prog
Priest of the Temple of Syrinx
Hi, prog here. I was in college radio in 2007 where I engineered, produced and was a DJ for a progressive rock show. I started doing commentary locally in 2008 at tournaments on campus at Temple University. In 2014, I’ve had the opportunity to be a part of some of the most prestigious events by way of the microphone instead of the controller.
If anyone found any of my early commentary, you’d wonder what the hell I was doing, exclaim how awful I am, and I’m pretty sure a few of you will do the same about me now. The thing is, like players, commentators learn and grow, I’ve found that out over time. They improve, they find their strengths, and of course, they have their weaknesses shown as well.
Many people have requested that I write a guide on commentary. I refuse to call this a guide because commentary should be fluid and malleable. Commentary will change depending on the event, the stream, the matchup and the players. However, these are my general thoughts, and a few things to be thought about as you approach the microphone. If these are rules, I’ve broken them all a multitude of times; take what you want from it, but don’t view this as a Boy Scout Handbook to commentary.
I hate to sound like a late night infomercial or a PBS script, but I always say that you want to do the three E’s when commentating: enlighten, educate, entertain. You want those listening to have a true grasp about the event, where it lands on the greater scope, and that is important. While not every event is an APEX, MLG or EVO, why not let people know a bit about your local scene and the locals there? It may not mean much to you, but you may have people watching around the world, and maybe a few in your own backyard who may be inspired to reach out. Am I keeping the audience engaged? Is the audience learning anything?
That said, I suppose we should begin.
The "silent" speak loudly.
Commentary doesn’t start and end with the voices you hear. Every event has players as well as tournament organizers. Streams are becoming more and more prevalent; every one of these people can make commentators’ lives easier.
The tournament organizer definitely has a hand in assisting commentators. Having a commentator schedule ahead of time is always a huge boon, primarily for majors. Going to an event and knowing that the stream will be left in good hands while you’re gone so you can grab a meal is great. Sitting in one spot for 10 hours, skipping meals and hoping that the TO can find a pair of solid replacements because you’ve had three liters of water and you’re going to burst…no fun. Also, having a consistent stream of matches ready for the stream setup is stellar. If you have staff that can keep water in arms reach, that's a good start.
Let the players know to report to the stream setup and keep them wrangled nearby. That’s an immediate reduction in downtime in matches, and less filler time in between sets. For a major, your commentators will be the voices of the event, for the most part. That includes letting them know what sponsors may be involved, making them aware of what the sponsors do, and even if they are providing things for the event, just to add more flavor. However, even for a local, knowing people you’d like to have on the microphone helps. Most commentators are also entering events, or even running them. Doing any of those is enough pressure, and doing a multitude can hurt your overall performance. And of course, the more they know before hand, the better.
Players, what can you do? Well, when you look at Smash versus other games, one thing that can always help is seating. Are you in the first port? Sit on the left (of course this changes for teams, where you’ll want to sit next to your partner). Do you have a match coming up that might be streamed? Stick around, or at least know one of the staff know that you’re going next door for pizza, or you have to use the bathroom, etc.
For the streamers, dialogue with the commentators is so important. Pay attention to them and what they are saying, they might be slyly asking you a question (to be covered later). If you have a microphone and want to tell them something, if you can seamlessly chat with the one that currently isn’t speaking to make them aware, go for it. Some people use pieces of paper, but realize that for the most part that line of sight will be focused on the monitor. Also, be sure you have the layout updated, and double check that each player is seated in the spot that aligns with their port, there have been plenty of confusing situations where a player is being applauded for something they are doing when they actually are the victim.
Is it time?
Who can commentate? Anyone. Not all top players make for top commentators and top commentators may not be top players. How many games did Marv Albert start in the NBA? How many times was Vin Scully on the grass in the MLB? How many snaps was John Madden on the field for in the NFL?
While commentators may or may not be consistent bracket threats, I suggest having some involvement with the scene for a solid amount of time. When I started commentating, I had been going to stuff in the region for a year, let alone the hours of time chatting on the DC++ hub and studying matches there. By the time people really had acknowledged my work as a commentator, I hadn’t been an active player for quite some time. Look at Spooky, FGC fans. He’ll opt to run the stream on most occasions, but he is a solid player and commentator when he is on the microphone as well. However, I must stress, play long enough to get that level of familiarity where you are able to “see” things. I’ll get to that down the line.
