Spirit Squad On-Field EmCee

The Orange County Riptide, a collegiate wood bat summer baseball team playing games at the Great Park in Irvine, California, seeks interns for our spirit squad. Spirit Squad members should be energetic, charismatic, outgoing and gregarious and will be fan-facing representatives of the Orange County Riptide.

A select few will be chosen to fill the role of on-field Master of Ceremonies (EmCee) to entertain and engage audiences at our 23 home games. As the On-Field EmCee, you will be the face of the event, responsible for hosting, introducing participants, conducting mid-inning activities, and keeping the audience excited throughout the game. Your lively and confident stage presence will set the tone for a memorable and enjoyable experience for all attendees.

Please Note: This un-paid internship position will require your attendance at home games in Irvine, Calif. Qualified candidates will need to ensure they have housing available from June through early August 2024.

Summer interns attending college outside of the Orange County, Calif. area must make their own living arrangements for the summer. The OC Riptide cannot provide housing for out-of-area interns.

In lieu of compensation, academic credit is available for this internship. Academic credit is not guaranteed and is a dependent upon your school’s requirements and terms. Check with your school's Internship Coordinator BEFORE accepting the hiring offer to determine if this position satisfies the criteria for receiving academic credit.

The interns chosen for this position will need a strong charismatic personality and a knack for engaging with an audience. Candidates who have been a member of their college’s cheer squad, dance and/or pom squad, yell leaders, aspiring actors, hospitality majors or anyone with a passion for performing in front of a large audience are encouraged to apply.

Learning Objectives:

• Spirit Squad interns will learn to keep baseball fans informed and engaged during the course of a sporting event.
• Spirit Squad interns will learn to properly and successfully engage with fans either face-to-face within guest services or on the field in the EmCee role
• Spirit Squad interns will learn and hone their interpersonal skills advancing a career in sports entertainment hospitality.
• By the end of the summer, the Spirit Squad members should have gained exceptional knowledge in keeping fans entertained at a sporting event and providing an engaging and exciting atmosphere and experience. Should interns pursue career advancement in sports, additional networking within the Southern California sports entertainment industry is available.

Because this position requires attendance at home games, (23 games spanning from June through early August) applicants are expected to work four (4) to five (5) hours per game. This includes pre-game, in-game and post-game fan engagement.

Duties for the Spirit Squad will consist of, but not be limited to:

Responsibilities

• Reports directly to the General Manager
• Event Hosting: Take charge of event proceedings as the primary host and maintain a positive and engaging atmosphere throughout the event.
• Guest Relations: Greet fans as they arrive and be approachable to answer questions throughout the course of the game.
• Audience Interaction: Interact with the audience, encouraging participation, and creating a connection with attendees to ensure they feel involved and entertained.
• Introductions and Announcements: Introduce performers, speakers, and participants with enthusiasm and professionalism, highlighting their accomplishments and contributions.
• Activity Coordination: Lead on-field activities, contests, and games, ensuring smooth execution and adherence to event schedules within restrictive time constraints.
• Improvisation and Adaptation: Be quick on your feet to handle unforeseen situations, make impromptu announcements, and adapt to changes in the event flow.
• Script Management: Collaborate with the Live Game Director and Public Address Announcer to review and rehearse event scripts, ensuring accuracy and adherence to event themes.
• Branding and Promotion: Incorporate event branding and sponsor messaging seamlessly into your interactions while maintaining a positive image for the event.
• Entertainment Delivery: Infuse energy, humor, and creativity into your performance to keep the audience entertained and engaged.
• Time Management: Keep track of time and ensure the event stays on schedule, maintaining a balance between entertaining the audience and adhering to time constraints.
• Crowd Control: Handle crowd dynamics, manage audience behavior, and maintain a respectful and safe environment during the event.

Preferred Skills

• Previous Public Speaking Experience: Proven experience as an on-field MC or live event host, demonstrating exceptional public speaking and presentation skills in front of large crowds.
• Charismatic and Energetic: Natural charisma, enthusiasm, and high energy levels that can captivate and engage large crowds.
• Adaptability: Ability to think on your feet, handle unexpected situations, and adapt your approach to suit diverse audiences and event themes.
• Strong Communication: Excellent verbal communication skills with a clear, confident, and articulate speaking style.
• Team Player: Collaborative attitude, working closely with event organizers, performers, and other event staff to ensure a seamless event experience.
• Reliability: Punctuality and commitment to meeting event schedules and rehearsal timings.
• Passion for Entertainment: A genuine love for entertaining and engaging people, with a positive and approachable demeanor.
• Professionalism: Maintain a professional image while on-field and in-stadium along with interactions with event stakeholders.
• Flexibility: Willingness to work evenings and weekends.
• Language Skills: Proficiency in multiple languages is a plus but not a requirement. Fluency in the primary language of English is essential with an ability to speak clearly with excellent enunciation.

The Orange County Riptide Baseball Club is a 501(c)(3) and all of our internships comply with the US Department of Labor Fair Labor Standards Act. The OC Riptide ensures that all unpaid interns and students understand the following:

1. The extent to which the intern and the employer clearly understand that there is no expectation of compensation. Any promise of compensation, express or implied, suggests that the intern is an employee—and vice versa.
2. The extent to which the internship provides training that would be similar to that which would be given in an educational environment, including the clinical and other hands-on training provided by educational institutions.
3. The extent to which the internship is tied to the intern’s formal education program by integrated coursework or the receipt of academic credit.
4. The extent to which the internship accommodates the intern’s academic commitments by corresponding to the academic calendar.
5. The extent to which the internship’s duration is limited to the period in which the internship provides the intern with beneficial learning.
6. The extent to which the intern’s work complements, rather than displaces, the work of paid employees while providing significant educational benefits to the intern.
7. The extent to which the intern and the employer understand that the internship is conducted without entitlement to a paid job at the conclusion of the internship.