Hey everyone! Crown of Gaming’s own DC here again with another article on commentary. I’ve been asked this question a bit and there’s a lot to talk about on the subject of, HOW TO WORK WITH ANY CO-COMMENTATOR, or even just how to improve the flow between regular partners. Well I’ve got a pretty cool answer that will help you figure out not only how to improve, but how to recognize key factors that are necessary to have (and improve) on the mic. This article is about:

Conversational Awareness

The best way to understand the flow of speech between partners is through normal conversation. There are a few different ways to learn/practice during everyday conversations, and there are factors to pick up on when speaking with your commentary partner. Here are some of those factors.

1. At what point do they like to speak? For example, if you’re telling your co-commentator a story about what you had for lunch, are they completely silent until the story is over or are they asking questions along the way? Knowing when someone wants to interject in normal conversation will reflect when they’ll be ready to speak when commentating. Knowing this, you can leave space for them to talk when it’s natural for them, and the flow will sound great on the mic.

2. Do they like to be the head of the conversation? Some people like to drive the flow of conversation, and those same people like to drive the flow of commentary. That usually means that you have a talkative and energetic partner, so being aware of this can stop you from running over each other’s words or trying to fight for control of the pacing. Figure out where the openings arrive between the two of you, and use those moments to comment or ask questions to keep the train running. And if you want to balance out the flow, talk to your partner and let them know.

3. Do they understand your thought process? The best kinds of conversations are with people who understand your process of thought. They can figure out where you’re going with a topic and they’re prepared with a question or comment quickly because of that. It’s something that comes from getting to know the person you’re speaking with, so a great way to practice with your co-commentator is to talk with them often. When on the mic, you’ll both be naturally attuned to each other’s thought process and the flow of the commentary will benefit.

I’m going to keep this article short since there’s a lot to practice and notice on this topic. The best way to apply this information is to keep it in mind when talking to ANYONE, and to adjust the way you go about conversation with everyday people. See how you can mold conversations and become aware of how people follow your pace and respond. This way when you’re on the mic, it won’t take long for you to find the flow. The more conversational awareness you gain, the stronger your commentary will become.