Talking

That said, stamping your own personality on events and matches isvery important, otherwise you’re just another commentator andyou won’t stand out. Style is very personal, of course, and how yousay certain things may be out of habit, but that doesn’t mean it willalways work.You have to remember that, unlike almost any other sports broadcasting,esports is entirely international. Cracking a joke about anational soap star might be funny to you and your fellow countrymen,but anyone outside that sphere of knowledge (i.e. the other 7billion people on the planet) won’t have a clue what you’re talkingabout. So first of all, ensure what you say and how you say it is relativelyuniversal rather than locally specific. This isn’t to say you haveto be sterile about delivery, but just ensure that what you say isfairly universally accepted.Style comes over time. Though most of your early success might bedown to your personality, your progress will come from working onbroadcasting skills, and this is what gives you your style - it’s a perfectblend of your personality, experience and skills.THE ART OF DEAD AIROne of the most underutilized techniques in esports broadcasting isthe correct use of dead air. As I explained in an earlier chapter,pacing is extremely important in helping to save your voice, but it’salso important for the flow of the commentary. The art of dead airis controlling those spaces in the commentary that allow you toreset the story, pique intrigue and set up other parts of the broadcast.Used correctly, dead air can really make those amazing playseven more amazing.44