Top Calling Tips For Beginners

[Dio]

What would be you top tips for a new Bingo caller. Any advice you can offer to help them get on with the job and not be very nervous when it comes to shouting.

What should they do if there's a problem, how do they handle link-ups, how do they regulate speed. Share your calling tips in this thread.

My first tip is a nice easy one...

Always have a glass of water to hand - it keeps both you're throat moist and helps aid concentration if you're flagging.

[ninikins]

check out other callers and their style and see what you like or dislike and adapt that

[ladyviper]

I would have to agree with ninikins, find a caller that you like and study them. It really doesn't matter about the experience, as long as you find what works for you.

[thebigbadal]

If you have to yawn while calling. Or get caught out with a yawn. Once you have taken your in breath DONT exhale, instead cough. This makes you look like you were merely clearing your throat and not bored to tears. "TRY IT"

[thebigbadal]

ooh one more
If you get an unexpected laugh...
Check your flies.

[ninikins]

Hahaa! nice one. If you get nervous, there's always the old "imagine the crowd naked" thing. Dunno if it actually works though!

[Jag]

Most people, when they get a microphone shoved in their face seem to feel the need to shout...so my advice is just use your normal talking voice when calling.

[Dio]

Most people, when they get a microphone shoved in their face seem to feel the need to shout...so my advice is just use your normal talking voice when calling.

Oh yeah, that's a good one.

[74simon]

Studying another caller is definitely a good idea, so long as they're good at it themselves - as your confidence increases, you tend to develop your own style.

I always suggest to rookie callers that they try to vary their voice a bit... I've heard several callers over the years that call out every number in the same way, normally with a rising intonation that drops on the last syllable
, eg 'two and nine, twenty (drop) nine'. This sounds really repetitive and dull, and is very irritating to listen to!

It's also a good idea for new callers to go out and play a bit of bingo too - you quickly realise what comes across well, and what grates.

Watch your pronounciation! Down here, some callers use 'free' instead of 'three', which doesn't sound great. I always use my telephone voice, which flattens out the strongest of my intonations (see below).

Don't get drawn into arguements or disputes with customers while calling. There's nothing scarier than a caller losing control of the club! But this tends to come with experience.

Personally, I always find getting your speed right to be the hardest part - there's a fine balance between keeping management and the punters happy, and a few rechecks and split or false calls can really hold you up.

Finally, take any criticism from customers with a pinch of salt - over the years, I've been told that I'm too fast, too slow, too quiet and too foreign-sounding (I'm from the north of Scotland, but have lived in the south of England for over half my life, and have lost most of my accent). I remember one old guy complain about my 'foreign' accent - fine, except that he was Scottish too! You really can't please everyone all the time.

And here endeth the 74simon bingo calling masterclass!

[Jag]

Hi 74simon. I'm the opposite from you, English accent Scottish club.So you can imagine what I get called by my adoring public!