Earlier, I said, Who can commentate? Anyone. You are reading this, so chances are you happen to fall under the criteria of anyone. You’re ready, you show up at a local, and the stream setup is there, the seats are empty, microphones are gleaming, the heavenly hosts are calling you to the setup…and it may not be your time yet. A streamer may or may not allow you to hop on. Does the streamer know you? If they have no idea who you are and ask for a spot, they will probably not be interested (they have their sponsors and they have no idea if you will be someone who will do a good job not just representing their brand, but that of their vested interests). So, then what do you do?
Have a laptop? Go back in time with a capture card and a USB microphone, and bring all three to the local tournament. There are probably more up to date ways to do it, but you can still use a Dazzle for gameplay, Audacity for the USB microphone and you can splice the two together later on. Not only does this let you get the practice in, but you also get to capture matches that don’t make the stream (and if you're looking for brownie points with the local streamer, see if you can give the matches over afterwards).
Some people may recommend demo reels with matches off YouTube and such. It is an option, but I’d only recommend it if you do the match on your first try, with no previous viewing. Don’t cheat the system or yourself, there are no second takes in live commentary, and that’s what you are aspiring to do.
How to turn “I” into “we”?
Commentary is usually a two-person thing, rarely three.. Occasionally, we get solo commentary - however, it’s becoming more and more archaic as more people become interested and as more people understand the need for another voice.
Finding a partner can be a lot like picking dodgeball teams in fifth grade. You look around at who is interested and who is available. Usually, that’s your partner, whether you like it or not. I can say I’ve walked away from the microphone because of a partner just once. In hindsight, it was a large learning experience, and I vowed never to do it again.
Commentary is a lot like teams. You’ll run the gamut of individuals on your way to finding a solid partner, but you should give whoever you are with a proper shot instead of cutting them down immediately and sandbagging. Everyone has things they shine at, other things that need work, and a good partner will let you showcase what you are good at and cover what you’ll lack. However, like being a player, challenge yourself and try to mold your style to get that proper connection. Not every person you’re with is going to be a match, but who knows what will develop over time.
However, knowing how to build a rapport with your co-commentator is crucial. I’ll listen to a lot of streams and the amount of times people talk over one another is irksome. There are times when someone is saying something superb about the match, going in-depth…and then their co-commentator interrupts them, speaking over them, and the jewels are forever lost in the sand. Other times, the moment is right, the crowd is going nuts, the stream chat is going insane, the commentator is riling up the crowd and… Ben Stein comes on the mic.
This isn’t too hard to avoid. Listen to your co-commentator. You can pay attention to their diction, when they are about to finish their thought. Even better, use hand signals. Hand signals are awesome to tell your co-commentator to keep going, stop, or let them know that you have a thought you want to get to.
Know your role.
Archetypes for commentators exist. So, what’s your role? And how do most people falter in them?
Analysis:
More than just play-by-play. In some sense, you do want to make people aware of what is happening, but it needs depth. This can be added by calling out player strategy, frame data, matchup knowledge, etc.
Too often, people call out why something was good, or what someone did and not delving into the why. Why was that a good option, what was the thought process in that move? If you are going to bring in terminology from another game, please know what you’re talking about. Finally, too often we run into the analytical commentator being cardboard. Be enthusiastic, be invested. Doesn’t mean you have to scream, but emphasize things, speak with authority, even just being reduced to facial expressions is fine.
Analysis is often the most difficult role. With streams as they are now, you'll have a wide variety of people watching. Some may be 15 year veterans of the Smash series. Others might be getting their first 15 minutes of viewing Project M. How do you not exclude anyone? I'll tell you when I figure it out, because that's one of the most difficult struggles for anyone.
Color:
A match can be mundane. A match can be stellar. The job of the color commentator is to blur those lines so that everything is great at minimum. Not every match is going to be exciting, but the job of the color commentator is to make it appear that way, whether through anecdotes, wit, providing flavor to the match, etc.
Don’t try too hard. Some people may as well be jumping through flaming hoops, but aren’t really adding much to the commentary. They come off more as parrots than anything. Catchphrases lose their sting over time. And even with that, going to the same one multiple times a day can make it lose its luster. Don’t go for memes every two minutes: it’s a match, not a message board. Figure out new things, don’t be repetitive, don’t be a one trick pony.
