During one of my many visits to The Oval this summer, I found myself thinking about the matchday presentation team and the work they do.
The role of a stadium presenter is a crucial one to any live sporting event when it comes to keeping things ticking over, and yet I had absolutely no idea what went into becoming one or how they they do it. That evening I contacted Cayana Freeman, one of the presenters that day, who generously agreed to an interview so that I could learn more about life as a presenter.
To begin, I wanted to hear about how somebody becomes a presenter. To viewers they appear to come pre-made with cool heads and sharp remarks, the reality of course is that it all starts with hard work.
For Cayana, presenting came after exploring the world of acting. Not fully convinced by that avenue, it was an experience as an extra on an ITV game show that sparked the change. Inspired by the work of AJ Odudu during filming, Cayana started looking at presenting as a possible career option.
In terms of following this idea, the first thing to be done was to apply for anything and everything that could lead to presenting work. This ranged from unpaid work to presenting classes. From a variety of different sources, Cayana was able to put together a showreel of what she had done so far.
It was on the set of a job with BBC Bitesize that she met presenters from the agency that she is now a part of. It is with them that she has now worked across Formula One, Formula E, and The Hundred.
With a healthy amount of background information established, I wanted to hear more about what a presenter needs to thrive in the industry. One important factor is a passion for what you do.
The reality of presenting is that you can benefit from finding a niche to focus on working in, something made even easier if it’s something you love spending time with.
Once you’ve started working, the mental side of things starts to come into play. Given the event-based nature of filming, there can be long periods of downtime between jobs. In these times you need have a strong sense of self-belief, a confidence that you are in the right place and that more work will come.
The final thing Cayana told me here was the importance of being nice. It might sound simple, but being friendly will make life as a presenter a lot easier. You are working as part of a team, and as an industry it matters to leave a good impression on those you meet. No one will want to work with someone who makes life difficult for everyone else.
This is amplified by the way that working on sporting events tends to function. Whilst you might find yourself in exotic locations, the reality is that you are all there to get a job done.
An example I was given was of working at the Belgian Grand Prix, a place known for its volatile weather. In torrential rain you still show up and put on a happy face, doing as many takes as are required to get it spot on. You are all relying on each other, so it really does matter that you do your best to be a true team player.
On the topic of multiple takes, I was interested in hearing about the difference between live and recorded work. Cayana explained that the two are indeed vastly different experiences, with her own preference being for live work.
If you are a perfectionist, pre-recorded work can be testing. You might find that you keep wanting to do ‘just one more’ take in the pursuit of getting everything spot on. In a live environment, you do not get this option.
Instead, you’re kept busy by the array of information you’re receiving in one go. In your ear you can hear talkback, you can hear the person you’re interviewing, the crowd, even your own voice. If it sounds like a lot that’s because it is.
Of course, you also have the nature of the work to deal with. As a presenter you are engaging with some incredibly famous faces, two notable names that came up were Thomas Tuchel and Pep Guardiola. The most important thing to do in situations like these is to keep calm.
As surreal as seeing David Beckham walking around the paddock in Qatar is, you are there as a professional and not a fan. A fun quirk that Cayana mentioned is what happens when you’re trying especially hard to play it cool. You might be so focused on not seeming too excited you end up coming across as totally unbothered. Overall it is just about striking a balance.
Looking at her career so far I wanted to finally hear about if she would do anything differently a second time around and what has been the highlight so far. In terms of change, the only thing to be said was maybe put more into content creation. Many content creators can find themselves transitioning into the world of presenting, with the skills picked up allowing for a smooth jump across.
In terms of highlights I was given a few, with a special focus on her first time working with Formula One. She was only told about 40 hours before the event that they wanted her out in Belgium. Two days later there she was at the Grand Prix. It may have chucked it down, but as an experience it was unforgettable. Other standout moments have included recent work at the Qatar GP, as well as a visit to Monaco with Formula E.
So what next? The idea is a talk show for Gen-Z, led by Gen-Z. Right now it is a market dominated by older figures, but Cayana wants to create something new. As a concept it is highly exciting, and one that certainly offers something different to the norm. Presenting can take you anywhere, so don’t be surprised to see Cayana on your screen soon.
