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TPIR Announce Question (for Randy?)

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tvrandywest:
[quote name=\'gaubster2\' date=\'Dec 23 2003, 09:17 PM\']I used to work in radio and when going on the air, I would turn on and "pot up" (or turn up the "volume" on) the microphone while speaking.  Who controls whether the microphone at the announce position is on or off?  [/quote]
In radio I used to "pot up" with the bathroom door locked before going on the air   ;-)

But seriously Chris, at "Price" and just about all shows that are produced at a facility where all crew members are union, the announcer doesn't control the mic. I have worked a few shows where I did have an "on"/"off" control switch for the mic, and there is the very occasional announcer set up that includes a "cough switch" that you can press and hold to momentarily mute the mic. By far, those are the exceptions.

Dirk is the new audio mixer at "Price" (he replaced Chris a few months ago), and he absolutely rocks. He's got quick reflexes to pot me up and down as needed, even on those unexpected "Is that phone cordless, Randy?" moments, and he has an awesome ear for audio processing.


--- Quote ---....do you wear the headphones or not when announcing Price?  Also, what's the purpose of this??  To hear your voice inflection or to get cues, perhaps?
--- End quote ---

Every TV announcer uses headphones; you must have them for cues. Johnny used a single handheld "Brush Clevite" style (old radio folks know what that is) which he held to his ear to get cues, and then placed on the stand in front of him while reading. He didn't need the headphone during his reads because he worked in the era of live (or live-to-tape) TV when the director would never call "cut". Rod was always listening even though it didn't appear so; he switched from headphones to IFBs (Interupted FoldBacks) because they are far less conspicuous on camera. News anchors wear IFBs, and you've seen them in Paul Shafer's ears on "Letterman".

Most announcers since the beginning of broadcasting have preferred to hear themselves as the audience hears them. Even before headphones were generally used by talent, announcers would cup their hand over their ear (think the Gary Owens "Laugh-In" pose) to enable them to hear a more accurate representation of the sound of their voice. Try it with both hands and hear the difference. Without that trick or headphones you're hearing yourself almost entirely through bone induction; it's just not an accurate representation of how you sound. That's why you're amazed by how different you think you sound when you first hear your voice recorded and played back.

But a TV announcer MUST have phones (or an IFB) to hear the show behind the show... the director's cues. Generally, you only speak when cued, and the hardest part of the job for new announcers is picking up their cues and not becoming befuddled while reading when this is what is being screamed in their ear:

"... cue applause... in 5, 4, ready camera 1, ready announce, take 1 and up, cue music, pan 1, ready 2, take 2, cue announce, push 2, follow her and tighten, good, ready 1, cue 1, pan 1, ready 2, take 2, announce, push 2...". That's what the opening of "Price" sounds like. You don't want to hear what it sounds like during a showcase! It's all that plus cues for lighting, music changes, door openings, and graphics, as well as "faster" and "slower" cues for the announcer. It can also include a few wonderfully creative expletives when something doesn't go just right. At "Price" either Bart or Fred will cue the announcer at any given moment; you need to hear both.

To help maintain sanity and maximize clarity about who is saying what, Burton likes the booth in one ear and program (the show) in the other. I prefer program in both with the booth in only one ear. The announcer can also get a custom feed of the program's audio with a few twists from the show's mixer which can be set during rehearsal. For example, you do not want to hear any of the audience mics at "Price", if you've done your job properly before the show the audience is already way loud where you're standing in the studio. You need to hear yourself and Bob, but you may opt to include or exclude other audio, such as the music and/or sound effects. I personally prefer to hear the music because your pacing should reflect some of the music's tempo, and your work sounds better when you can use the music's punctuating notes or phrases to punctuate some of your copy (radio jocks would call this "hitting the posts"). But I've discovered if I get fed the music at a lower level than the program mix I can hear Bob and myself a lot clearer.

If I've left any question unanswered, just ask!

If you've read the tributes to Johnny and Rod on my website you know how much I love the work, and how much of an honor it is to be doing this particular job. To those in our ezboard family who have been kind with their words about my work and/or supportive in my hopes that any decision for fulltime falls my way, THANKS!  I am very appreciative, and I hope you'll say "hello" when you visit. I can usually give a quick tour, and it would be my pleasure to do what I can when we meet.  

As to the preference for one announcer over another, it's very subjective. Different voices can be better suited for different shows, and a lot is about a listener's preference. Beyond the professional abilities to read smoothly, reflect the energy and drama of the show, and ad-lib as needed, it's simply a matter of taste. Baskin Robbins has 31 flavors; natural vanilla bean is no "better" or "worse" than chocolate mint.    ;-)


Randy
tvrandywest.com

cmjb13:

--- Quote ---I really hope Randy gets the job. Burton is quite boring and has absolutly no enthuism and energy.
--- End quote ---
Quite the opposite in that he has too much energy at times. He's been told to tone it down a few times, but that's his style.


