SMG's Sports Broadcasting Course

Training materials developed exclusively by sportscasters, for sportscasters

SMG understands that learning comes in various mediums other than just reading books. That's why you'll have access to our customized and proprietary sports broadcasting-centered curriculum developed by sportscasters and broadcasting executives.

Your training materials come in audio, video, and via the written word to better accommodate all types of learners.

Real World Training for Real World Sportscasting Jobs

Concentrated emphasis is put on developing major market show hosting skills, as well as play-by-play announcing skills, and sports anchoring techniques. Here's an overview of our sports broadcasting course curriculum.

All "Ultra Insider" students will receive:

Eight sportscasting teachers for the price of one

In any learning situation, your instructor is one the most important elements for success. Here's where SMG provides you an almost unfair advantage over your competition...

In addition to your in-station mentor instructor, SMG's curriculum provides you with seven additional sportscasting mentors with varied backgrounds, including:

• Bruce Gilbert - VP/News, Talk, and Sports programming for CBS Radio, Dallas
• Larry Gifford - Program Director ESPN Radio Network & ESPN Los Angeles
• Hacksaw Hamilton - XTRA Sports 1360 & NFL play-by-play announcer
• Ron Barr - Sports Byline owner
• Jeff Schwartz - Program Director ESPN Chicago
• Rob Buska - Sporting News Network
• Larry Kreuger - KNBR SAN Francisco

Secrets to Sports Broadcasting Success Series

The Secrets to Sports Broadcasting Success seminar series reveals insider knowledge of all aspects of the business in over four hours of seminar training. This one of a kind proprietary training information is not available to the general public, which will revealed to you the following:

• How to develop professional quality play-by-play announcing skills
• Insider secrets to hosting a network-caliber sports talk show
• How to skillfully host your own radio show
• ESPN's "seven deadly sins" of interviewing revealed
• Three ways to break into sportscasting without quitting your current job
• How to land the sports broadcasting job of your dreams
• How to find hidden job opportunities where others never think to look
• Which stealth tactics to use for hosting your own sports talk show - today

In addition:

• You'll hear actual demo tapes that landed other sportscasters jobs
• You'll discover step-by-step tactics to gain experience before ever being hired
• You'll know EXACTLY what to say when following up your application
• You'll be shown two insider tips to building your network of industry contacts
• You'll know the best time to directly reach the decision maker
• You'll have a clear understanding of how to produce winning demo tapes and resumes that get you hired ... and much, much more.

Other course curriculum areas covered include (written & video):

• Introduction to Professional Announcing
• The Studio Environment - Radio
• Vocal Development
• Performance Development
• Commercial Announcing
• Interviewing Techniques
• News Announcing
• Specialty Announcing
• Beginning an Announcing Career
• Copywriting essentials

Tele-conference classes with sports broadcasting mentors

"Supreme insider" students are guaranteed six months of tele-conference classes from selected sports broadcasting experts, while "Ultra Insider" students receive twelve months of ongoing training.

Every tele-conference class will have Q & A features until all questions have been satisfactorily answered. Note: All calls archived for listening at your convenience.

Your curriculum materials also include 3 priceless conference calls discussing specific topics of required learning from the following sportscasters:

• Lee "Hacksaw" Hamilton, from XTRA Sports 1360, shares insights about game week preparation and interviews, challenges to working a two and three-man booth, charting players, skill sets required for broadcasting various sports, and keys to successful sports talk hosting.
  
  Truly a pioneer and legend in sports talk radio, "Hacksaws" 30-year broadcasting career has also included being the play-by-play voice for the Seattle Seahawks, San Diego Chargers, Minnesota Vikings, USC Trojans, Arizona State Sun Devils, and San Diego State University.
  
  
• Larry Krueger from Sports Byline and Comcast will teach you stealth tactics for breaking into sports broadcasting from a completely unrelated field (just as he did). Larry will share with you the same networking strategies he used to become the evening sports talk host for 8 years on San Francisco's KNBR.
  
  
• Rob Buska from the Sporting News Network will teach you the same techniques he uses to secure sports broadcasting rights. Rob provides you with the same step-by-step methods he used to secure the broadcasting rights for the 2004 NCAA Champion Cal State Fullerton baseball team, after which he promptly named himself the play-by-play announcer.
  
  Rob has also used the same ingenious methods you'll discover to secure the broadcasting rights to Mater Dei and Santa Margarita football, and the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes minor league baseball team.
  

SMG's three-month Supreme Insider students will receive much of the same training materials as the six-month Ultra Insiders students receive.

Portfolio assessment & consultation with talent agent and Sports Broadcasting Coach, David Brody

Besides properly training and preparing you for employment, SMG also ensures that your portfolio is presented in a professional manner, according to industry standards and expectations.

Current talent agent and on-air talent coach, David Brody, will personally ensure your professional demo portfolio has the winning touch. Here's how it works:

• You submit your portfolio for professional assessment before sending it out.
• You receive a detailed critique of portfolio (a $125 value! Included at no extra cost!).
• You'll have your "Action Plan" report assessed, modified, and improved.

But wait, there's more... these ADDITIONAL training materials you'll receive will further enhance your learning experience.

Talk Show Hosting Specifics

Who better to learn sports talk show hosting techniques from than from the people who do the hiring? In this section, VP of News, Talk, and Sports programming for CBS Radio in Dallas, Bruce Gilbert, and Sports Byline owner Ron Barr will share show hosting insights on:

The Seven Deadly Sins of Interviewing (1 & 2) On Air Do's and Don'ts Brainstorming The Programming Triangle Every Segment is a Show Production Value (1 & 2) The Topic Tree Ask Why Formulating Opinions TSL & The Art of the Tease

The Art of Storytelling Handling Phone Calls Team Shows Broadcasting vs Communicating Understanding Your Strengths The Value of Storytelling Be Credible Don't Be Crass Capturing the Moment Balancing Career and Family

Play-by-Play Insights

Veteran NFL and NBA play-by-play announcers will teach you strategies on:

• What Makes an Elite PBP Announcer
• Developing a Style
• Four Keys to PBP Success
• Prepare for Everything
• Play-by-Play Do's and Don'ts
• Q&A Session

College basketball play-by-play announcers also discuss:

• Breaking into Play-by-Play
• Preparation
• Working with an Analyst
• TV Production Meetings
• Developing Your Style
• Spotting Charts

Broadcasting Employment Secrets

Bruce Gilbert, Larry Gifford (ESPN Network radio) and Jeff Schwartz (ESPN Chicago) cover the following topics:

• What ESPN Looks for in a Hire
• Common Questions in the Job Interview
• Questions You Should Ask in the Job Interview
• Q&A Building Your Demo
• Q&A Building Your Resume; Writing Samples
• How to Break Into Radio
• No Such Thing as a Bad Idea
• Selling Yourself in the Job Market
• How Not to Get a Job-1 & 2
• What You SHOULD Do to Get a Job
• Being a Leader at Your Station