The PXPU Podcast with Tony Castricone: from Play by Play University

A special note about this week’s podcast: typically, we post an audio-only podcast, but this week, I loaded the full video to this website because I think it’s important to see Alexis as he demonstrates some of these vocal exercises, and to understand the relationship the voice and the vocal cords have to the entire body. I hope you enjoy this episode, and I want to challenge you all to extract at least three things from Alexis’ vocal habits that you’ll immediately start implementing to maximize your vocal quality.

Today’s PXPU Podcast guest is Alexis Alfaro, a professional opera singer and a professional rugby referee based out of San Diego, California. He joins us today to discuss the importance of getting the most out of your vocal performance as a part of the list of different skills you work on as a broadcaster.

Here are notes from the podcast and some links Alexis has shared to help with warming up your pipes before a broadcast:

1) I would say understand the ideas and concepts of why you are warming up and what spaces, alignments and connections you are unlocking...

2) Say these words and understand how sounds physically (Physics) align in your mouth.

“Beet" is the top front, “Boot" is the top back, etc. Say them on one breath and feel the air move to different spaces and sound.

3) Then do easy warm-ups so your body can create muscle memory.

Broadcasters and Vocal Training

1) Key Things Broadcasters Need to Know About Vocal Training

* Understanding Anatomy and Physics of the Voice:

* Learn how the vocal cords function and how sound is produced.

* Understand resonance and how to create the most space for efficient sound production.

* Some individuals naturally have resonance but lack awareness of how it works.

* Daily Exercises for Awareness and Mastery:

* Consistent vocal exercises build freedom, efficiency, and ease in speaking.

* Awareness of breath control, posture, and vocal placement is crucial.

2) How to Do Warm-Ups

* Adopt an Athletic and Healthy Mentality:

* Approach vocal training like an athlete: distinguish between "game days" (live broadcasts) and "training days" (practice sessions).

* Warm-ups should be dynamic, focusing on gradual stretching of the vocal range.

* Pacing and Rest:

* Emphasize recovery through sleep, massage, relaxation, hydration, nutrition and soothing beverages like hot tea with honey.

3) How to Project Without Losing Your Voice

* Preparation and Practice:

* Regularly stretch your vocal range during training to understand your limits.

* Familiarize your body with high-energy scenarios to ensure your voice responds under pressure.

* Game-Time Execution:

* Controlled breathing and vocal placement prevent cracking or strain during excited moments.

Today’s Tell the Truth Tuesday is presented by Stand By Media, owned and operated by Howard Deneroff, the former executive vice president of Westwood One. If you’re looking for feedback or guidance on your play-by-play career, Deneroff’s experience serving as the executive producer of major worldwide broadcasts like the Super Bowl, the Final Four, the Olympics and more will provide valuable insight, coaching, connections and more. Find out more at https://www.standbymedia.net/, and let him know you heard about him through Tell the Truth Tuesday at Play By Play University.

Today, Deneroff provides his valuable insight as he coaches an ESPN+ men’s basketball tape submitted by Trevor Williams, who is a subscriber to PXPU. Follow him on LinkedIn or check out his work on YouTube here.

Please leave a comment with your thoughts, as well! Some basic critique etiquette:

* No fluffy false positives. When you say something positive, it must be sincere. Positive feedback implies that the announcer would be well served to replicate that performance as consistently as possible in the future.

* All criticism should be constructive. When something sounds like it misses the mark, the point is not to demean, but to identify areas for improvement and demonstrate ways to implement positive change.

* Critiques should aim at helping people identify ways to take the next step in their development. It makes no sense to compare a novice to national network announcers who are decades further along in their career.

* Be respectful. Make sure the statements you offer check all three boxes: is it kind? Is it true? Is it necessary?

Episode Overview

A conversation with Bill Roth, Voice of the Virginia Tech Hokies, about his career journey, teaching broadcasting, and insights into the craft of sports play-by-play.