--- Quote ---Dirk is the new audio mixer at "Price" (he replaced Chris a few months ago)
--- End quote ---
One thing I do miss about Chris being there was that the sound in the sound booth was cranked really loud because he was partially deaf due to years of attending rock concerts. Hearing the show that loud (even with earplugs) was pretty cool.

As far as them auditioning other announcers, they would be foolish not to. They would only be limiting themselves. I'm glad they are open to the idea, but if nobody sends in a demo tape, they have nobody to audition (unless you work for the company or were given the gig as a favor like Paul Boland)

gaubster2:
[quote name=\'tvrandywest\' date=\'Dec 24 2003, 03:29 AM\'] [quote name=\'gaubster2\' date=\'Dec 23 2003, 09:17 PM\']I used to work in radio and when going on the air, I would turn on and "pot up" (or turn up the "volume" on) the microphone while speaking.  Who controls whether the microphone at the announce position is on or off?  [/quote]
In radio I used to "pot up" with the bathroom door locked before going on the air   ;-)

But seriously Chris, at "Price" and just about all shows that are produced at a facility where all crew members are union, the announcer doesn't control the mic. I have worked a few shows where I did have an "on"/"off" control switch for the mic, and there is the very occasional announcer set up that includes a "cough switch" that you can press and hold to momentarily mute the mic. By far, those are the exceptions.

Dirk is the new audio mixer at "Price" (he replaced Chris a few months ago), and he absolutely rocks. He's got quick reflexes to pot me up and down as needed, even on those unexpected "Is that phone cordless, Randy?" moments, and he has an awesome ear for audio processing.


--- Quote ---....do you wear the headphones or not when announcing Price?  Also, what's the purpose of this??  To hear your voice inflection or to get cues, perhaps?
--- End quote ---

Every TV announcer uses headphones; you must have them for cues. Johnny used a single handheld "Brush Clevite" style (old radio folks know what that is) which he held to his ear to get cues, and then placed on the stand in front of him while reading. He didn't need the headphone during his reads because he worked in the era of live (or live-to-tape) TV when the director would never call "cut". Rod was always listening even though it didn't appear so; he switched from headphones to IFBs (Interupted FoldBacks) because they are far less conspicuous on camera. News anchors wear IFBs, and you've seen them in Paul Shafer's ears on "Letterman".

Most announcers since the beginning of broadcasting have preferred to hear themselves as the audience hears them. Even before headphones were generally used by talent, announcers would cup their hand over their ear (think the Gary Owens "Laugh-In" pose) to enable them to hear a more accurate representation of the sound of their voice. Try it with both hands and hear the difference. Without that trick or headphones you're hearing yourself almost entirely through bone induction; it's just not an accurate representation of how you sound. That's why you're amazed by how different you think you sound when you first hear your voice recorded and played back.

But a TV announcer MUST have phones (or an IFB) to hear the show behind the show... the director's cues. Generally, you only speak when cued, and the hardest part of the job for new announcers is picking up their cues and not becoming befuddled while reading when this is what is being screamed in their ear:

"... cue applause... in 5, 4, ready camera 1, ready announce, take 1 and up, cue music, pan 1, ready 2, take 2, cue announce, push 2, follow her and tighten, good, ready 1, cue 1, pan 1, ready 2, take 2, announce, push 2...". That's what the opening of "Price" sounds like. You don't want to hear what it sounds like during a showcase! It's all that plus cues for lighting, music changes, door openings, and graphics, as well as "faster" and "slower" cues for the announcer. It can also include a few wonderfully creative expletives when something doesn't go just right. At "Price" either Bart or Fred will cue the announcer at any given moment; you need to hear both.

To help maintain sanity and maximize clarity about who is saying what, Burton likes the booth in one ear and program (the show) in the other. I prefer program in both with the booth in only one ear. The announcer can also get a custom feed of the program's audio with a few twists from the show's mixer which can be set during rehearsal. For example, you do not want to hear any of the audience mics at "Price", if you've done your job properly before the show the audience is already way loud where you're standing in the studio. You need to hear yourself and Bob, but you may opt to include or exclude other audio, such as the music and/or sound effects. I personally prefer to hear the music because your pacing should reflect some of the music's tempo, and your work sounds better when you can use the music's punctuating notes or phrases to punctuate some of your copy (radio jocks would call this "hitting the posts"). But I've discovered if I get fed the music at a lower level than the program mix I can hear Bob and myself a lot clearer.