Those are the two main roles, however, there are a couple of ancillary roles that may be included in the course of the day.
Specialist:
No one will know every single aspect of every matchup; and well, if they do, they’re likely in grand finals or on the way there. You’ll find yourself with someone who knows that character better than you and by proxy, the matchup better than you. If you are paired up with one, pose questions to them: more than likely they’ll take on more of the analysis role, so add a bit more color to your game.
If you are the specialist, be sure not to just take it from your side of the matchup, but also what the opponent could be doing. Too often specialists get tunnel vision on what their primary character should do, however there are two sides to each coin. Talking about your character’s strengths/weaknesses in the matchup? At least frame it from the opposing character’s perspective on occasion.
Storyteller:
Why does this event matter? Who are these players? I personally took on more of this role in 2013, and it’s something I learned from Dogysamich. He had his orange binder with player histories, what they’ve won, who they’ve beaten, and I really never understood the importance of it until maybe 2012. Dogy’s binder didn’t matter to me because I knew the histories, the events, etc. In this modern era, most people don’t. What made Salem’s victory at APEX 2013 special? Who did Silent Wolf run through at EVO? Even at MLG this year, Wife was taking notes and updating the bracket throughout the day since we didn’t have access to it.
Don’t let yourself get caught in the story. It’s fine to talk about a huge run, someone’s laurels, but just like everything else, make sure it’s the right time. There’s a big moment happening in the middle of the match, don’t get too entrenched in the big moments of the past.
Do you know your role yet?
Of course, the lines blur, no one is all analysis, nor all color. Finding your balance is crucial. Within these, we’ll often see the breakdown into support and lead commentator. Being a support commentator is underrated. Especially when paired with a specialist, this role becomes more and more crucial. Being the support commentator is also a good way to make sure both commentators are getting involved. Posing questions, getting dialogue going it all helps.
--
Here ends the first part. Possible future topics to discuss:
1. The Ten Commandments of Commentary
2. Preparation
3. The Art of Storytelling
4. Just Killing Time
5. Silence is Golden
6. Crafting Doubles
7. Tongue-Tied
8. The Power of Adjectives
Also, if you have any questions, comments, or things you want me to expound on, don’t hesitate to comment here on Smashboards or message me on Twitter at @progducto. I’ll certainly look to go in depth with a few more of these topics, or even do a Part 1A to continue this line of thought.
If anyone found any of my early commentary, you’d wonder what the hell I was doing, exclaim how awful I am, and I’m pretty sure a few of you will do the same about me now. The thing is, like players, commentators learn and grow, I’ve found that out over time. They improve, they find their strengths, and of course, they have their weaknesses shown as well.
Many people have requested that I write a guide on commentary. I refuse to call this a guide because commentary should be fluid and malleable. Commentary will change depending on the event, the stream, the matchup and the players. However, these are my general thoughts, and a few things to be thought about as you approach the microphone. If these are rules, I’ve broken them all a multitude of times; take what you want from it, but don’t view this as a Boy Scout Handbook to commentary.
D1 and I working a match
I hate to sound like a late night infomercial or a PBS script, but I always say that you want to do the three E’s when commentating: enlighten, educate, entertain. You want those listening to have a true grasp about the event, where it lands on the greater scope, and that is important. While not every event is an APEX, MLG or EVO, why not let people know a bit about your local scene and the locals there? It may not mean much to you, but you may have people watching around the world, and maybe a few in your own backyard who may be inspired to reach out. Am I keeping the audience engaged? Is the audience learning anything?
That said, I suppose we should begin.
The "silent" speak loudly.
Commentary doesn’t start and end with the voices you hear. Every event has players as well as tournament organizers. Streams are becoming more and more prevalent; every one of these people can make commentators’ lives easier.
The tournament organizer definitely has a hand in assisting commentators. Having a commentator schedule ahead of time is always a huge boon, primarily for majors. Going to an event and knowing that the stream will be left in good hands while you’re gone so you can grab a meal is great. Sitting in one spot for 10 hours, skipping meals and hoping that the TO can find a pair of solid replacements because you’ve had three liters of water and you’re going to burst…no fun. Also, having a consistent stream of matches ready for the stream setup is stellar. If you have staff that can keep water in arms reach, that's a good start.
