#TuesdayTip Recaps (March/April)

On our Twitter account (@3ptproductions), we post a #TuesdayTip relevant to the sports marketing and production industry.  Our goal is to share best practices with game directors, producers and stage managers across the country. 

Having your entertainment teams and performance groups on the concourse to greet fans upon their entry is a guest relations best practice.  It provides a nice touchpoint with fans and allows them to interact with brand ambassadors.  Being handed a giveaway item from a dance team member, cheerleader or promo crew member is much more exciting than picking an item off of a table.   It's the small things that separate a good fan experience from a great fan experience. 

Always be mindful of broadcast camera positions in your arena and find ways to creatively incorporate branding.  Underbellies of scoreboards, blank walls behind sections, columns and other fixed signage areas should all be considered for sponsorship and branding opportunities.  Use your arena architecture and building structures to your advantage.

At 3 Point Productions, we find beauty in the details.  Wrinkled Press Conference backdrops are one of our pet peeves.  It's just lazy and inexcusable.  If you were going to be interviewed on national television, would you wear a wrinkled shirt or dress?  No, you wouldn't.  Respect your brand and take pride in the presentation of your backdrops.

Knowing the details of the rule book at any level sport is essential for game directing.  In times of question, the game director should have the answer and be able to steer the show accordingly.  

A good in-game promotion should highlight the team and the sponsor equally.  Finding creative ways to cross-promote and co-brand promotions should be a fun exercise and food for brainstorming.  Be mindful of the brand you're working with and incorporate some of their branding language, audio stings and other elements that fans associate with their brand.

Music beds during PA reads is a best practice only when the bed doesn't include lyrics.  When reading a sponsorship PA, you don't want the attention of fans to be competing with song lyrics.  Focus on delivering one clear message and theme the music bed appropriately.

Over-communication from the game director to their production staff members can never hurt.  It's important to remind everyone of their upcoming cues and the flow of the upcoming programming.  Keep people sharp and alert.  It's easy for staff to daze off during the course of a  sporting event.  

Consistency in cue calling can not be overstated.  Simple things like always counting down from 3 and finishing your cue with a "GO" can really make an impact on your presentation.  Regardless of your style and how you cue, be sure to keep it consistent for your staff.  Through time, it will become second nature and your crew will become accustomed to your particular style of cue calling.  Focus on clear and concise cue calls.

#TuesdayTip RecapsMatt Heuer3 Point Productions, #TuesdayTips, Twitter, Stage Management, Game Director, Game Day Experience, Game Producer, Game Ops, Sports Entertainment, Sports Marketing, Sports Business, Sponsorship Activation, Sports DJComment