Michelle Margaux Q&A
Welcome back to my Q&A series! This week I had the privilege of interviewing Michelle Margaux, who is a Sports Reporter and Host. I met Michelle for the first time when she was covering the Tampa Bay Rays against the Rangers. I’ve followed her journey for awhile and was so excited to meet her in person! In this interview, I talked to Michelle about her Emmy win, what it’s like traveling on the road for NBA and MLB teams, her new podcast and much more. Enjoy!
Let’s talk about your broadcast career! Tell me about your first job in the field and what it taught you.
My first job in the field was interning at FOX40 in Sacramento in the news department after my freshman year of college! I soaked a LOT in and didn't "do" a whole lot. I went with the reporters on-location and watched how they one-man-band. As for my first job on-air, it was in Corpus Christi, Texas in the news department as an MMJ. I learned a LOT-- I learned how to edit, write, produce, shoot, report, anchor, do social media, etc. I literally did everything while I was there and I learned INVALUABLE lessons. I covered news for the first year and then switched to sports when there was an opening!
When you were with FOX Sports San Diego you won an Emmy, what was the moment like when you found out?
Haha! I was on the road with the Tampa Bay Rays and I was alone in my hotel room in NYC. My sister sings in a choir in San Diego and had a solo that night so my entire family was there watching her and I didn't want to rain on her parade so I sent a group text to everyone BUT her, sharing my big news. I felt so bad but I couldn't hold something like that in! I was really proud of myself and the guys that worked on the show with me. We worked tirelessly every week on the show Padres POV (the show we won the Emmy for) I teared up but I didn't full-on cry. I've wanted to be a reporter/host since I was 8 years old so to have something tangible that confirmed I did the job well, really meant a lot to me.
You’ve worked for teams like the Houston Rockets and Tampa Bay Rays, what was your experience like traveling on the road during basketball and baseball season?
The NBA schedule is 10x more grueling in my opinion. Doing MLB road travel isn't terrible because you're in each city for 3-4 days and you can unpack your suitcase. The NBA was a different city every night plus going to shootarounds/practices in the morning. With MLB you just get to the ballpark at 3pm everyday and there's no extra practices or anything on top of it.
What were the interview processes like for the Rockets and Rays?
The interview process for both the Rockets and the Rays job were pretty intense. You had to jump through a lot of different hoops to finally "get" the job. I had to do an on-air audition for the Rays job. For both jobs, there were a lot of Skype interviews and in-person meetings with the network's executives and the team's PR staff!
What advice do you have for someone applying to jobs in the broadcast industry?
Do. Not. Give. Up. *and* Always. Say. Yes. It only takes one job to set you up for the rest of your career. I can't tell you how many times I've been told no. But the times I've been told yes have far-outweighed the jobs that turned me down.
What tips and tricks do you have for improving on camera?
Personally, I always tell myself to slow down-- I speak fast naturally, let alone when I'm in an exciting environment with my adrenaline going. Just be as natural as you can be. Nobody wants to see a robot talking on a sports field/court/rink.
If you could cover any event or game, what would your dream opportunity be?
I'd LOVE to cover a World Series. I've only been to one playoff game in MLB. NBA Playoffs and NHL Playoffs are awesome, too. But I'd love to cover a series that goes 7 games and ultimately ends with that trophy in October/November! I get excited just thinking about it!
What are some of your favorite on-air beauty products?
OH MY. First and foremost, I swear by Marc Anthony hairspray--especially in all of the humid climates I've lived in! As for makeup, I always line my lips with MAC lip pencil before putting on any lipstick! It helps keep the color even when the lipstick has worn off. I'm not huge into false eyelashes because I think they can be distracting to the viewer but on occasion, if they're worn well, can be a nice addition. I wear Laura Mercier HD liquid matte foundation.
You recently started hosting a podcast with Ben Verlander. Tell me more about “Millennial Sports Talk” and what got you into hosting a podcast.
Millennial Sports Talk is a podcast for all ages (despite the title) where we examine how both specific and general sports story lines have changed over time and how, we, the millennial generation view certain topics. For example, technology in sports, pre-game outfits in the NBA, how managers in MLB have gotten younger and younger, etc. I wanted complete creative control where I can give my objective opinion. Ben is an awesome co-host and is always game for whatever crazy ideas I have. We really don't consider it work--we pick a topic, do some research, hop on a call and shoot the breeze. It's a good time!
What advice do you have for someone who wants to start their own podcast?
Don't start one just to start one. You have to have a LOT of ideas that are practical and that can be done weekly. Make sure you're passionate about the subject or else it will show. Also, do something that nobody else has done. Think about why people want to listen to you specifically? Give them a reason why your voice is more important than the next person's on the same subject. Also, get a good microphone, ha.
To follow along on Michelle’s journey, you can find her on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. You can find Michelle and Ben’s podcast here, order a Cameo or shop her closet on Poshmark!