Let the players know to report to the stream setup and keep them wrangled nearby. That’s an immediate reduction in downtime in matches, and less filler time in between sets. For a major, your commentators will be the voices of the event, for the most part. That includes letting them know what sponsors may be involved, making them aware of what the sponsors do, and even if they are providing things for the event, just to add more flavor. However, even for a local, knowing people you’d like to have on the microphone helps. Most commentators are also entering events, or even running them. Doing any of those is enough pressure, and doing a multitude can hurt your overall performance. And of course, the more they know before hand, the better.
Players, what can you do? Well, when you look at Smash versus other games, one thing that can always help is seating. Are you in the first port? Sit on the left (of course this changes for teams, where you’ll want to sit next to your partner). Do you have a match coming up that might be streamed? Stick around, or at least know one of the staff know that you’re going next door for pizza, or you have to use the bathroom, etc.
For the streamers, dialogue with the commentators is so important. Pay attention to them and what they are saying, they might be slyly asking you a question (to be covered later). If you have a microphone and want to tell them something, if you can seamlessly chat with the one that currently isn’t speaking to make them aware, go for it. Some people use pieces of paper, but realize that for the most part that line of sight will be focused on the monitor. Also, be sure you have the layout updated, and double check that each player is seated in the spot that aligns with their port, there have been plenty of confusing situations where a player is being applauded for something they are doing when they actually are the victim.
Is it time?
Who can commentate? Anyone. Not all top players make for top commentators and top commentators may not be top players. How many games did Marv Albert start in the NBA? How many times was Vin Scully on the grass in the MLB? How many snaps was John Madden on the field for in the NFL?
While commentators may or may not be consistent bracket threats, I suggest having some involvement with the scene for a solid amount of time. When I started commentating, I had been going to stuff in the region for a year, let alone the hours of time chatting on the DC++ hub and studying matches there. By the time people really had acknowledged my work as a commentator, I hadn’t been an active player for quite some time. Look at Spooky, FGC fans. He’ll opt to run the stream on most occasions, but he is a solid player and commentator when he is on the microphone as well. However, I must stress, play long enough to get that level of familiarity where you are able to “see” things. I’ll get to that down the line.
Earlier, I said, Who can commentate? Anyone. You are reading this, so chances are you happen to fall under the criteria of anyone. You’re ready, you show up at a local, and the stream setup is there, the seats are empty, microphones are gleaming, the heavenly hosts are calling you to the setup…and it may not be your time yet. A streamer may or may not allow you to hop on. Does the streamer know you? If they have no idea who you are and ask for a spot, they will probably not be interested (they have their sponsors and they have no idea if you will be someone who will do a good job not just representing their brand, but that of their vested interests). So, then what do you do?
Have a laptop? Go back in time with a capture card and a USB microphone, and bring all three to the local tournament. There are probably more up to date ways to do it, but you can still use a Dazzle for gameplay, Audacity for the USB microphone and you can splice the two together later on. Not only does this let you get the practice in, but you also get to capture matches that don’t make the stream (and if you're looking for brownie points with the local streamer, see if you can give the matches over afterwards).
Some people may recommend demo reels with matches off YouTube and such. It is an option, but I’d only recommend it if you do the match on your first try, with no previous viewing. Don’t cheat the system or yourself, there are no second takes in live commentary, and that’s what you are aspiring to do.
How to turn “I” into “we”?
Commentary is usually a two-person thing, rarely three.. Occasionally, we get solo commentary - however, it’s becoming more and more archaic as more people become interested and as more people understand the need for another voice.
Finding a partner can be a lot like picking dodgeball teams in fifth grade. You look around at who is interested and who is available. Usually, that’s your partner, whether you like it or not. I can say I’ve walked away from the microphone because of a partner just once. In hindsight, it was a large learning experience, and I vowed never to do it again.
Commentary is a lot like teams. You’ll run the gamut of individuals on your way to finding a solid partner, but you should give whoever you are with a proper shot instead of cutting them down immediately and sandbagging. Everyone has things they shine at, other things that need work, and a good partner will let you showcase what you are good at and cover what you’ll lack. However, like being a player, challenge yourself and try to mold your style to get that proper connection. Not every person you’re with is going to be a match, but who knows what will develop over time.
However, knowing how to build a rapport with your co-commentator is crucial. I’ll listen to a lot of streams and the amount of times people talk over one another is irksome. There are times when someone is saying something superb about the match, going in-depth…and then their co-commentator interrupts them, speaking over them, and the jewels are forever lost in the sand. Other times, the moment is right, the crowd is going nuts, the stream chat is going insane, the commentator is riling up the crowd and… Ben Stein comes on the mic.
