Work Environment
This occupation is typically found in the following Career Sector(s):
Videos on the Web
- Esport Caster- from: Youtube Search
Most commonly reported Work Activities
- Interacting With Computers Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
- Getting Information Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
- Performing for or Working Directly with the Public Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
- Processing Information Compiling, coding, categorising, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
- Documenting/Recording Information Entering, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems Analysing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
- Thinking Creatively Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
- Organising, Planning, and Prioritising Work Developing specific goals and plans to prioritise, organise, and accomplish your work.
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events Identifying information by categorising, estimating, recognising differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
Working Life
A caster (or 'shoutcaster') is someone who provides commentary during an esports match to help the audience follow the action and keep them engaged.
To do this, a caster must be knowledgeable about most aspects of a game, and be able to continually provide entertainment and insights — for possibly hours at a time.
Casters tend to work events on a freelance basis. If a pair of casters has consistently good chemistry, they may form a partnership.
Generally speaking, there are two types of caster:
- A hype caster is responsible for getting the audience excited. They tend to take over during moments of fast-paced action, and must be able to keep track of many details while continuing to explain what’s happening.
- An analyst is responsible for keeping the audience informed and providing context. They tend to speak more during the quieter moments of a match, and may lend insights about the teams, current trends in gameplay, or historic facts.
Occasionally, other commentators might join a broadcast, such as an esport athlete. Casters may also be asked to join the broadcast panel, or create other entertaining content as part of an event.
Work tasks...
- Give a voice to the story of an esport match, through analysis and hyping up big moments.
- Follow the action closely, and notice key details which may affect the outcome of a match.
- Work closely with the production team and observers to ensure the audience gets a consistent experience.
- Keep up-to-date with an esport game and its trends.
- Research the history of participating teams, including the players and their personalities, and data about past performances.
- Maintain a home studio for working on virtual events, and travel internationally to be in the broadcast studio for larger events.
Most commonly reported Work Tasks
- Operate control consoles.
- Record commercials for later broadcast.
- Announce musical selections, station breaks, commercials, or public service information, and accept requests from listening audience.
- Study background information to prepare for programmes or interviews.
- Read news flashes to inform audiences of important events.
- Identify stations, and introduce or close shows, ad-libbing or using memorised or read scripts.
- Prepare and deliver news, sports, or weather reports, gathering and rewriting material so that it will convey required information and fit specific time slots.
- Select program content, in conjunction with producers and assistants, based on factors such as program specialties, audience tastes, or requests from the public.
- Comment on music and other matters, such as weather or traffic conditions.
- Develop story lines for broadcasts.
Qualities - Esport Caster
Strong verbal communication skills are essential for this role, including good diction and the ability to keep a positive mood on camera for many hours.
As with any event production role, teamwork is crucial as things can go wrong and casters need to be able to improvise.
Resilience is a key skill. Esport fans can be harsh critics, and building the credibility to work at big events is likely to involve many rejections along the way.
Interests - Esport Caster
This occupation is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests:
Creative
Creative people are drawn to careers and activities that enable them to take responsibility for the design, layout or sensory impact of something (visual, auditory etc). They may be atrracted to the traditional artistic pursuits such as painting, sculpture, singing, or music. Or they may show more interest in design activities, such as architecture, animation, or craft areas, such as pottery and ceramics.
Creative people use their personal understanding of people and the world they live in to guide their work. Creative people like to work in unstructured workplaces, enjoy taking risks and prefer a minimum of routine.
Enterprising
Enterprising people like situations that involve using resources for personal or corporate economic gain. Such people may have an opportunistic frame of mind, and are drawn to commerce, trade and making deals. Some pursue sales and marketing occupations. Many will eventually end up owning their own business, or in management roles in larger organisations. They tend to be very goal-oriented and work best when focused on a target. Some have an entrepreneurial inclination.
Social
The Social person's interests focus on interacting with the people in their environment. In all cases, the Social person enjoys the personal contact with other people in preference to the impersonal dealings with things, data and ideas found in other groups.
Many will seek out positions where there is direct contact with the public in some advisory role, whether a receptionist or a counsellor. Social people are motivated by an interest in different types of people and like diversity in their work environments. Many are drawn towards careers in the caring professions and social welfare area, whilst others prefer teaching and other 'informing' roles.
Entry / Progression - Esport Caster
Many casters get started by casting amateur matches and small tournaments, as part of an official broadcast or on their personal channel.
This helps them to build a following, gather feedback, practice their craft, and gain experience which can be used to apply for commercial events. During this time, casters often have to work as their own observer.
Event organisers often stick with proven talent, which makes it difficult to break into the scene of an established game. Moving from one game to another can be challenging due to the high level of game-specific knowledge required.
Further info...
Pay & Salary - Esport Caster
Salary Range (thousands per year)* €17k - €50k
Salaris vary based on audience, monetization, employer, experience, duties, role, and location.
Data Source(s):
Statista/ Glassdoor/ Esportsearnings/ Prosperity
Last Updated: February, 2024
Labour Market Updates - Esport Caster
Note: The following information relates to occupations that include: IT business analysts, architects and systems designers, Web design and development professionals, Information technology & telecommunications professionals n.e.c.
This information has been derived from the Solas National Skills Bulletin (2024).
Employment growth was significantly above average for this occupation, with particularly strong growth between 2022 and 2023 (an additional 6,500 persons). Those employed were primarily male, working full-time and holding third-level qualifications. The share of non-Irish citizens employed far exceeded the national average (37% compared to 19% nationally).
Although the number of employment permits issued declined by 1,600 between 2022 and 2023, this occupation had the highest share of permits issued in 2023 across the ICT occupations for roles including data engineers, IT analysts/engineers (systems, security, cloud, network, test, technical support), With the third highest share of online job adverts (Eurostat/CEDEFOP) across all occupations, roles included IT business analysts, architects and systems designers. Vacancies were mentioned as difficult-to-fill in the Recruitment Agency Survey for security/network/site reliability engineers and solutions architects, while network engineers were noted as difficult to source in the Skills for Growth data.
Demand for these roles is evident from the data and with the continued cybersecurity threats, and the emergence of advanced technologies (e.g. AI, machine learning and Blockchain), demand is expected to persist particularly for security engineers.
