Wrestling announcing gig

[Jay 2K Winger]

So Chikara Pro, an indie wrestling company that I'm a huge fan of, recently put out notice about an audition they're holding for more wrestlers and ring announcers. The latter is because Gavin Loudspeaker (aka Louden Noxious from Kaiju Big Battel), who'd been their announcer for the last several years, recently moved to L.A., and it's expensive flying him out for all their shows.

I am sorely tempted to go to the audition, which is on Oct. 4, even though I have zero announcing experience. (FYI, I did ask on Chikara's official forums, where they posted a thread about the audition, if experience is required, but have not received a response yet.) The audition link states that announcers should bring 2 minutes of their best material.

So... help? I'm not sure what-all I should bring with regards to material. Having been to many of Chikara's shows, I know that the ring announcer doubles as their emcee, interacting with the crowd, shilling merchandise, and otherwise keeping the audience engaged, but I don't know what is expected of me at an audition.

I have some acting experience from my high school days, but it's been ten-plus years since then. I have not yet registered for the audition, as I want to hear for sure whether they are looking for experienced announcers or if they'll accept someone willing to learn.

Any advice?

[AnaKhouri]

Show them how quickly you can dodge when wrestlers get thrown into your table!

Let's see...I've been watching loads of wrestling with the husband lately, but it's all WWE, so I don't really know how Chikara Pro works. The best WWE announcers seem to know every aspect of the sport and also play up the drama like it's a real thing. Maybe you could write up a summary of one of their storylines and tell it like an announcer would, with commentary and such? Sometimes the announcers give little summaries of whatever feud is going on before a match. Or they talk about a particular wrestler and if they're overcoming an injury or had a rough year or a great year and why they think they will win or lose.

[mjr]

So... help? I'm not sure what-all I should bring with regards to material. Having been to many of Chikara's shows, I know that the ring announcer doubles as their emcee, interacting with the crowd, shilling merchandise, and otherwise keeping the audience engaged, but I don't know what is expected of me at an audition.

Any advice?

Could you cut a promo on an upcoming match/series of matches/PPV?

Cut a promo on a specific wrestler?

Do you have a cheesy name picked out, like "Gavin Loudspeaker"? It's a stage name, but what about picking out one, and auditioning under that name "on screen"??

What about watching some videos of guys like Jim Cornette, Jimmy Hart, Bobby Heenan, Paul Heyman, etc? Guys you KNOW can cut a promo?

What are they doing right? What could they improve on? What elements of their persona could you use, if that's the way you want to go?

[Jay 2K Winger]

First of all, as ring announcer, I'm supposing my duties would primarily be introducing the wrestlers as they enter ("Making his way to the ring, from Parts Unknown" etc. etc.), and then engaging the audience between matches, a little stalling for time, and shilling stuff.

While it's true that Gavin Loudspeaker did provide commentary during matches, I'm not sure whether Chikara's new ring announcers would undertake the same duties. I am pretty well-versed in Chikara history and lore (one only needs to see my Chikara History Lesson videos to know that) so if called upon to do commentary, I think I'd probably acquit myself well.

Knowing how to cut a promo isn't the issue, I think I've got a decent handle on that, and I think I could improvise on the fly if needed.

Stage-name wise, I'd probably just stick with Jay Winger.

[mjr]

First of all, as ring announcer, I'm supposing my duties would primarily be introducing the wrestlers as they enter ("Making his way to the ring, from Parts Unknown" etc. etc.), and then engaging the audience between matches, a little stalling for time, and shilling stuff.

Stage-name wise, I'd probably just stick with Jay Winger.

Ok...that clears things up...

Two words: Michael Buffer (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Buffer). Dude is a multi-millionaire based on one phrase.

Also, check out other ring announcers. Maybe some of the classics from WWF/E (Howard Finkel, perhaps), ECW, WCW, and even Chikara.

Are they going to want you to be a bit comedic? How "over the top" are they going to want?

