This week, Waynesburg University Sports Announcing campers received advice from three gentlemen with more than 100 years of combined announcing experience.
The camp, hosted by Lanny Frattare, assistant professor of communication at Waynesburg University and longtime voice of the Pittsburgh Pirates, afforded an opportunity for 38 campers to hear advice and stories related to the business from well-respected professionals, as well as gain hands-on experience in the field.
Frattare was joined by Paul Steigerwald, voice of the Pittsburgh Penguins, and Bill Hillgrove, voice of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Pitt Panthers, for one day of the camp.
Hillgrove and Steigerwald offered campers advice related to breaking into the business.
"If you take a job in the mailroom, you might be president of that company some day," Steigerwald said. "The opportunity you are looking for might come through the situations you least expect. It really is a matter of being in the right place at the right time, and if you can say 'I've done it before,' that is even better."
Hillgrove, who admits that he got into the business by accident, urged students to put themselves in situations where they will be heard.
"Volunteer your services," he said. "I can also caution you -- be patient."
Brandon Reed, a camper from Gibsonia, who plans to attend Waynesburg University in the fall, said the speakers offered tremendous insight into the field.
"We were surrounded by more than 100 years of talent, and I learned a lot about different ways to get a job and the things that I should be doing in college to help myself have an advantage in the field," Reed said.
Hillgrove and Steigerwald shared the "six P's" that they said have steered their careers. Included in the list are passion, persistence, perspective, practical experience, preparedness and propinquity.
Just two days into the camp, Ryan Harr from Latrobe said the experience was one he will not soon forget.
"I have never experienced anything like this before. We are learning from high-caliber individuals who are some of the most respected in the field," he said.
Steigerwald shared the importance of imitation, simulation and creation, as they relate to starting out in the profession.
"I remember imitating Bob Prince as a boy playing baseball in my backyard. As I played, I called the game in my head," he said.
Steigerwald urged students to take advantage of technology and offered the idea of using their cell phones to record themselves announcing for practice so that they can play back clips and re-record. The advice of practicing play-by-play as a spectator at any athletic event was offered to campers. Ironically, this is how Steigerwald got his start in the National Hockey League.
"I went to a Penguins game and called the game into a tape recorder from my seat and used that tape to send around," he said.
When asked how they have handled some of sports' greatest moments, Hillgrove shared the importance of being prepared.
"There are great moments where pictures tell the story and it's best to let the crowd wash over the moment," he said. "It's also important to be ready for those moments and have an idea of what you might say so that your emotions don't take over."
Eric Bost of West Mifflin said the information presented by Hillgrove and Steigerwald left him with a lot to think about.
"This is what I'm interested in, and it gave me a really good perspective and a head start on where my focus should be," he said. "I tried to take as many notes as I could and I hope to incorporate every piece of information into my future career."
Campers had the opportunity to experience a real-word, TV and radio play-by-play scenario by broadcasting live Tuesday from the Washington Wild Things game at Consol Energy Park.
