What makes a good announcer?

[Mr. Nerfect]

There's been some great advice already given in here. It's much more than just calling the moves, and in fact, sometimes it is better if you don't call the moves. I understand that you are not the color commentator, but you can still emphasise the story of what is being told in the ring. If a guy uses a DDT and has been working over the head/neck of his opponent in the match, instead of finding it necessary to point out that the move is the DDT, the significance is really in the dude taking the move getting dropped on his head.

Work with your color guy. Know your roles, how to set him up for funny lines or to elaborate further on what it's like to be in the ring. Do you guys like each other or do you hate each other? How seriously does your partner take his job? Those are all kayfabe questions. As part of the wrestling industry, you are playing a role, and that means that you need to know what sort of character you are putting forward.

Emotion also doesn't mean yelling after someone has hit a big move, either. Nothing is more annoying than listening to commentators who try to be like JR and raise their voice as the action gets more intense. If the moment happens legitimately, and a spot comes out of nowhere and surprises you -- by all means sound surprised -- but don't force it.

I'm not sure if this is breaking a major rule of pro-wrestling announcing, but one thing I would try out as a commentator is predicting what is going to happen next in the match. Not to expose anything, but if a guy is perched on the top rope, and you know that they like to use a superplex, and the guy taking the move is in position for a superplex, perhaps allude to the fact that a superplex might be coming with a line like "He might be going for a superplex here." If the guy hits a superplex, you look knowledgeable about what you were calling; but if he doesn't, it creates a moment of surprise in the match (and in yourself) that can add to the story of the match -- the guy on the offensive is trying out different ways to beat his opponent and catch him off guard. You can sell that.

Your job is really to sell. It's not just the guy in the ring taking bumps doing that. The subtext of what you are doing is to make the guys in the ring look as good as possible. Even if you are a babyface and they are heels, talk about their resilience and their drive to be the best, even if you morally don't agree with their actions. If a heel gets a clean win, remind everyone that you have to "call it like you see it," and "love him or hate him, Indy Jones is one hell of a competitor."

I think you should really latch onto the subtext of the match and explain the psychology more than anything. Not just "Dick Smith is working over the arm here" but why he is working over the arm. "The Scorpion Eater had an arm injury last year that kept him sidelined for a few months. Smith has obviously done his research on Eater, and that arm being targeted is going to prevent Eater from being able to get Smith in position for his Sting of the Scorpion finishing move -- that Death Valley Driver he went for earlier in the match." From there, perhaps your partner can then go into what it's like to have an arm injury, and how that is psychologically hurting Eater's chances of winning that match, since he's got to be thinking about how for a few weeks he wasn't able to get out in the ring and entertain these fans.

In that little exchange, you and your partner have:

* Put over Dick Smith's dominance and his knowledge of his opponent. Smith has researched The Scorpion Eater and knows what to target to limit his move-set and take Eater out of the game.

* You've used your knowledge of Eater's finishing maneuver, the Death Valley Driver, and added drama by questioning Eater's ability to hit the move. If Eater hits it, he's overcome something to achieve success; and if he doesn't, you can point out that Eater had heart, but Smith took that valuable tool out of Eater's move-set.

* You've clearly positioned Eater as someone likeable by working with your partner and elaborating on just who he is as a character. If Eater is hurt, what does he miss? The fans. Anyone watching that match understands not only what is happening in that match, but who Eater is meant to be outside the ring.

Both Dick Smith and The Scorpion Eater come out looking like admirable performers -- Smith for being crafty and clever and Eater for having heart and liking people. That's one exchange between you and your partner.

Anyone can see that Smith just used an armbar takedown on The Scorpion Eater, but I believe that your job as play-by-play commentator is to call the subtext. Perhaps not necessarily explain it -- the color commentator has to do something -- but call it. If something heelish happens, you don't just say "Cathy Lick just got on the apron and distracted the referee" you call the importance of it. "Cathy Lick should not be on the apron! She's trying to help her boys win this match, but if she gets caught she might get them disqualified!" Then your partner can talk about how "She's not going to be seen, mhirn -- she knows where the referee is positioned and that's why Robman and Batin have enlisted her services. I couldn't be prouder to call her a former student of mine."

That sort of shit. The trick is being able to do it on the fly. Of course you can do your own preparation if you know what is going down, but it's good to always be flexible and be in that moment.

[Ultra Mantis]

Originally Posted by Noid Put over Dick Smith's dominance and his knowledge of his opponent. Smith has researched The Scorpion Eater and knows what to target to limit his move-set and take Eater out of the game.

If you're calling a match between Dick Smith and Scorpion Eater you should try your hardest not to mix up their forenames. Though they would probably both be more over if they did mix up their forenames.