Show Notes

[01:00] Early career decisions and path to broadcasting

* Discussion of athletic aspirations versus broadcasting career

* Early exposure to high-level baseball and career direction

[02:16] Virginia Tech's sports media program

* Overview of ACC Network operations at Virginia Tech

* Student involvement in technical and on-air roles

* Creating opportunities for hands-on experience

[03:41] Evolution of student broadcasters

* Modern students' advanced technical capabilities

* Importance of fundamental skills like grammar

* Balancing technical courses with practical experience

[05:57] Academic performance versus practical experience

* Discussion of GPA versus hands-on broadcasting experience

* Importance of being well-rounded and knowledgeable

[07:57] Keys to successful broadcasting

* Impact of team success on broadcaster recognition

* Building relationships with local fan base

* Understanding your audience

[10:01] Different broadcasting styles and approaches

* Analysis of Kevin Harlan's descriptive style

* Discussion of Brent Musburger's storytelling approach

* Importance of developing personal style

[15:19] Essential broadcasting fundamentals

* Importance of time and score updates

* Strategy for resetting game information

* Managing audience turnover during broadcasts

[20:01] Pregame show preparation and execution

* Balancing local versus national broadcast approaches

* Incorporating sponsored elements

* Importance of personal stories and anecdotes

[27:47] Radio production challenges

* Differences between TV and radio resources

* Managing timing and technical elements

* Importance of thinking like a producer

[34:55] Career development and industry changes

* Evolution of broadcasting career paths

* Importance of being well-rounded

* Building relationships in the industry

[38:59] Striving for broadcasting excellence

* Self-critique and improvement

* Importance of preparation

* Managing technical challenges

[50:42] Career decisions and life balance

* Discussing UCLA experience

* Evolution of career priorities with age

* Finding the right fit professionally

Key Takeaways

* Broadcasting requires both technical skill and emotional intelligence

* Success comes from consistent preparation and attention to detail

* Career decisions should balance professional growth with personal happiness

* The importance of developing your own style while mastering fundamentals

* Continuing education and adaptation in the evolving media landscape

Subscribe to PXPU podcast for weekly conversations with sports broadcasting professionals.

Today’s Tell the Truth Tuesday is presented by Stand By Media, owned and operated by Howard Deneroff, the former executive vice president of Westwood One. If you’re looking for feedback or guidance on your play-by-play career, Deneroff’s experience serving as the executive producer of major worldwide broadcasts like the Super Bowl, the Final Four, the Olympics and more will provide valuable insight, coaching, connections and more. Find out more at https://www.standbymedia.net/, and let him know you heard about him through Tell the Truth Tuesday at Play By Play University.

Today, Deneroff provides his valuable insight as he coaches an ESPN+ hockey demo coming from Jorge Bannister, who is a subscriber to PXPU. Follow him on X at @JFBannister or check out his website at https://www.jorgebannister.com/.

Please leave a comment with your thoughts, as well! Some basic critique etiquette:

* No fluffy false positives. When you say something positive, it must be sincere. Positive feedback implies that the announcer would be well served to replicate that performance as consistently as possible in the future.

* All criticism should be constructive. When something sounds like it misses the mark, the point is not to demean, but to identify areas for improvement and demonstrate ways to implement positive change.

* Critiques should aim at helping people identify ways to take the next step in their development. It makes no sense to compare a novice to national network announcers who are decades further along in their career.

* Be respectful. Make sure the statements you offer check all three boxes: is it kind? Is it true? Is it necessary?

Episode Overview

A conversation with Jeff Culhane, Voice of the Florida State Seminoles, about the unique challenges and opportunities of following a legendary broadcaster.

Show Notes

[02:12] Jeff's career journey

* Previous roles at Nebraska, West Virginia, North Dakota State

* Meeting his wife while at West Virginia

* Decision to move to Fargo, North Dakota

[04:25] North Dakota State experience

* Called multiple FCS national championships

* Witnessed program success across multiple sports

* Built strong connections with the community

[05:58] Landing the Florida State job

* Summer 2022 transition

* Following Gene Deckerhoff after his 43-year tenure

* Process of interviewing and securing the position

[09:27] Managing the transition after a legendary broadcaster

* Approach to following Gene Deckerhoff

* Philosophy of "putting on your own shoes" rather than filling others'

