all you commentators and operators

[olliebol]

Hello vugraph commentators and operators at venues.

 

 

I m curious about the stories you have to tell, for instance how did you became one. Was there a training stage for operators and maybe some commentators have undergone some strange experiences during broadcasts.

 

Also what are the most difficult aspects of the job? etc etc. just curious!

[nickf]

I've been a VG operator for years. I'm not sure how long but I recall my first ID was vugraph13 so it was a long time ago. I just volunteered to broadcast the final of one of our major events. Now I am the ABF VuGraph Co-ordinator.

 

Easily the most difficult aspect is keeping up with the play in the mid to end game because this is when the players play fastest. I recruit and train a lot of operators and this is always the main stumbling block for them.

 

To that end, I think the best operators are experienced bridge players (and experienced BBO players) - because an experienced bridge player will often know what card will be played next (in a trick) and often what the lead to the next trick is likely to be. It's these split seconds of advantage that can be the difference between getting all the cards right and a "sorry I lost the play" comment. Not that that's the end of the world either. You need the BBO experience in order to be familiar with the software.

 

It's also imperative that you get claims right. If you claim the wrong number of tricks, it's easily rectified, but then you lose the auction and the card play and that buggars up the archived .lin file that is created at the end of the match. There are work arounds to restoring this data and I can send instructions to anyone who is interested.

 

Operating can be tiring too - at the World Juniors in 2005, we had 20 board matches, but sufficient operators to give everone a 5 min break every now and again. You need to be seated comfortably too, in order to get a good view of the table (an elevated position is best, like on a bar stool).

 

But the best advice I can give you is PRACTICE and I know Roland will echo this last bit - READ THE MANUAL.

 

nickf

sydney

[JLOGIC]

As a commentator I always talk too much, and don't interact enough imo, it's an easy trap to fall into.

[Phil]

Personally I think the best commentators talk a LOT (like Gavin). Its nice to listen to a stream of consciousness, even if there is an occasional error along the way.

 

As for me, I got into this shindig about 5-6 years ago when I helped out in the Missouri grudge match thing or whatever its called. I do enjoy commentating, especially when I know the people involved in the match which is kind of cool.

 

No stories, although we can all share the time where we didn't realize when we were ungagged and said something really stupid / obscene / random in front of about 2,500 people :)

[peachy]

As a commentator I always talk too much, and don't interact enough imo, it's an easy trap to fall into.

But what you say is golden. Several people have said that to me!

This is what I think: You seem to have the happy knack of knowing exactly which aspects of defense, declarer play, or bidding to explain, how much to say, and when to move on. And you do it in a manner that is suited for anybody's ears in a neutral but engaging analysis. You deserve a huge compliment for what you do and I hope you would have the chance to commentate more often.

[barmar]

I'm one of the regular operators at NABCs. Until Jan Martel took over arranging these VGs a couple of years ago, they were very disorganized. But after attending NABCs for a number of years, I got to know most of the TDs, and learned who handled the VG, and started volunteering when I had openings in my schedule.

 

I agree that following the card play can sometimes be difficult. Sometimes you try to predict, but it gets tricky when pairs are playing different carding systems. I fully admit that sometimes I get spot cards wrong, so subtle signals may not always be apparent to the VG audience.

 

The other difficulty is alert explanations. Some players are helpful in showing the explanation to the operator, but most aren't. And rule#1 in operating is: don't disturb the players. So you can't ask to see the paper. If a pair is playing a relay system, forget about it. Hopefully one of the commentators will be familiar with the system, so they can explain when I can't.

[jkdood]

I am forever mystified well let's say intrigued by what and if some of the players ask about the match's result - to the Vugraph Op, as soon as the last card is played...

 

...surely the op knows the unofficial result. What percent of players run out to compare without even an inquiring glance? What percent ask the OP what he knows first? Are there ever bad feelings disagreements or other drama about this? For example, did an OP ever say Congrats to one team and the other team took offense?

[aguahombre]

The other difficulty is alert explanations. Some players are helpful in showing the explanation to the operator, but most aren't. And rule#1 in operating is: don't disturb the players. So you can't ask to see the paper.

At risk of Hijack, and as a watcher only....I think you operators are given too many tasks.

 

It would be nice if the commentators could be provided with system information to use, so the operators could fill in explanations at their convenience and not have to answer questions about system on chat.

 

The operators already have to keep track of bidding and play, keep themselves on-line, provide conversational information from the table, explain delays, etc.

 

Maybe the players could be encouraged to be a bit more cooperative, in advance, in providing system information....it is understandable that they have more important things on their mind during the set.

[JLOGIC]

As a commentator I always talk too much, and don't interact enough imo, it's an easy trap to fall into.

But what you say is golden. Several people have said that to me!

This is what I think: You seem to have the happy knack of knowing exactly which aspects of defense, declarer play, or bidding to explain, how much to say, and when to move on. And you do it in a manner that is suited for anybody's ears in a neutral but engaging analysis. You deserve a huge compliment for what you do and I hope you would have the chance to commentate more often.

Heh, wow thanks.

