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Frisque is making his voice heard

By Rich Palzewic
Correspondent


Troy Frisque said he realized he might have a future in public address (PA) announcing while working at the Taco Bell on Velp Avenue in Howard in his college days.

“I would mess with customers in the drive-thru – it helped me get through the day,” he said. “(In my deep announcing voice), I’d say, ‘Welcome to the fast and friendly Taco Bell on Velp, this is Troy, how can I help you?’ People would laugh on the other end. That was the first time I heard people tell me I should pursue it.”

Fast forward 20 years, and the 1998 Bay Port graduate is still going strong.

You’ll most often hear him announcing sporting events – mostly baseball, football, hockey, boys’ soccer and wrestling – at his alma mater, but Frisque recently submitted an audition to the NBA’s Minnesota Timberwolves.

“The local level is where I’ve gotten my start, but I spent some money making this latest video,” he said. “I was contacted by the Timberwolves (because they liked my submission), so I have to travel to the Target Center in Minneapolis Aug. 11.”

Frisque said unlike what most people probably believe, announcers at the professional level “don’t make oodles of money.”

“Of course, it varies for each organization, but this would be a part-time position,” he said. “If I’d ever get a job like this, then it’s deciding if the pay an organization is willing to offer lines up with a traveling lifestyle – then trying to add that into my current career and see if I’m willing to do that.”

Frisque, married with three kids, also holds a full-time job, in addition to his announcing.

In the past, Frisque also submitted auditions for the NHL’s New Jersey Devils and the University of Notre Dame football team.

“I was contacted by the Devils, but they weren’t willing to pay for relocation,” Frisque said. “I still would have tried to make it work if I was offered the job, though.”

Frisque said those who are successful at announcing know how to hang on to certain words and get the crowd fired up.

“All of that is processed in real-time – not much is pre-meditated,” he said. “I announce the home team as energetic as I can, but I still need to sound somewhat exciting for the away team.”

Frisque said you can learn to become a better announcer.

“You don’t need a booming voice,” he said. “It’s more about the way the information is delivered. You have to be situationally appropriate. A big play on third down is going to be more important than a routine first-down play. Each sport has a give and take with the audience. You need to build the energy before the game.”

Frisque said he likes announcing baseball the best.

“Not that I dislike any of the other sports, but we have a great program at Bay Port and it’s the least demanding,” he said.

Frisque also announces Bay Port Legion baseball and has filled in for basketball and softball.
He’s also the voice behind the mic for Ashwaubenon hockey.

With a music background, you might even hear Frisque sing the national anthem before a game.
“I’ve probably sung the national anthem 75 or more times,” he said.

Frisque said, most recently, people have been contacting him to pre-record a message for a team.
“Maybe the coach wants the players to get that hometown feel before a game,” he said. “It gets them fired up.”

Frisque can be followed on Twitter at @trojanvoice.

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