re being trained by the best (they’re working broadcasters and sportscasters, after all) - around the same equipment you'll need to master - and in the same environment you'll soon be likely working.
A brief overview of your SMA broadcasting training;
- You choose the format, station and/or team to train with
- You determine your training days and times
- You decide whether to train to become a DJ, talk show host, or play-by-play announcer
Best of all, you’ll be in a class of one – just you – receiving a hands-on, one-on-one customized training from your broadcasting instructor.
How Your Broadcaster Training Works? It’s Easy as 1 – 2 – 3
The process involved in pursuing your broadcaster training through SMA is fairly straightforward. Your training is customized with a quality mentor - during times when you’re available - is what holds the secret to your success.
To get started, you'll want to:
1. Identify what your goals for broadcasting are. Do you want to become a sports broadcaster - DJ - Talk radio show host - or a play-by-play announcer? After all, if you don’t know what your eventual destination looks like, how will you know if you’ve ever arrived?
2. Closely examine the three primary training options below, and decide which is the best fit for your learning needs, schedule, and budget. A brief overview of your three training options are;
The "Ultra Insider" Training program is a customized six-month apprenticeship training program. Inexperienced broadcasters or sportscasters looking to gain an advantage from the very beginning typically become "Ultra Insiders". Depending upon your interests and goals, you’ll be paired with a working radio broadcaster for instruction through SMA’s “Ultra-Insider" Training Program
The “Supreme Insider” Training Program is a customized three-month apprenticeship training program in a local radio station of your choice - at nearly half the cost. Perfect for those who are looking to re-enter broadcasting or are on a limited budget, you’ll receive professional and personalized instruction from your mentor through SMA’s “Supreme Insider” Training Program
The "Mega Insider" Training Program is designed for those who are tired of waiting for someone else to give them a sportscasting job and real-life experience. You’ll be taught how to create your own sportscasting job today – and earn an income - by learning to secure available broadcasting rights that exist all around you - through SMA’s “Mega-Insider” Training Program
3. When you’ve decided which training program best meets your needs, you’ll contact SMA to set up your no obligation pre-screening interview, and to have any additional questions answered.
How SMA’s Unique Approach to Broadcast Training Gives You an Unfair Advantage
You've got your foot in the door and are making important contacts from the beginning. While traditional broadcasting school and college graduates are trying to figure out how they can become known to important decision makers on the inside of the business...you're already there, with an opportunity to make a favorable impression.
Your mentor makes the Final Decision on your acceptance for training. Your SMA training is not a ‘pay for play’ arrangement. Your mentor makes the final decision of your acceptance for training after your one-on-one interview. If a professional broadcaster agrees to train you - he believes you have what it takes to succeed.
You’ll host your own internet radio program from the very beginning.While other broadcasting school and college students are learning about how to become a broadcaster, you’re actually becoming a broadcaster, under the watchful eye and guidance of your mentor. Whenever on-air positions become available, your SMA training has prepared you to meet the demands of the job.
You have a distinct lifetime job placement advantage. Your mentor has access to influential decision makers - both inside his workplace - and throughout the industry. He or she also has their own network of contacts - who also have their own contacts - all working on your behalf for job placement assistance. Couple this with the two broadcasting job boards hosting your demo portfolio for employers to see, and your SMA advantage becomes clear-cut.
Your SMA broadcasting diploma has meaning to employers. Upon completion of your training, employers will know that you've been taught by the best...another broadcaster who currently earns a paycheck because of what they know. Since SMA is the only sports broadcasting centered training available, and one of the few DJ and talk show mentoring programs available, employers won’t doubt the quality of your training.
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People are often skeptical when it comes to finding things on the Internet. There seems to be a certain, "if it seems too good to be true, it probably is" mentality. That's what everyone around me was saying when I first brought up training with your company. Maybe I'm a little naive but it worked out in my favor this time.
What floored me right from the start is that I explained what I wanted and you basically handed it to me on a silver platter, down to the exact station and the exact show.
My experience has been amazing so far and I only expect for things to get better. The best thing about your program is the connections it makes possible within the industry. I have met so many people at the radio station and all of them are behind me. I'm on my way to getting a job at the station and the ever-important "foot in the door" and I'm not even to Segment 3 yet!
I love the real radio experience. I love hearing things on-air that I've worked on in production. I can't imagine being stuck in a classroom and not having an experience as amazing as the one I've had so far.
Sincerely,
Jessica Mueller
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“What is a Broadcasting Mentor?”
A mentor is a 'trusted guide - tutor - coach', while an apprentice is a "novice - one who is learning by practical experience under a skilled worker in a trade, art, or calling”.
SMA has simply taken an age-old concept of the mentor-apprentice model, and structured it to the radio broadcasting industry.
"How Broadcast Mentoring Provides You the Fast Track into Broadcasting"
Your broadcasting mentor is already in the business. Theyll teach you the exact skills required to be hired. They also have their own individual network of contacts, while each one of their contacts also has their own individual network of contacts.
It’s common sense that if a person is properly trained for any job - and has insider contacts within that field - stands a better chance of eventually being hired than someone who doesn't. This simple truth applies in all facets of broadcasting, as well.
SMA understands that our hands-on, one-on-one approach to learning is not for everyone, however. Some people prefer a classroom and lecture environment. If that describes you, you may want to look into a regular brick and mortar broadcasting school or college program within your community (if you’re near a large city).
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Did you know? Oprah Winfrey, Bob Costas, Vin Scully, Al Michaels and Warren Buffet have all said that their mentors have played a pivotal role in their success?
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You Decide What Your Training Schedule Will Be
Since your SMA broadcasting training makes you a class of one, you determine your training days and times, based upon your current schedule and availability. Need to train on weekends or evenings? No problem.
Even If you’re only available during early morning hours, you’ll be placed with a local sportscaster, DJ or talk host who is also available when you are for training. If you’re truly passionate about becoming a broadcaster, your schedule won’t prevent you from realizing your dream.
SMA Works for You, the Student
It’s important to note that SMA works for you, while your mentor works for SMA. You'll always have someone looking out for your best interests throughout your training and beyond. Many former students consider us a lifetime partner and valuable resource all throughout their broadcasting career.
No Such Thing as a ‘Dumb Question’
With all sincerity, your questions, comments, or even challenges to our claims are strongly encouraged. If you have doubts that gaining immediate access to insider contacts for one-on-one, on the job training is the fastest and most effective way to get your foot in the front door of the broadcasting industry, we welcome your comments and questions.
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