Ryyudo

Came across a thread on Twitter. While I didn't see the original tweet, a conversation about commentary/commentators emerged over it. It was clear to me that the folks responding to Jebailey/Tong weren't familiar to the workings behind production.

It's been a few weeks, intentionally. I wanted to wait until after CEOtaku before making any responses.

Nonetheless, it's been on my mind: Most folks DON'T know the workings behind the scenes. In general, but especially when it comes to commentary. I feel folks may think it's more simple than it appears to be. Which, is the goal: If it looks effortless, then the commentator succeeded.

So I wanted to put together a response to some of the things said here, while supplementing with my own experience to give more insight into the commentary side of things.

Commentating is both a hobby and volunteer work (for most of the community.)

There's an audition process behind any major event seeking commentators. So how do you prove that you're good enough for the big stage? You have to volunteer to do commentary for local and online tournaments. This is important as well, because it does give you experience and show that you're taking it seriously (a huge trapping of locals and casual online is that folks don't take it seriously, using it as a platform to try to be funny for an audience they haven't had before.)

Then, would-be commentators must have the the capability to make it to the tournament. Which means earning enough money, PTO, and general life stability in one's everyday life to be consistent enough to show up to events and earn that meddle. Live in a mecca for regional and larger events significantly help; being outside one means those requirements grow more expensive.

Also, commentators need to remember to sign up. This is shockingly more common than you may think, at ANY level of commentary. 😂 If you don't sign up, you're not getting slots.

Commentators do not earn that much.

Commentary shouldn't be done with the expectation of profit. Unless you've learned how to consume exposure, commentary earnings only covers for a fraction of the trip itself. 98% of commentators are not flown out or given a hotel room for events. You'd have to be hyper-frugal to earn anything, so it should just be seen as a discount to a working vacation.

Well I'll just play in tournament and do commentary at the same time.

Commentators can NOT swap between playing and commentating if they're happening at the same time. You have to be dedicated to commentary and DQ yourself if schedules clash, or not enter in the first place.

Generally, organizers will help create a schedule so you can do both. That said, if you do well enough that it does clash (e.g. qualifying for Top 32, but you're also scheduled to commentate it,) you must either tell them as early as you can so they have enough time find another commentator, or DQ yourself after you qualify.

The "continuing to play" option sucks a little because they have a limited number of folks to work with AT the event, let alone available. If they had a lot of people who could fulfill the role, we wouldn't be having this conversation in the first place. :)

Folks attempting to do both (or more) will quickly learn it requires a lot of energy!

It's difficult to keep up proper energy for both, resulting in lower-quality performances in all directions. Giving up performance levels that they spent time and mind on isn't worth it to many folks. Sometimes even having to give up on hanging out with folks if the need for sleep calls.

This is something I got to talk with my friend, Ruric, about at CEOtaku. He's a top level player, placing Top 8 in both Granblue Fantasy and UNICLR.

He very much understood the limitations for him to be a commentator, alluding back to a time when he realized exactly how much energy just competing alone required and tried to do commentary as well. His focus had to slip somewhere to maintain both and he opted to be a competitor instead and said he'll never mix the two again.

If you have any grandeur of being among the best players, fitting commentary into the mix will be detrimental to the cause.

Commentary is held to a high standard of quality.

Despite all this, just because there's not many commentators available doesn't mean that desperation spits in the face of quality.

Not everyone is at the quality stream directors and TOs want. The director is responsible for the show on their, or another brand's(!), channel they're hosting on. If the commentators do something wrong, directors are still held responsible for that show.

Conclusion

So the pipeline we're working with is:

• Many folks aren't willing or able to spend their limited time and resources to effectively pay to work at an event. Hence, a lack of volunteers in general.

• Tournaments pick from a limited pool of folks. The older the game, the more limited the options.

• Many would-be commentators opt to play instead of commentate.

• Others aren't up to the level, or have enough proof of skill, desired for the event.

• Just because the event may be hurting for commentators doesn't mean everyone gets in.

So when folks say there's so many commentators to pick from, I believe most are truly unaware what behind-the-scenes looks like. That it's not just "picking anyone around," it's a vetted process. They just see a likable face on their screens and assume they're getting on fine without seeing the sacrifices to be there and the continued cost to remain there.

I'd guess how we see TV/film actors and actresses trickles into "anyone hired to be on-screen," and the base assumption is that they're getting pampered nicely.

I'm sure there's some stuff I missed but, hey, that's what the Ask page is for! Whether it has to do with the subject at hand or any other curiosities. surrounding it.