My first Gig!

My Start in Sports: The Chili Peppers Years

Some people ease their way into the sports world.
I was handed a microphone on my very first day.

When I arrived for my marketing internship with the Tri-City Chili Peppers, I fully expected to spend the summer behind the scenes — helping with social media, community events, and fan engagement. But a few minutes into orientation, my boss walked over, held out a microphone, and said:

“We need an emcee. You think you’ve got what it takes?”

There was no script. No preparation. No warning.
Just a group of interns staring at me… and an opportunity.

So I took the mic, took a breath, and put on an impromptu show right there on the spot. Energy, crowd work, jokes, hype — all of it completely made up. By the time I finished, my boss smiled and said:

“Congratulations. You’re our new emcee.”

That moment changed everything.

I spent the rest of the summer on top of the dugout, on the field, and in the stands — running promotions, interacting with fans, writing game scripts, designing contests, and helping create a ballpark atmosphere that people looked forward to every night.

And then I came back.

The next summer, I returned as the Lead Emcee and Head of Entertainment, where I oversaw fan engagement, helped design the in-game experience, represented the team in the community, and continued to grow as an on-mic leader.

Those two seasons with the Chili Peppers didn’t just teach me how to engage a crowd — they taught me confidence, adaptability, creativity, and how to say “yes” to opportunities that feel just a little too big in the moment.

That microphone on day one was the start of my sports story…
and I’ve been chasing moments like that ever since.