The seats aren’t filled in this big arena. Not yet! Here, I’m warming up my vocals for the show. It’s a big voice that’s needed to fill this space… especially when there are 10,000 people in it. And especially when I’m doing the play-by-play for big monster truck action. Those machines make big noise. They can get a little loud. That’s the understatement of the year.
OK, here I am again, looking ready for an action hero role! In fact, I’m the #1 Fan! Here’s what the TransCanada Hell Drivers have said about me: “I’ve never worked with an announcer who can reflect the excitement of fans like Doug. Fast on his feet and fast on the mic, he’s the glue and the grease that helped make our shows exciting and seamless.” -Walter Williams, Stunt show legend, Thrill Show Productions, TransCanada Hell Drivers
Motocross speaks for itself! That’s me in the shot announcing FMX to over a million people at the Calgary Stampede. I know when to speak and when to let the riders take your breath away.
At the Calgary Stampede, I don’t have to imagine the audience at live events. I see, hear and feel the crowd. As a live, virtual and hybrid events announcer, in studio as well as on stage, there’s always a “connected audience” in my mind.
Sometimes, working live events, like the Calgary Stampede, I have to pinch myself. Even the fact that I get to talk face-to-face with some of these world class athletes and performers continues to amaze me.
This is a great shot of me with the CTV reporter because it captures the over-the-top excitement I’m feeling in the midst of a wild, live motorsports performance. I want to thank the media personalities for their long-running interest in my career. It’s easy to see why they keep wanting to interview me: I’m out-of-my-mind with enthusiasm for the shows!
You can literally crank it up while you listen to my demos! Here, what I’m getting at when I say “volume” is the excitement level of the crowd. It converts into extremely loud noise. As the live announcer, I get an adrenaline rush when that volume goes up. As these riders perform their magic, I can enjoy the volume and not actually have to say anything!
In early February of 2024, I had to consult what I call my “contingency clipboard” in Lethbridge, Alberta. A freestyle motocross rider suffered a bad crash during a show. As MC, my job is not to rush to the scene of the accident. It is to keep the show going, distracting the crowd with colour commentary from notes (on that clipboard).
From a recent article on the topic:
“Stuff happens. Things go wrong,” says Doug. It doesn’t matter how serious the mishap is, there’s always something he can reference on his clipboard.
Read the full article at:
On the Fly, by Liam Davies, Working Draft magazine, Mar 31, 2024
“When I’m the announcer at any live show, I keep a clipboard with notes, facts, and supplemental material on standby for unpredictable situations. Having the material in my hands allows me to keep things going during moments of uncertainty — it’s my responsibility to face the camera and address the crowd.”
Read the full article at:
On the Fly, by Liam Davies, Working Draft magazine, Mar 31, 2024
CHECK OUT ALL MY DEMOS HERE
I’m a voice artist in the studio and a live announcer at motorsports events. It’s not typically life or death in the studio. It can be in live motorsports: “When something goes haywire… my mind goes blank… I mean that’s my friend in that situation,” he explains. “It’s human inclination to run over there, but that’s not my job.” Find out what Doug does during dangerous situations.
Read the full article at:
On the Fly, by Liam Davies, Working Draft magazine, Mar 31, 2024
CHECK OUT ALL MY DEMOS HERE
I want to thank the journalists for their continued interest in my work as a live announcer during motorsports events. In a recent article, Liam Davies talks about the always-present possibility of stunts going terribly wrong: “In the fast-paced world of live production, things can and will go wrong.” Find out what dangerous mishaps mean for me, the MC.
Read the full article at:
On the Fly, by Liam Davies, Working Draft magazine, Mar 31, 2024
That’s a shot of me in Victoria, British Columbia, on the road as announcer for the start of a monster truck show tour. I’m honoured to welcome fans for these pro drivers and show biz folks. I’m also lucky to work in cities across the continent. Maybe I’ll be welcoming you to the show one day!
Shhh… Don’t tell anyone: To enhance events, I love to produce recorded voice clips that can be played with the push of a button when I’m not actually there. The events can be live, virtual or hybrid. To promote the events beforehand, you can use some of the same clips to produce event, brand and sponsor spots.
Learn more:
In the studio, I’m taking my direction from the script (or the producer/director). Live events are different from studio sessions in that you get instant feedback from the listener. Sometimes, when the crowd responds to the action… I respond to the crowd’s direction, and help them take the excitement to an even higher level!
After a great show, attendees love telling other people about it, and they love replays! Here’s your chance to slice and dice the excitement into cool clips that generate social media buzz for your brand. You can use recorded voice after-the-fact to provide quick context for your edits.
Great events don’t just happen. The main event is designed with an audience in mind… and delivered with an audience in attendance! The sound can come courtesy of a live announcer. It can also be pre-engineered with recorded voice clips that break through in ways that can sometimes be “larger than live!”
To break through the social media clutter and get people interested in your event, try using audio-enhanced digital ads and videos. If you don’t have any great video, have it created using static images like a slideshow, enhanced by a music track, sound effects and – you guessed it – recorded voice. I can help!
Learn more:
That rumbling sound is larger than life. If you’ve been there for ignition, you know what I mean. When I get excited like that, it transfers to the audience. It’s contagious.
