FROM THE MIDDLE SEAT: Cameraman Season Prep is Almost Complete
How do you prepare for a season of unpredictable adventures? You don’t know when the monsoons will hit or the 9-pounders will start biting. The mental anxiety of a season on the Bass Pro Tour is just as wild as the sport itself. Add in the chaos of wild boat rides, storylines changing by the minute, and the need for having a camera in 20 places at one time, then you begin to see the anxious life behind the camera.
Practice and preparation often separate the professionals from the enthusiasts. How do you prepare for life as a cameraman? Seriously… I’m asking a real question here!
Do I call up Kevin VanDam and ask for an invitation so I can work on my jerkbait video? Do you think Andy Montgomery would skip some docks for me so I can stay sharp on following a jig?
This proves to be a real problem. We all want to stay sharp. I guess I could go out and work on this stuff since I live in Texas where winter never really comes to stay. But what about cameraman Greg up in Minnesota? Or Jon in Montana? I don’t think filming ice fishing will keep those bass skills very sharp, but I’ve honestly never asked.
I’ll let you in on a little secret that makes our jobs amazing. Our training and sacrificing to achieve greatness is literally relaxing in the recliner with a hot cup of cocoa, watching TV.
Never question the importance of a good cup of hot chocolate and a laptop computer. MyOutdoorTV has completely changed our lives. For the first time in my 20-year career shooting fishing shows, all of the shows that I’ve filmed are right in front of me.
Just like you, the MLF camera guys are fans of this crazy sport. We couldn’t do this if we weren’t. So as we wait for the next season to start, we all spend the cold winter months watching how the previous season unfolded.
Where did we mess up? How many times did I say something stupid that made it on MLF NOW!? (It’s a lot more than I ever thought… or maybe less… I’m not sure, but it’s a lot).
The advantage of MOTV is a special addition to our lives. I hope you are taking full advantage of the opportunity to soak in all the fun and wild times from the 2020 Bass Pro Tour season, General Tire World Championship, and Cup events. There are so many amazing moments that we captured, so many memories made, and so many hero moments that are there to relive.
As I work through the memories, critique all my bad video, celebrate the epic moments captured flawlessly, and ponder the future events, I can’t help but wonder how this all has made me better. Fishing makes us all better. Fishing keeps us mentally prepared for life.
Being in the outdoors is good for our spirit, soul, and body. It restores our heart, mind, and will. Maybe we need to walk down memory lane a little bit just to appreciate what we have learned and what we have soaked in from this year. I have a lot of them, and I hope you do too.