If I've left any question unanswered, just ask!

If you've read the tributes to Johnny and Rod on my website you know how much I love the work, and how much of an honor it is to be doing this particular job. To those in our ezboard family who have been kind with their words about my work and/or supportive in my hopes that any decision for fulltime falls my way, THANKS!  I am very appreciative, and I hope you'll say "hello" when you visit. I can usually give a quick tour, and it would be my pleasure to do what I can when we meet.  

As to the preference for one announcer over another, it's very subjective. Different voices can be better suited for different shows, and a lot is about a listener's preference. Beyond the professional abilities to read smoothly, reflect the energy and drama of the show, and ad-lib as needed, it's simply a matter of taste. Baskin Robbins has 31 flavors; natural vanilla bean is no "better" or "worse" than chocolate mint.    ;-)


Randy
tvrandywest.com [/quote]
 
--- Quote ---"... cue applause... in 5, 4, ready camera 1, ready announce, take 1 and up, cue music, pan 1, ready 2, take 2, cue announce, push 2, follow her and tighten, good, ready 1, cue 1, pan 1, ready 2, take 2, announce, push 2...". That's what the opening of "Price" sounds like. You don't want to hear what it sounds like during a showcase! It's all that plus cues for lighting, music changes, door openings, and graphics, as well as "faster" and "slower" cues for the announcer. It can also include a few wonderfully creative expletives when something doesn't go just right. At "Price" either Bart or Fred will cue the announcer at any given moment; you need to hear both.
--- End quote ---

I figured it was something like that!  Obviously there is a world of difference between tv and radio announcing.  Absolutely fascinating (at least for me)!  Thanks Randy, this is exactly what I wanted to know!


--- Quote ---If you've read the tributes to Johnny and Rod on my website you know how much I love the work, and how much of an honor it is to be doing this particular job. To those in our ezboard family who have been kind with their words about my work and/or supportive in my hopes that any decision for fulltime falls my way, THANKS!  I am very appreciative, and I hope you'll say "hello" when you visit. I can usually give a quick tour, and it would be my pleasure to do what I can when we meet.
--- End quote ---

I stumbled upon your website late one night, Randy and was blown away by your tribute to Johnny!  For some reason, I was always fascinated by his announcing and his "persona" on the air.  I was born in Oct. '71, so almost all of my television experience w/ Johhny was TPIR and Match Game, w/ TV's Funniest Game Show Moments or Password +, thrown in there.  I was inspired to try my hand at radio because of Johnny, as a matter of fact.  To this day, I wish we could have Johnny with us forever as I think he is the best announcer I've ever heard.  I regret not ever being able to see any of his warm-ups!  As for your tributes to both Rod and Johhny on your website, I very much appreciate the time and research you put in to get those up.  It's clear that you have a respect for the business and for 2 of the all-time greats.


--- Quote ---To those in our ezboard family who have been kind with their words about my work and/or supportive in my hopes that any decision for fulltime falls my way, THANKS!  I am very appreciative, and I hope you'll say "hello" when you visit. I can usually give a quick tour, and it would be my pleasure to do what I can when we meet.
--- End quote ---


One more question....would this disqualify us as a potential contestant?  Actually, I would take you up on this if I ever get back down that way!  Thanks for your time on this board, Randy!

clemon79:
[quote name=\'gaubster2\' date=\'Dec 24 2003, 09:12 AM\'] One more question....would this disqualify us as a potential contestant?  Actually, I would take you up on this if I ever get back down that way!  Thanks for your time on this board, Randy! [/quote]
 No, it would not, I believe he's said in the past.

JayC:
[quote name=\'clemon79\' date=\'Dec 23 2003, 10:32 PM\'] [quote name=\'JayC\' date=\'Dec 23 2003, 08:23 PM\'] DJs wear headphones because the music being played right next to them is incredibly loud, maybe Randy just wears headphones to keep the sound out?
 [/quote]
Huh?

No, that is not why DJ's wear headsets. DJ's wear headsets because the monitor speakers in the studio can't be on (and in fact, are automatically muted) at the same time the mic is live, or else you would get feedback. Therefore, the jock wears headsets so he can still hear what the hell he's doing with the mixing board while the mic is live and the monitors are off.

Further, the last word I would use to describe Burton is "unenthusiastic". I'm no fan of his work, but I respect him as a professional, and if he DID read this board, I think it's likely he wouldn't have enjoyed the long and successful career he has in Hollywood if he couldn't handle a little criticism from a few people who for the most part have never spoken into a mic professionally in their lives. [/quote]
 I asked a DJ at a school dance once why he wore headphones, and he said it was to drown out the sound to a level in which he would want to hear it.  That's where I got the DJ thing from.

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