Excerpt from Stan Ashbee’s article at https://www.mylethbridgenow.com/37880/news/motorsports-spectacular-announcer-is-a-fan-first/
In my Event Planner’s Checklist, I cover off the benefits of using recorded voice before, during and after an event (live, virtual or hybrid). Before an awards show, for example, audio ads can feature the voice of the same host you’ll hear at the event itself. Brand consistency is a fundamental in the media and advertising worlds. It can help you sell event tickets!
Learn more:
When you start doing stuff that other people don’t do, you hope it works! If it’s new and it works, you’re a pioneer and a thought leader. With the recent popularity of virtual events, I started combining my studio voiceover capability with my live announcer flexibility. For good measure, I threw in a little acting ability. I’ve now been called a virtual event thought leader. Cool!
Learn more:
“As a live announcer, I look at my role as being more like the ringmaster, as opposed to the emcee.”
I’m a ringmaster at monster shows and, to be that, I’m a fan first. I’m a fan of people who do things really well. Being around those people is exciting!
Excerpt from Stan Ashbee’s article at https://www.mylethbridgenow.com/37880/news/motorsports-spectacular-announcer-is-a-fan-first/
“Motorsports Spectacular brings “death-defying” stunts to Lethbridge this weekend featuring heart-pounding monster truck races, jaw-dropping motocross performances, monster truck rides and the ultimate pre-show pit party.” – Stan Ashbee
I couldn’t have said it any better, myself! And, yeah, it’s my heart pounding, and my jaw dropping as I announce these wild shows.
Read the full article at: https://www.mylethbridgenow.com/37880/news/motorsports-spectacular-announcer-is-a-fan-first/
Getting the crowd going is part of my job. To be honest, it’s the BEST part of my job!
Sometimes the EVENT takes my breath away. I think staying silent can be part of my job during live events – knowing when to let the action speak for itself!
When I’m working as voice talent for clients, it’s always an event. Hence the tagline. Nowadays, events can be live, virtual or hybrid.
My voice is used during virtual events. It is also used to promote the events in digital ads… before they happen.
During virtual events, a recorded voice can “read the lines perfectly” at the push of a button. Want to try this technique for yourself? Get in touch!
Through live announcing, I’ve had the chance to meet professional athletes and entertainers who create magic for their audiences. I'm fortunate to be a part of those experiences.
When I’m live announcing Motorsports Entertainment Events, I feel the excitement myself, and I transfer it to the audience with my voice. What these guys and gals do with thousands of pounds of moving metal is awesome.
When the crowd gets loud, I take it as my cue to hold off on commentary. There’s magic in the interplay between the action, my comments (or silence) and an excited audience at a live event.
Through live announcing, I’ve had the chance to meet professional athletes and entertainers who create magic for their audiences. I'm fortunate to be a part of those experiences.
When I’m live announcing Motorsports Entertainment Events, I feel the excitement myself, and I transfer it to the audience with my voice. What these guys and gals do with thousands of pounds of moving metal is awesome.
I don’t have to imagine the audience at live events like this one. I see, hear and feel the crowd. As a live, virtual and hybrid events announcer, in studio as well as on stage, there’s always a “connected audience” in my mind.
CHECK OUT ALL MY DEMOS HERE!
As these guys fly higher – airborne and upside-down, my voice sounds awe-struck, just like the audience… at least for a few moments.
Check out all of my demos here!
Sometimes the EVENT takes my breath away. Even though I’m the live announcer, I’m not always speaking. I think that’s part of my job during live events – knowing when to let the action speak for itself!
Download My Virtual Events Checklist
Virtual Events are bigger than ever. Planned voiceover recordings can produce audio that can be used for all of it… pre-event promos, post-event recaps and, of course, the event itself.
Check out all of my demos here!
Sound can make or break an online experience. We really learned that with virtual and hybrid events. I keep it human and try to bring the excitement of live events to the digital world.
Check out all of my demos here!
We’re running a lot more virtual/hybrid events, these days. When I record event voiceovers, we often produce pre-show promos and post-show thank you’s, too!
Check out all of my demos here!
You could call me Ambassador of Excitement at events like the Calgary Stampede. I get the audience going and, sometimes, when they want me to, I speak for the athletes and performers. It’s an honour!
Check out all of my demos here!
Sometimes the EVENT takes my breath away. Even though I’m the live announcer, I’m not always speaking. That’s part of my job – knowing when to let the action speak for itself!
Check out all of my demos here!
I love my job. Can you tell? Maybe you’d better play the video and then answer that question!
Check out all of my demos here!
It’s such fun announcing monster trucks. Here’s my take on the right voice for the action.
Check out all of my demos here!
How would you say these event opening lines: “Live, from Los Angeles... Please welcome your host for this evening: Beyonce!” Here’s my take.
Check out all of my demos here!
A crowd has gathered. Want to know why you would find me there? Check out my Blog!
Check out all of my demos here!
How would you say this event opener: “The final results were placed in sealed envelopes and revealed on tonight’s show.” Here’s my take on it:
Check out all of my demos here!
Do you like my tagline: “When he speaks, it’s an event!” Please check out my demos. I narrate plenty of events – live, virtual and hybrid. If it’s my voice you’re hearing, it’s an event!
Check out all of my voice demos, including documentary work, here!
Announcing monster trucks is show biz. I’m honoured to be working with a lineup of sensational performers. My job is to project the excitement to the audience. Can you tell by my comments in this interview?
Check out all of my demos here!
“Welcome to the world of augmented reality.” How would you say that line? Here’s how I read it to promote events: virtual, hybrid and live. Check it out.
Check out all of my demos here!
