How to Plan Cheer Voiceovers and Team Callouts
What a voiceover does in a mix
Voiceovers announce who you are, hype the crowd and mark big moments. The most common spots are the opening callout with the gym and team name, a line into the pyramid, and a line before the dance or final hit.
Treat voiceovers as part of the arrangement. A line that starts in the middle of a phrase competes with the music and can pull the team off count.
Placement that works
- Start a line on count 1 of a phrase, or let it lead into the next downbeat.
- Keep each line to about one or two 8 counts so it does not crowd skills.
- Duck the music slightly under the voice instead of making the voice louder.
- Avoid placing a line on top of sung vocals in the music.
- Save the biggest callout for a transition, such as right before the pyramid.
Writing the script
Use your gym name, team name, city, colors and mascot. Short phrases with strong consonants cut through a loud arena. Spell names phonetically for whoever records or generates them, and listen back to make sure the name is pronounced the way your athletes say it.
Unique lines matter. Two teams with the same stock voiceover sound interchangeable. CheerMix AI™ writes fresh announcer lines for each mix.
Voiceovers need licensing too
Varsity requires that an editor provide proof of licensing for all sound effects and voiceovers in a mix. Source: Varsity Spirit Music Guidelines. Keep the paperwork for every voice in your music.
Build a custom mix in CheerMix AI™. Previews are free, and a finished mix is $49 with unlimited edits. See pricing.
FAQ
How many voiceovers should a mix have?
Most mixes use two to four: an opening callout and one or two transition lines. More than that tends to crowd the music.