Producer, Director, and Storyteller from the Big Ten Network visits Ball State’s Sports Link to speak in front of Digital Sports Production students.

As a member of Ball State’s Sports Link program, I have had the opportunity to learn from coaches of several different sports, broadcasters from multiple stations across the country, and speak with some incredible athletes. It seems as if there is a new speaker once a week! Personally, these speakers are what keep me excited and passionate about a future in the sports production industry. I love to come with actual paper and multi-colored pens to organize all my thoughts and notes as these guest spill quotable words of advice, one after the other. When Garrett Wright came to visit our program, I expected to do the same. However, I was pleasantly surprised.

Wright took a small group of us out to breakfast after he spoke to our class. This led to a small round table session with him and some of my peers.

A Breakfast Conversation

I met Wright at the Student Center on campus, along with Sports Link’s Chris Taylor, and 3 SL students. We all had a great and comfortable conversation with one another. Wright shared his journey from being a Nebraska college student to now producing shows for the Big Ten. He had just finished a producing a story commemorating what happened 20 years ago on 9/11 and looks back at when Nebraska football honored the fallen victims through the Tunnel Walk. I had just finished watching the documentary before Wright visited us and was moved to tears. It was a story so beautifully told and I would highly recommend this 30 minute watch to anyone.

A Look into my Notes

Through all of my time spent with Garrett Wright, I took pages of notes from the advice he gave. For you, though, I will stick to the main points. 

Organization is KEY

Wright makes sure to organize the story, time, and place first. He has planners, reminders on his phone, and checklists to mark off each order of business. 

Multi-task your Stories

The BTN Producer gave us the advice to constantly be thinking about the next story we want to tell. The work isn’t done after one great production. Who is the next person you should feature? What team has a story that also needs shared? Thinking about the next story always allows you to have a fall back, as well, if your original production falls through.

Create Meaningful Relationships

My favorite piece of advice. Relationships are why I chose to study in CCIM and relationships allow us to tell impactful stories. Wright told us how important it is to cultivate a strong relationship with the ones we are interviewing and recording. This allows them open up and feel safe in sharing who they are with not only with us, but with the audience watching our content.