* Building relationships with Gene and the community

[18:03] First game experiences and administrative support

* Tony's first Washington game vs Auburn

* Jeff's early LSU game and crucial blocked extra point call

* Building relationships with university leadership

[25:38] Growth in the role and missed opportunities

* Discussion of early calls they wish they had back

* Managing multiple life changes during transition

* Learning to balance preparation with execution

[31:14] Public speaking and ambassador role

* Adapting to public speaking requirements

* Managing anxiety in high-profile situations

* Importance of being an ambassador for the university

[35:23] Connecting with fan base as an outsider

* Importance of demonstrating passion for the program

* Research into program history

* Using social media effectively

[42:47] Handling difficult seasons

* Managing broadcast tone during losing streaks

* Maintaining enthusiasm while being honest

* Building relationship with Coach Mike Norvell

Key Takeaways

* Building authentic connections with the community is crucial when following a beloved broadcaster

* Knowledge of program history helps establish credibility with fans

* Social media can be effectively used to demonstrate passion and connection

* Maintaining positivity while being honest during difficult seasons

* Importance of relationship building with coaches and administration

Subscribe to PXPU podcast for weekly conversations with sports broadcasting professionals.

Today’s Tell the Truth Tuesday is presented by Stand By Media, owned and operated by Howard Deneroff, the former executive vice president of Westwood One. If you’re looking for feedback or guidance on your play-by-play career, Deneroff’s experience serving as the executive producer of major worldwide broadcasts like the Super Bowl, the Final Four, the Olympics and more will provide valuable insight, coaching, connections and more. Find out more at https://www.standbymedia.net/, and let him know you heard about him through Tell the Truth Tuesday at Play By Play University.

Today, Deneroff provides his valuable insight as he coaches a radio demo coming from Dane Richardson, the voice of Kent State women’s basketball and baseball, who is a subscriber to PXPU at our Office Hours level. Follow him on X at @DaneRichardso16 or check out his website at https://www.danerichardson.info/.

Please leave a comment with your thoughts, as well! Some basic critique etiquette:

* No fluffy false positives. When you say something positive, it must be sincere. Positive feedback implies that the announcer would be well served to replicate that performance as consistently as possible in the future.

* All criticism should be constructive. When something sounds like it misses the mark, the point is not to demean, but to identify areas for improvement and demonstrate ways to implement positive change.

* Critiques should aim at helping people identify ways to take the next step in their development. It makes no sense to compare a novice to national network announcers who are decades further along in their career.

* Be respectful. Make sure the statements you offer check all three boxes: is it kind? Is it true? Is it necessary?

On today’s episode of the PXPU Podcast, Howard Deneroff joins the show to discuss his 35-year run as a producer at Westwood One, which saw him rise to the top chair hiring the broadcasters for the Super Bowl, the Kentucky Derby, March Madness, the Olympics, the Stanley Cup Playoffs, Monday Night Football and much more.

Howard has started his own talent coaching company called Stand By Media, which you can check out on his website at standbymedia.net. To showcase what it is Deneroff can offer in the way of coaching, Play By Play University has partnered with him for several upcoming episodes of Tell the Truth Tuesday, and you can have the man who produced all of these major events critique your demo.

Simply email a 10 minute demo or shorter to [email protected] and your submission will be considered for feature on an upcoming episode of Tell the Truth Tuesday with Howard Deneroff as the guest critic. You can submit any sport on any medium. Priority will be given to PXPU subscribers based on the tier at which they are subscribed. Any broadcaster of any experience level is encouraged to submit demos. Howard is capable of helping you take the next step regardless of your skill level.

On today’s episode:

02:30 - Howard discusses his early career path and inspiration from Marv Albert in New York

03:47 - Howard shares how he discovered his passion for producing rather than announcing while at Syracuse University

05:49 - Discusses getting his first job at CBS Radio (which became Westwood One) right after college in 1989

08:04 - Discussion of Howard's transition after his 35-year career at Westwood One ended and starting his new coaching venture

11:03 - Howard reflects on his love for broadcasting and rarely missing work over 35 years

13:49 - Introduction of Howard's new company Standby Media and its services for broadcasters

19:40 - Discussion of working holidays (Thanksgiving, Christmas) throughout his career

25:27 - Howard explains his approach to evaluating broadcasters and what he listens for

29:53 - Details about Howard's 26-point evaluation system for play-by-play broadcasters

34:03 - Story about evaluating an announcer who poorly handled working with an analyst

38:26 - Discussion of proper name pronunciation and its importance in broadcasting

44:06 - Advice on what to include in demo tapes and audition materials

52:09 - Howard explains how being a fan first helped develop his ear for good broadcasting

56:38 - Discussion of memorable broadcast calls and why announcers are essential

59:42 - Importance of enjoying the broadcast and showing genuine enthusiasm

1:03:30 - Announcement of partnership between Play-by-Play U and Standby Media for "Tell the Truth Tuesday" segments

Reminder: Our next Office Hours are this Thursday at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT. I’ll be joined by a special guest who is the voice of a Power Four program, so make sure you join us to talk shop on Thursday night. To get an invitation to this exclusive Zoom call, subscribe at the Office Hours level.

