placeholder
Stuart Gentle Publisher at Onrec

The Non-Playing Careers in Esports

The vast majority of us play video games in some form or another.

That may mean a traditional console and computer titles like first-person shooters, platformers, and sports simulators, or it might mean modern casual games like Farmville, Candy Crush, or Angry Birds. Other players prefer casino games such as blackjack, roulette, and slots and will often jump from casino to casino to claim bonuses. To assist these frugal gamers, sites like oddschecker can help them discover the latest promotions from brands like 32Red while others, such as Humble Bundle, made it easy for players to find deals on games to purchase. 

With so many ways to play and so many of us taking advantage of all the options, the gaming industry continues to go from strength to strength. Another factor driving this is the rise of esports, or video game-based competitions that share many similarities to more traditional sports. 

One of these similarities is the fact that esports players are heralded like celebrities with many other gamers aspiring to follow in their footsteps at some point. But, also as with physical sports, only a tiny number of these people make it as professional players. However, there are still plenty of other career opportunities if you want to get involved in the industry.

Broadcasting

It is likely that you’ll watch most esports games through your television or on a streaming platform like Twitch. To make this happen, broadcasters employ huge teams of people, each with their own specialist area to focus on. 

These roles include on-screen talent, camerapeople, producers, floor runners, sound engineers, subtitlers, commentators, analysts, journalists, graphics designers, and compliance officers. 

Salaries will vary greatly depending on the job and level of seniority, though many will be highly paid. However, for that pay, you will need to be flexible to accommodate the varied schedule of games that can include evenings, weekends, and bank holidays. 

Chef

While it may not be an obvious option, the sports industry employs a lot of chefs and cooks. This culinary talent works in a range of different positions and caters to many different groups of people. 

As a fan, you’re most likely to bump into these workers if you’ve bought food from a stadium or enjoyed a hospitality package. However, chefs and cooks are not just required to fuel the thousands of hungry spectators. 

They’re also required to keep teams and support staff fed, ensuring everyone can perform at their optimum level.

Just like in physical sports, individual esports players at the highest levels now often employ their own chefs to prepare specially designed meals for them. This allows these athletes to get the exact nutrients they need to perform at their optimum level. It also removes the need for them to cook themselves, saving them time. 

Salaries for these roles can be very good, though they will vary greatly depending on the exact responsibilities you take on. 

IMAGE HERE >>> https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1534423861386-85a16f5d13fd?ixlib=rb-4.0.3&ixid=MnwxMjA3fDB8MHxwaG90by1wYWdlfHx8fGVufDB8fHx8&auto=format&fit=crop&w=1170&q=80 >>> Photo

Marketing

Esports is growing in size and popularity at a rapid pace. Much of this growth is happening organically because there is simply a lot of excitement around the new form of competition. However, that doesn’t mean esports leagues, teams, and players don’t need to hustle a little to build up a fan bas

On top of that, it is beneficial for an athlete or team to grow their online presence so that they can increase their reach. This is particularly important if they want to generate revenue from sponsorship and social media collaborations since advertisers will typically pay more for the potential of much greater exposure. 

To bag yourself a marketing job in esports, it typically helps to have a background in marketing, though there are many ways you can build this. For example, you might come from a marketing role in another industry, hold a marketing degree, or have taken a college course in marketing. 

Alternatively, there are now several dedicated esports courses that you can take at both college and university level, such as the BA (Hons) in Esports from Staffordshire University or the University of Chichester, or the BSc (Hons) in Esports from the University of Northampton.