 

Jay: As a player I always look immediately at the score on the vugraph screen once the set is over, and ask how many boards have been compared, and then leave. I'm amazed some people are restrained enough to not do this.

[helene_t]

I was a commentator for a few weeks. I thought: I am not particularly impressed with most of the commentators so I must be able to live up to the standards, lol. Then I realized how difficult it is. You have to say something intelligent instantly. You are under time pressure to type but cannot afford to make the same amount of typos as in private chat. It happened as often as not that I said something and then 5 secs later realized that it was completely wrong. Often specs would tell me.

[Ant590]

Maybe the players could be encouraged to be a bit more cooperative, in advance, in providing system information....it is understandable that they have more important things on their mind during the set.

A word in for the UK player Peter Crouch here. He has easily been the most operator-friendly player I have followed as a vugraph operator. Recently in the EBU Premier League not only did he bring system notes for the operator, he wrote on his pad in large letters when the opp asked something and then held it up in my direction so I could see it too.

 

A couple of less-good experience. One player has a habit of playing his cards 1/2 turned away from his body, so it's pot luck where he sits as to whether I'll actually see his cards :)

 

At one time I thought ctrl-C would bring up the chat dialogue. Alas, I had claimed for 7 off or something and then had to watch for the rest of the board declarer took a good 5/10 minutes playing the contract.

[Ant590]

Oh, and as an aside. I always think as a I operate vugraph how awesome it would be if someone could rig an external device so that the top row were suit buttons, then numbers, then the AKQJ, so I wouldn't wish I could touchtype.

[Walddk]

Maybe the players could be encouraged to be a bit more cooperative, in advance, in providing system information....it is understandable that they have more important things on their mind during the set.

A word in for the UK player Peter Crouch here. He has easily been the most operator-friendly player I have followed as a vugraph operator. Recently in the EBU Premier League not only did he bring system notes for the operator, he wrote on his pad in large letters when the opp asked something and then held it up in my direction so I could see it too.

Peter Crouch, the bridge player (no, he is not as tall as the Tottenham striker with the same name) is not only helpful, he is also a strong player and a very nice guy!

 

Roland

[Walddk]

But the best advice I can give you is PRACTICE and I know Roland will echo this last bit - READ THE MANUAL.

Sigh, yes, but it is rarely the operator's fault. Every organiser receives our technical manual and vugraph guidelines, but it is sadly clear to see that too many don't read it/them, alternatively pass them on to the operators.

 

However, as far as commentators are concerned, some of the blame should also be directed to our end. In early April, 500 potential commentators got our new "Guidelines for Commentators". I don't know how many actually read the document (it's pinned in this forum), but I do know that it has not helped significantly.

 

On a regular basis most people ignore one or more of the important issues. There is not a lot more we can do. We have neither wish nor time to act as teachers in a nursery. If adults can't be bothered to adhere to the guidelines, so be it.

 

Roland

[Walddk]

Also what are the most difficult aspects of the job? etc etc. just curious!

Thinking and typing fast at the same time. Much tougher than onsite voice commentary. You should try it some day, it's really demanding. A good time will be this upcoming weekend when we will be broadcasting from SIX nations!

 

My estimate is that on average we won't get more than max 2 commentators per table, so there is no place to hide if you aim at enlightning and entertaining the audience.

 

Members who would like to give it a try, please send an e-mail with full name and BBO user ID to roland_wald (at) hotmail.com and I will give you an assignment in due course.

 

Roland

[barmar]

I am forever mystified well let's say intrigued by what and if some of the players ask about the match's result - to the Vugraph Op, as soon as the last card is played...

I'd say it happens 50-75% of the time.

[JanM]

I am forever mystified well let's say intrigued by what and if some of the players ask about the match's result  - to the Vugraph Op, as soon as the last card is played...

I'd say it happens 50-75% of the time.

I always tell the players as they put the cards back into the board from the last hand what board their teammates are on. Once in a rare while, when I have told them that their teammates are finished, someone will come to check my screen anyway. Most of the time when their teammates are still playing all 4 players will come to look at the movie to see the state of the match. When there are still several boards to play in the other room, the players often hover over the screen to see what's happening; after a few bad experiences, I've learned to have a web page ready with the other table showing, so that they won't use the Vugraph window to go to the other table (in the Murphy's Law department, if the completed room has been incorrectly closed, the other one will crash and not be able to get back up efficiently).

 

I agree that there are players who are good about writing notes so the operator can read them and players who aren't. And it's very hard to change their habits. I routinely remove all pencils from the table before the match starts (it's much easier to read a note written in pen). The ACBL & USBF setup people have kindly collected a bunch of ballpoint pens that are kept in the box with the rest of the Vugraph equipment, so I can put them on the tables. Some players till bring their own little, blunt, hardly can write, pencils. And it seems as if those are also the players who think that every single inch of the notepad on which they're writing should be used up before getting a new page - it's much harder to see a note when it's sort of buried in with others. I'd also add that operators can't bother the players and also can't make it obvious they're trying to see a note, because that would communicate to the players on the other side of the screen that there is a note (of course, the pencil-users make enough noise writing that it's already become obvious). And we can't add explanations to the bidding box after the opening lead has been made, so there's a very short window between the end of the auction and the opening lead when we can try to get the note in order to enter the meaning of the bids. Of course we can write explanations in chat, but those won't show up in the LIN file for people who want to "watch" after the match is over.

