"Sports Broadcasting Schools in Local Radio Stations?”

“SMA’s mentoring program is the most effective way to break into sportscasting. Not only do they provide one-on-one instruction with professional sportscasters, but they do it inside actual radio stations or with real teams, instead of in a classroom. Getting in the door is half the battle for a rookie sportscaster in the job market. SMA does that for you.”
Jon Chelesnik, ESPN and Sporting News Network host – current CEO of “The Sportscasters Talent Agency of America”

“Ultra-Insider” sports broadcasting training

Contrary to popular myth, knowing everything about your favorite teams inside and out, while possibly being able to recite player stats by memory, will not likely be enough to land you your first sportscasting job...even if you have a great speaking voice.

The biggest challenges you’ll face when starting your career in sports broadcasting are developing solid sports broadcasting announcing skills, and then getting your ‘foot in the door’. Having just broadcasting skills with no insider contacts, or insider contacts with few broadcasting skills, will do you little good. You need both in order to stand a fighting chance of ever realizing your dream of becoming a successful sports broadcaster.

It should be obvious why acquiring announcing skills are a must. You’re in the communications business, and proper communication skills are a large part of the job requirements. Not so obvious to some, however, is the importance of establishing influential insider contacts as soon as possible.

The reason is simple. Sports’ broadcasting is a competitive business. After all, what sports enthusiast WOULDN’T want to get paid to talk sports or announce professional games for a living?

Some sportscasting jobs may literally have hundreds of applicants vying for one prized position. Many other sportscasting jobs never open up because they were filled from within...which is exactly where you will be as an SMA “Ultra-Insider” – already within the radio station, or training with a team’s play-by-play announcer.

Think about it. One positive recommendation to management about your broadcasting skills - from a trusted employee who is personally training you – is an advantage that few other candidates will enjoy when any sportscasting job becomes available.

Can you now see why having insider contacts is every bit as important as having solid broadcasting skills?

How to Develop Broadcasting Skills AND Insider Contacts?

The question you need to first answer becomes “Where can I develop my sports broadcasting announcing skills AND make insider contacts at the same time?”

If your answer is ‘college broadcasting’...think again. You’ll make contacts in college radio or TV, but few - or none - in the real world of sports broadcasting. The same holds true for traditional broadcasting schools. The leap from the broadcasting school classroom to the broadcasting booth is one that you’ll have to navigate on your own, since they operate in two different worlds.

This is exactly why you need an advantage - an “Insider” advantage - which puts you on the fast track to sports broadcasting success.

Introducing ... The “Ultra-Insider” Sportscaster Training program - which gives you that insider advantage.

SMA’s “Ultra Insider” training program is unique from other sports broadcasting schools simply because of the hands-on, real life on-the-job learning and insider access you gain from the very beginning.

It begins by serving a 6 month apprenticeship under the watchful eye of a sportscasting professional in either a local radio station, or with a play-by-play sportscaster from a nearby team of your choosing.  And with the SMA program, you’re able to get exactly the training situation you’re looking for.

• YOU choose the radio station or team to train with, from over 312 markets throughout the U.S. and Canada.
• YOU choose your training days and times, from many available.
• YOU choose the format – show hosting, play-by-play, anchoring or audio production – based on your goals and interests. And …
• YOU don’t need to relocate

What makes SMA different?

Other sports broadcasting schools teach you about sportscasting. At SMA, you’ll actually be sportscasting your own internet sports radio show from day one to go along with your structured learning. And instead of meeting with instructors to just grade boring workbook assignments, your SMA mentor-instructor will improve your actual broadcasting skills… the very skills you need to be hired.

Real life in-station or team training: “It’s not WHAT you know, but WHO you know!”

Lot’s of people know they need to develop insider contacts when looking to become a sports broadcaster. Few, however, know how to make those all-important insider contacts. Make no mistake about it, getting your foot in the sports broadcasting door requires a well laid out plan and a sound strategy.

The “Ultra-Insider” Sportscaster Training program is your sound strategy for developing a solid broadcasting foundation, and for making those valuable insider contacts. That’s because it provides you personal access to influential sportscasters and principal decision makers even while you’re training.

Best of all, SMA does all the initial matchmaking for you through our vast network of sportscasting insiders. All you’ll need to do is be punctual and professional, show enthusiasm and a willingness to learn, and take instruction throughout your training.

Here’s how your “Ultra Insider” training works.

YOU Choose Your Station or Team Preferences
As an “Ultra Insider” student, you’ll be asked to submit 4 - 6 radio station or team training preferences. Many students reference the Radio-Locator website for a comprehensive list of nearby radio stations found at Radio-Locator.com

Once you have submitted your available training times and station preferences, SMA will access our database of nearby available mentors and immediately work on setting up your initial interview. Your interview will generally be set well within two weeks of enrolling.

 You’ll be paired with the most highly qualified sportscasting mentor whose skills best complement your sportscasting goals. The primary purpose of this initial interview is for the two of you to become familiar with each other and to better determine whether your placement is a good fit. Upon completion of your radio station interview, your mentor and you will make a mutual decision whether to or not to work with each other.

Upon placement with your mentor for training, you’re ready to begin. Once your curriculum and other training materials arrive, you’ll meet with your mentor on a regular basis. Most students start out by meeting once or twice weekly at the radio station or team facilities, schedule permitting.

At your mentors workplace is where you’ll become familiar with how real sports broadcasting operates. Once you become comfortable in these mostly state of the art, multi million dollar broadcasting facilities, your mentor is then able to delegate various assignments to you.

Your mentor will also spend a portion of your time together critiquing your assignments and show performance, and offer suggestions for improvement to be implemented before your next session.

Think of your “Ultra Insider” training much like a college course. You’ll meet with your ‘professor’ once or twice weekly, and in between meetings, you’ll be working on improving individual areas in need of attention discovered during your in-person sessions.

Immediate benefits you’ll receive by becoming an “Ultra-Insider”

• SMA’s instructors are actual insiders who are working sports broadcasters
• Through instructors, you gain access to influential decision makers
• You receive personal, one-on-one guidance – at your pace
• You receive hands-on, structured learning in a real radio station or with a professional team
• You’re taught with the most contemporary sports broadcasting course curriculum available

Other advantages to being an “Ultra Insider” include:

• Instruction on securing sports broadcasting rights
• Personal assistance in creating your demo portfolio
• Partner Program available (bring your own, or we’ll search for you)
• Cutting edge continuing education opportunities for 12 months
• Available in over 312 markets throughout the U.S and Canada.
• Online seminars taught by ESPN & Sporting News Network hosts and management
• 12 full months of teleconference classes with actual sports broadcasting mentors!
• One full year of Group Mastermind Conference Calls for networking
• Portfolio assessment & consultation with CEO of Sportscasters Talent Agency of America, Jon Chelesnik
• Lifetime Job Placement assistance
• FREE bonus seminars from upper level ESPN and Sports Byline management on Talk Show Hosting, Play-by-Play and broadcasting employment techniques, tactics and strategies … and much, much more! Discover the specifics of your “Ultra Insider” tuition and enrollment procedures 
  

Here’s what you do next

• Submit the Questions/Contact form below, or
• Discover more specifics of your “Ultra Insider” tuition and enrollment procedures, or
• Call our offices between 9am-7pm PST Monday-Friday or 10am-3pm PST Saturday.
   

If submitting an email request, please specify a convenient time you can be reached to have any further questions addressed. Be assured – a friendly, non-salesy SMA advisor will be in touch at the time you request. Call or email now to discuss how you can become a “Ultra Insider” and take action on becoming a sports broadcaster.