Also, we will not have a “Tell the Truth Tuesday” episode this week, but get your tapes in at [email protected] ASAP, because we are going to announce something huge for upcoming editions of TTTT, as I’ll be joined by an industry titan who will critique your work. Truly, it doesn’t matter how big or small your current gig is. This guest is going to have phenomenal insight to help you take the next step.

For this edition of the Monday Mailbag, Jonah Krell writes in:

I remember you saying in one of your podcasts that the demo reel you used to get the Clemson job featured an end of a game in which you used time and score effectively. For updating my basketball reel, I actually found an end-of-game situation that I thought I executed well. However, there were a few timeouts used in the final 90 seconds of the game in which we stayed on-air instead of going to break. From where I would start the sample to the end of the game, it is roughly 12-13 minutes. Would you suggest cutting out the discussion between me and my analyst during the timeouts, or should I just include everything?

My general thinking was that hiring managers don't want to listen to a 12-minute demo reel, especially for basketball. Let me know your thoughts on the best way to execute this. Thanks for your help.

Aaron Goldsmith has called a decade of big league baseball with the Seattle Mariners. He was offered the job for his favorite team growing up, his hometown St. Louis Cardinals, and he was quickly climbing the ranks at FOX on their network broadcasts of NFL, MLB and major college sports.

So, why is his scaling back and settling into Seattle?

Because as Colin Cowherd once said, “don’t try to be happier than happy.”

In this episode:

* (02:15) Discussion of Aaron's life since making the decision to stay with the Mariners

* (04:08) Conversation about work-life balance and high performance

* (06:48) Aaron discusses the challenges of baseball broadcasting schedule and managing family time

* (10:12) Aaron shares his journey of realizing he preferred local Mariners games to national broadcasts

* (12:41) Discussion of why Aaron prefers calling Mariners games over national games like Yankees-Red Sox

* (19:12) Aaron recounts experiences of extreme travel schedules while working multiple broadcasting roles

* (24:23) Story about nearly missing his daughter's birth due to broadcasting commitments

* (28:28) Reflection on the importance of learning when to say "no" to opportunities

* (31:23) Discussion about different broadcasters' preferences between local and national work

* (37:16) Conversation about career satisfaction and finding contentment

* (44:50) Aaron reflects on his early broadcasting career and development in the minor leagues

* (54:37) Discussion of professional growth and managing different aspects of broadcasting

* (56:14) Aaron shares his early career technique of writing "smile" in his scorebook

* (59:40) Conversation about favorite calls and the importance of "feel" in broadcasting

* (1:04:08) Discussion about connecting with listeners and maintaining objectivity as a local broadcaster

Today’s tape comes in from Jonathon Langdon, an Office Hours-level subscriber who calls high school sports for the OH Report out of central Ohio. Give him a follow on X at @jdlangdon14 and leave a comment with your thoughts in the comments section!

Some basic critique etiquette:

* No fluffy false positives. When you say something positive, it must be sincere. Positive feedback implies that the announcer would be well served to replicate that performance as consistently as possible in the future.

* All criticism should be constructive. When something sounds like it misses the mark, the point is not to demean, but to identify areas for improvement and demonstrate ways to implement positive change.

* Critiques should aim at helping people identify ways to take the next step in their development. It makes no sense to compare a novice to national network announcers who are decades further along in their career.

* Be respectful. Make sure the statements you offer check all three boxes: is it kind? Is it true? Is it necessary?

We are now taking submissions for our next critique! Send an email to [email protected] with the subject “Critique” and include a link to 5-10 minutes of audio or video, and you might be next on Tell the Truth Tuesday. We will choose from subscribers first, so make sure you click the button below to get more content like this delivered straight to your inbox.