 

There are also players who are bad about "hiding" their played cards from the operator - usually when they're sitting South. That's the one thing I do bother them about, and a few have learned to remove their hands from the card after playing it, but I know that I miss the exact spot card often, and since there's no way to change a spot card without undoing all the subsequent plays, it never gets corrected. Before I was an operator, I'd put a lot of faith in the spot cards and try to figure out signaling methods - now I recognize that that's the one area where Vugraph doesn't provide a good record.

 

I think my favorite funny experience was when a spectator asked why "they allow undos at this level of play?" :P

[jkdood]

My already high admiration for the ops and commentators has gone even higher, thank you!

[Phil]

Jan, I always wonder when a VG operator is actively commenting about the play.

 

If I were a player, a lot of typing would tell me that there was something interesting about a hand instead of a position where a claim is imminent.

[paulg]

If I were a player, a lot of typing would tell me that there was something interesting about a hand instead of a position where a claim is imminent.

Either that or a lot of chat about the latest goal that Italy have conceded, and how the Italians are reacting to that news.

 

In my experience watching vugraph it is rare for the operator to be talking about the play of the hand. They sometimes discuss the bidding, more often they are apologising for not seeing an alert, and frequently they are relating the state of the players and any table chat.

 

I don't think the players learn much from lots of typing.

[Walddk]

If I were a player, a lot of typing would tell me that there was something interesting about a hand instead of a position where a claim is imminent.

Either that or a lot of chat about the latest goal that Italy have conceded, and how the Italians are reacting to that news.

 

In my experience watching vugraph it is rare for the operator to be talking about the play of the hand. They sometimes discuss the bidding, more often they are apologising for not seeing an alert, and frequently they are relating the state of the players and any table chat.

 

I don't think the players learn much from lots of typing.

I can only speak for myself, but as a player on vugraph I wouldn't even notice if a naked woman walked through the room (does it happen?). I am totally focused on the play, also when dummy, so as far as I am concerned, the operator can type all s/he likes.

 

Roland

[JanM]

Jan, I always wonder when a VG operator is actively commenting about the play.

 

If I were a player, a lot of typing would tell me that there was something interesting about a hand instead of a position where a claim is imminent.

You'd be wrong to draw that conclusion most of the time. Usually when I'm typing a lot it's because there's a problem at another table, or I'm answering questions from spectators ("why do they allow undos" may be the strangest one, but there are many many others). In fact, I think it's more a sign that the hand may be interesting if my keyboard is quiet because I'm looking at the hand instead of doing one of the many other things I do when there's a moment free :)

[JanM]

I forgot to answer the question about how do you become a Vugraph operator. I completely agree with Nick that familiarity with reasonably high level bridge and with how BBO works are valuable assets if you hope to be a good operator. In fact, I think that familiarity with BBO is probably necessary.

 

We're always looking for Vugraph operators at the ACBL NABCs & the USBF Team Trials. If you're going to be "on site" for one of them and are interested in being an operator, please just send me an email (marteljan at gmail dot com) and I'll add you to my "Vugraph operators" email list. If you're already familiar with BBO, I can almost certainly teach you the things you need to know to be an operator in about 15 minutes before you do it (I once "trained" a new operator on my cell phone while waiting to board an airplane - luckily he was a very bright & computer literate person and did fine).

 

In my opinion, the most important quality for a Vugraph operator to have is "unflappableness" - things will go wrong during a broadcast, sometimes they'll be minor things (for instance the person who commented that he had tried ctrl-C for chat only to discover it was claim; there is a way to recover from that by the way - you can start the board over again by clicking on "redeal" and entering the board number); sometimes the internet connection will fail; always there will be some hands where the players play faster than you can type. The important thing is not to become frazzled when that happens, but to try to carry on so that you get as much reported as possible. I have a 1-page instruction sheet that I tape to the Vugraph tables when I am organizing a Vugraph broadcast - the operators who take a moment to look at "what to do if you get disconnected" will get back on and linked to the other table after a disconnect. The operators who either panic or think they know what to do will often end up not linked to the other table.

 

Being a Vugraph operator is great fun, and a lot of work. Try it! By the way, the WBF needs operators for Philadelphia - if you are interested in being a Vugraph operator there, email me and I'll make sure your name gets to the right people.

[MBV53]

I like this topic!:) in future I wish to become operator and commentator whenever I am not directing the Tournaments.

my email id- muppallabala@yahoo.com

MBVSubrahmanyam

India.

[mrdct]

It is interesting to read about players looking at the operator's computer screen at the end of the match to check the score. In Australia this practice is explicitly prohibited under Regulation 23.9.

 

For operators a really important thing to get proficient with is the somewhat counter-intuitive match setup feature of "B" for Both being for single table coverage and "O" for Open being for dual table coverage.