Rodeo Announcer Norman Edwards
"You mean you get paid to talk?" That's a comment I'm sure my friend Norman Edwards hears often, but he's too much of a nice guy to gripe about it.
The announcer in rodeo is the single most important factor when it comes to turning the rodeo into a 'show.' He has no teleprompter, only a few hastily scrawled notes on a clipboard. He is expected to keep the crowd informed, entertained, interact with clowns and contract acts he may have met just an hour before, take his cue from people and events happening all over the arena, and do so in a manner as professional and smoothly as the guys in the broadcast booth at NBC. He has to put up with the vagaries of malfunctioning wireless microphones, injuries that hold up the action, cowboys that 'turn out' and neglect to inform anybody, rodeo clown jokes that 'bomb' and last minute changes that he is supposed to somehow divine magically. And, oh yes, I forgot. Nobody has ever succeeded in teaching the livestock how to read a script...
One of the reasons I know so much about the announcer's job, and why I have so much respect for it, is I've done it. Reluctantly, yes, but I've done it, several times. I have a radio broadcasting background, most people think it would be easy for me. Each time I was pressed into it, I prepped for a week ahead of time, sweated bullets all through the show, and afterward vowed never again. That's why I don't just think, I know, Norman Edwards is one heck of a talent behind the microphone.
Norman has been announcing in the 'major league' of rodeo the PRCA, since 1987. In that time he has announced hundreds of rodeos and bull ridings, from Ohio to south Florida. He has been the featured voice at the SPBR (Southern Professional Bull Riders Association) finals, is the host of the Davie Series (nominated PRCA rodeo of the year several times,) has announced the Tampa State Fair PRCA Rodeo and the $100,000 Brighton Field Days Rodeo and Festival. He has co-announced with rodeo bull riding legend and television personality Don Gay who stated "Norman is one of the best announcers to work with that I've ever run across."
In addition to being one of America's foremost rodeo announcers, Norman is a cowboy preacher, and founder of the Church of Triple Cross. Both he and the Church were located in Davie Florida for many years but have recently relocated to the historic town of Micanopy, just south of Gainesville. He is known throughout the world of rodeo as a counselor cowboys do not hesitate to turn to for advice and guidance.
In addition to announcing, preaching and counseling, Norman produces the occasional western show. He was even the producer of the show "Christmas at Triple Cross, a live nativity play featuring a cast of over 100 actors and live animals including lions, tigers and camels. The play drew over 10,000 spectators over it's four day run.
The announcer in rodeo is the single most important factor when it comes to turning the rodeo into a 'show.' He has no teleprompter, only a few hastily scrawled notes on a clipboard. He is expected to keep the crowd informed, entertained, interact with clowns and contract acts he may have met just an hour before, take his cue from people and events happening all over the arena, and do so in a manner as professional and smoothly as the guys in the broadcast booth at NBC. He has to put up with the vagaries of malfunctioning wireless microphones, injuries that hold up the action, cowboys that 'turn out' and neglect to inform anybody, rodeo clown jokes that 'bomb' and last minute changes that he is supposed to somehow divine magically. And, oh yes, I forgot. Nobody has ever succeeded in teaching the livestock how to read a script...
One of the reasons I know so much about the announcer's job, and why I have so much respect for it, is I've done it. Reluctantly, yes, but I've done it, several times. I have a radio broadcasting background, most people think it would be easy for me. Each time I was pressed into it, I prepped for a week ahead of time, sweated bullets all through the show, and afterward vowed never again. That's why I don't just think, I know, Norman Edwards is one heck of a talent behind the microphone.
Norman has been announcing in the 'major league' of rodeo the PRCA, since 1987. In that time he has announced hundreds of rodeos and bull ridings, from Ohio to south Florida. He has been the featured voice at the SPBR (Southern Professional Bull Riders Association) finals, is the host of the Davie Series (nominated PRCA rodeo of the year several times,) has announced the Tampa State Fair PRCA Rodeo and the $100,000 Brighton Field Days Rodeo and Festival. He has co-announced with rodeo bull riding legend and television personality Don Gay who stated "Norman is one of the best announcers to work with that I've ever run across."
In addition to being one of America's foremost rodeo announcers, Norman is a cowboy preacher, and founder of the Church of Triple Cross. Both he and the Church were located in Davie Florida for many years but have recently relocated to the historic town of Micanopy, just south of Gainesville. He is known throughout the world of rodeo as a counselor cowboys do not hesitate to turn to for advice and guidance.
In addition to announcing, preaching and counseling, Norman produces the occasional western show. He was even the producer of the show "Christmas at Triple Cross, a live nativity play featuring a cast of over 100 actors and live animals including lions, tigers and camels. The play drew over 10,000 spectators over it's four day run.
Norman Edwards
The Voice of Five Star Rodeo
The Voice of Five Star Rodeo