Slightly off topic...speaking of Howard Finkel...check this out...he was an announcer at a Wedding...and people came out to different entrance themes...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GE0_-XKGuY

[Jay 2K Winger]

Well aware of how the Buffers got famous, and Gavin certainly had his own trademark ways of doing things. He'd do some over-the-top carnival barker style intros for the wrestlers, which is something I may try to employ myself if I get the gig, and before the main event, he'd call fans up to the sides of the ring and have them drum-roll on the ring apron while launching into "Ladies and gentlemen, Chikara fans, it is now time. For. Your. mmmmmmmmmmMMMMMMMMMMMMM--MAAAAAAAAAAAAINNNNN EVENT OF THE EVENIIIIIIINNNNNG!"

[mjr]

Well aware of how the Buffers got famous, and Gavin certainly had his own trademark ways of doing things. He'd do some over-the-top carnival barker style intros for the wrestlers, which is something I may try to employ myself if I get the gig, and before the main event, he'd call fans up to the sides of the ring and have them drum-roll on the ring apron while launching into "Ladies and gentlemen, Chikara fans, it is now time. For. Your. mmmmmmmmmmMMMMMMMMMMMMM--MAAAAAAAAAAAAINNNNN EVENT OF THE EVENIIIIIIINNNNNG!"

Good way to go, but I think the most important thing will be to stay within yourself and have fun doing it.

Are you supposed to audition in person, or via video submission?

[Jay 2K Winger]

In person. Auditions are on Oct. 4 at their training facility in Philly.

[mjr]

In person. Auditions are on Oct. 4 at their training facility in Philly.

Well, hey, good luck to ya! I hope it goes well!

[Jay 2K Winger]

Still no response on their forums about whether experience is needed or not.

Doesn't matter. I went ahead and submitted my name on their site for auditions.

I'll regret it for the rest of my life if I didn't at least give it a shot.

[mjr]

Still no response on their forums about whether experience is needed or not.

Doesn't matter. I went ahead and submitted my name on their site for auditions.

I'll regret it for the rest of my life if I didn't at least give it a shot.

You never know...you might get to wrestle, too, like Gavin Loudspeaker did...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mfH8njTbuI

[Jay 2K Winger]

You never know...you might get to wrestle, too, like Gavin Loudspeaker did...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mfH8njTbuI

Gavin is in way better shape than me.

But then, I could lose weight and hit the gym.

[Jester]

Contact me privately if you want some advice. I've never announced wrestling, but I have DJ'd at weddings, a strip club, and a clothing optional bar. I've also emceed many events, from charity fund raisers to bartender competitions to goofy bar events. Being on a mike solid for two minutes is not as easy as it sounds, but I can give you some tips. The worst thing you could do is go in there unprepared.

[mjr]

So, Jay, how was the audition??

[Jay 2K Winger]

Audition went all right. As expected, I wasn't the only guy there trying out for it. Some of the others had done some more prepwork than I had-- had props and one guy had even sewn a homemade Chikara logo patch on a blazer and even made a Chikara logo microphone-guard (i.e., those little logo-box things you'll see on the microphones when a person's holding them).

Chikara was having issues with their audio system, so the microphone didn't work. Not that it mattered, since I could project my voice pretty well. I stumbled briefly and flubbed a line (mistakenly said "no flash photography" when I meant "no video photography"), but they seemed understanding that it was down to nerves.

And then I was done. Three hour drive for roughly two minutes of work and then a three hour drive home. I got an email from Chikara later that evening that had obviously been sent out to everyone, thanking us for coming out but they're going with someone else, kind of thing. Turns out they were looking for an announcer that would bring a different style than their previous guy, Gavin Loudspeaker (aka Louden Noxious of Kaiju Big Battel), and I guess most of us had drawn more inspiration for our announcing style from him than we thought.

So, I'm disappointed I didn't get the gig, but I'm not mad. The opportunity was there, and I went for it, even if it didn't work out. I can still say I tried out.