Interview with Joe Block of the Milwaukee Brewers
Interview Source:
- Name of Person: Joe Block
- Title: Radio play by play broadcaster,
- Organization / Company:
- Milwaukee Brewers
- E-Mail or Phone Number: [email protected]
- General Responsibilities: gather information and describe game action to radio network audience
- Likes: baseball, talking, people
- Dislikes: incessant travel, long schedule
- Hours / Attire: work 8-10 hours 27-28 days a month for 7-8 consecutive months; business casual
- Pay / Benefits / Perks: low 6 figures, pension/full medical, ride on team charter/many catered meals
- Education: bachelor degree at Michigan State Univ.
- Related Experience: 12 years working for minor league baseball teams, an NBA team and radio stations post-graduation.
- Salary Range $0-$8MM
- Turnover Very high
- Opportunity for Advancement: Easier on the low end, tougher once you ascend
Tips for Students Aspiring Towards a Similar Position:
You have to be all-in. Pursuing a career in broadcasting takes great perseverance but can be very rewarding. Be humble and let others critique your work but be confident that you will reach your goals eventually.
How difficult was it for you to break into the sports industry?
Breaking in is easy these days. There are abundant local and regional TV networks, radio stations, colleges, teams, etc., so it's relatively easy to start somewhere, but it's tougher as you move up.
Was it something you knew you wanted to do right off the bat?
Yes, since I was 8 years old, I had an inkling baseball play by play would be my career path. I really started working on it around age 14, when I created a public access talk show in high school.
What is your favorite part about your job and what is your least favorite?
Favorite is being around baseball and being paid to think/talk/learn about my favorite hobby. Least favorite is the incessant travel and being away from my wife. That will get tougher once we have kids.
Daily Responsibilities?
Let's say a game starts at 7... I'll leave for the ballpark around 3. Get there, bring my stuff up to the booth. Go in the clubhouse and talk with our players and then their players. Listen in on the managers' media sessions. Interview someone from pregame. Watch batting practice. Get back upstairs around 5:30-6. Eat. Compile all the info I've gotten, adding it to the reading I did earlier that morning at home. Then we're on the air at 6:35.
Other Advice
Good luck figuring out what you'd like to do. My advice is to follow what you like to do when you're doing whatever you want. That way, you'll love it no matter what you get paid.