This isn’t too hard to avoid. Listen to your co-commentator. You can pay attention to their diction, when they are about to finish their thought. Even better, use hand signals. Hand signals are awesome to tell your co-commentator to keep going, stop, or let them know that you have a thought you want to get to.
Know your role.
Archetypes for commentators exist. So, what’s your role? And how do most people falter in them?
Analysis:
More than just play-by-play. In some sense, you do want to make people aware of what is happening, but it needs depth. This can be added by calling out player strategy, frame data, matchup knowledge, etc.
Too often, people call out why something was good, or what someone did and not delving into the why. Why was that a good option, what was the thought process in that move? If you are going to bring in terminology from another game, please know what you’re talking about. Finally, too often we run into the analytical commentator being cardboard. Be enthusiastic, be invested. Doesn’t mean you have to scream, but emphasize things, speak with authority, even just being reduced to facial expressions is fine.
Analysis is often the most difficult role. With streams as they are now, you'll have a wide variety of people watching. Some may be 15 year veterans of the Smash series. Others might be getting their first 15 minutes of viewing Project M. How do you not exclude anyone? I'll tell you when I figure it out, because that's one of the most difficult struggles for anyone.
Color:
A match can be mundane. A match can be stellar. The job of the color commentator is to blur those lines so that everything is great at minimum. Not every match is going to be exciting, but the job of the color commentator is to make it appear that way, whether through anecdotes, wit, providing flavor to the match, etc.
Don’t try too hard. Some people may as well be jumping through flaming hoops, but aren’t really adding much to the commentary. They come off more as parrots than anything. Catchphrases lose their sting over time. And even with that, going to the same one multiple times a day can make it lose its luster. Don’t go for memes every two minutes: it’s a match, not a message board. Figure out new things, don’t be repetitive, don’t be a one trick pony.
Those are the two main roles, however, there are a couple of ancillary roles that may be included in the course of the day.
Specialist:
No one will know every single aspect of every matchup; and well, if they do, they’re likely in grand finals or on the way there. You’ll find yourself with someone who knows that character better than you and by proxy, the matchup better than you. If you are paired up with one, pose questions to them: more than likely they’ll take on more of the analysis role, so add a bit more color to your game.
If you are the specialist, be sure not to just take it from your side of the matchup, but also what the opponent could be doing. Too often specialists get tunnel vision on what their primary character should do, however there are two sides to each coin. Talking about your character’s strengths/weaknesses in the matchup? At least frame it from the opposing character’s perspective on occasion.
Storyteller:
Why does this event matter? Who are these players? I personally took on more of this role in 2013, and it’s something I learned from Dogysamich. He had his orange binder with player histories, what they’ve won, who they’ve beaten, and I really never understood the importance of it until maybe 2012. Dogy’s binder didn’t matter to me because I knew the histories, the events, etc. In this modern era, most people don’t. What made Salem’s victory at APEX 2013 special? Who did Silent Wolf run through at EVO? Even at MLG this year, Wife was taking notes and updating the bracket throughout the day since we didn’t have access to it.
Don’t let yourself get caught in the story. It’s fine to talk about a huge run, someone’s laurels, but just like everything else, make sure it’s the right time. There’s a big moment happening in the middle of the match, don’t get too entrenched in the big moments of the past.
Do you know your role yet?
Of course, the lines blur, no one is all analysis, nor all color. Finding your balance is crucial. Within these, we’ll often see the breakdown into support and lead commentator. Being a support commentator is underrated. Especially when paired with a specialist, this role becomes more and more crucial. Being the support commentator is also a good way to make sure both commentators are getting involved. Posing questions, getting dialogue going it all helps.
--
Here ends the first part. Possible future topics to discuss:
1. The Ten Commandments of Commentary
2. Preparation
3. The Art of Storytelling
4. Just Killing Time
5. Silence is Golden
6. Crafting Doubles
7. Tongue-Tied
8. The Power of Adjectives
Also, if you have any questions, comments, or things you want me to expound on, don’t hesitate to comment here on Smashboards or message me on Twitter at @progducto. I’ll certainly look to go in depth with a few more of these topics, or even do a Part 1A to continue this line of thought.
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