Boards›Esports

How to become a shoutcaster?

Thryale·5/13/2016, 9:29:01 PM·2 votes·4,115 views

Hey everyone! So, I've recently been looking for new career opportunities and most everyone at my current job tells me that I've "missed my calling" and that I have a great voice and sound like a radio DJ or a game show host or even a sports caster. (I work in a call center, and both coworkers and customers alike have commented positively about it) Not to mention I always thought it'd be great to be able to be a shoutcaster for the LCS.

So with that in mind, I come to you guys for advice on both how to practice to become a great shoutcaster like Rivington the third and the like as well as how to actually get a real job/career doing it.

Now, before I get inundated with responses like: "just practice!" or "just do it!" I'm well aware that that is indeed what needs to be done, but I would like something a little more detailed than that. Like what to practice, how to practice effeciently, etc. I would love to be able to join a community group and shoutcast with/for them but due to my terrible work schedule(6pm-3am EST mon-fri) it makes things difficult to do things like that.

I've considered doing a youtube series of myself shoutcasting, but I've always felt that shoutcasters really work best in pairs. (and I'm still a little camera shy and am afraid of making mistakes) I would definitely try to stream as well, but my internet is so bad where I live that streaming is currently not an option.

Okay, so enough practice questions, now on to the actual profession questions. If an actual rioter would comment on some of this, I'd greatly appreciate it!

Assuming I'm currently practicing my shoutcasting, how 'good' would I have to actually be before I would be qualified enough to get an actual job in the industry?

What would the on the job training be like, if any?

What is more important about shoutcasting? Voice, personality, game knowledge, or a healthy mixture of the three? (I've been avidly playing league since september 2010, but have slowed down a lot recently due to having to actually work now)

So yeah, I'd really like to pursue this if possible, and really hope I can make it work out. Any help and/or advice would be greatly appreciated! :)

-Thryale

4 Comments

Smart Kitty5/14/2016, 6:20:03 AM2 votes

I'm not really good on subjects like this, but I want to help you out with this, so I'll just give you my 2 cents:

I feel like the whole healthy mixture of the three is the best way to go. Like Baku said, you will end up sounding pretty silly on camera if you don't know all the champions ultimates. I think a few of the shoutcasters have misnamed the skills once or twice, but if it happens very rarely, that's fine. That being said though, of the three qualities I think being entertaining personality wise is the most important. Sometimes random things will happen during the stream, like technical difficulties for example. There was a lot of talk about people wanting Krepo to be a shoutcaster back when he was on EG in NA, and I kinda agreed with fans, but it wasn't until this one interview he had until I was sold on the idea. While he was being interviewed the lights went out, but he preceded on with it, not like it never happened but he actually spun off the moment and said "I could say they're a little in the dark right now." When there were camera issues during one of the EG vs XDG games riv just starts shouting about everybody being in the pit, then after it ended he went straight back to casting the game regularly. Instead of just freezing up or ignoring the issues, they took chances to make a joke out of it and entertain the audience even more. Also, being afraid of making a mistake is going to make it kinda of harder for you. It's important to want to appear professional, but you're going to make mistakes sometimes when ur casting, whether it's misnaming an ability, or poor timing for a joke, etc, you're going to mess up a few times. Don't be too hard on yourself when it happens, try to just learn from the mistake, smile and laugh about it, keep practicing so it doesn't happen too often.

Also, there are quite a few posts in these boards about random community events like aram, 3v3, or 5v5 tournaments. If you see one of those, maybe ask them if you can shoutcast for them, or maybe if they have replays you can practice shoutcasting over. I've also seen a few occasional posts asking for shoutcasters for these kind of events, so be on the lookout.

XxxLumberJackxxX5/13/2016, 9:43:40 PM1 votes

Start a league. Shoutcast it. Get gud m8

Get recruited for 'real' leagues

III BAKURYU III 5/13/2016, 11:33:50 PM1 votes

Need College in that type of field for Riot to notice you first. College makes the world go round and I for you can't afford it but I know that is what they want. Riot will only talk or recommend you for the job only if you have exp in that type of field or have a degree.

Am I a shout caster NO but I can tell you its not easy. You're not just saying a few funny lines here and there like phreak and having the audience laugh at it, more goes into it then that. Well early on for that matter. Once you done the work and have gotten to the point of securing the job you can then get a personality and start making jokes etc etc.

If you can't afford College at the point that you still want the job I would recommend doing this

Make a youtube channel for League videos and there you have a few options and ideas A. Shout cast the matches not SURE IF THAT CAN BE COPYRIGHTED OR NOT, so be careful about that stuff, if that goes downhill like it is copyright or turns out that is not what you want to do but instead be a Desk Announcer like Sirean and Dash are I would talk about the games with the knowledge that needs to back it up. Talk about the games and your own personal predictions on up coming Games , who will win , Who will be the MVP of the split ect etc.

B For League try to name the abilities of the champions if you see for example If zed ults and you talk about his ult but can't name what it is that needs to be corrected to be a shoutcaster if you say instead for example " OH Zed using his OP ult ... THING and its so OP OH MY GOD.... " is a big no no.

Just get college under your belt or make a name for yourself on youtube something that gets people to notice you.
If You do make a youtube channel let me know cause I would like a job at riot, I like stats and have numerous Players all time Split stats for NA and EU so call me up and maybe I can give you some stats and you can talk about it while you shoutcast it.

Have a Good One !

MasterSalami5/15/2016, 4:54:12 AM1 votes

I know someone else mentioned college, but I wanted to add to that. There are broadcasting schools (in the northeast, there's Connecticut School of Broadcasting, CSB) that specialize in all facets of entertainment. I have two friends who went there, and from what I understand, it's more of a trade-school atmosphere. I believe it's an 18 month program that my friends did. One was involved in videography, the other wants to become a radio host. The teachers were all people "in the biz" of showmaking, many working for major networks such as ESPN and CBS.

I obviously don't know where you are located, but I would recommend looking into a broadcasting school. And, again, as others have said, get all the practice you can. Make a Twitch/Youtube channel, look into other events/tournaments to shoutcast, and definitely play League as much as you can! IMO, the best shoutcasters are the ones who know the game well, who can give insight into why specific champions are "meta" in high level play. That's about all I have for you. Good luck to you!