Create a Spiel Script

This guide walks you through creating a new spiel script for your organization. Spiel scripts provide announcers with consistent, professional introductions for each performing group.

Before You Begin

Ensure you have Organization Setup access
You must have at least one Group Type configured in your organization
Consider what information you want announcers to share (group name, location, show title, etc.)
If using custom variables, ensure those fields are set up in Data Collection

Steps to Create a Spiel Script

1. Navigate to Spiel Scripts

Log in to CompetitionSuite
Go to your organization
Click Settings in the top navigation
Select Spiel Scripts from the Setup menu

2. Choose a Group Type

The Spiel Scripts page displays panels for each group type in your organization. Locate the panel for the group type you want to create a script for (e.g., "Color Guard", "Percussion", "Winds").

3. Open the Create Dialog

Click the Create a Spiel Script button in the panel header for your chosen group type.

4. Enter Script Details

In the create dialog:

Name (required)

Enter a descriptive name for your script
Example: "Standard Introduction", "Championship Finals Script", "Recognition Script"

Script Content

Use the rich text editor to write your announcer script
Format text with bold, italic, lists, and other formatting options
Insert variables where you want dynamic content to appear

5. Insert Variables

To add dynamic content that auto-populates at events:

Position your cursor where you want the variable
Click the Variables button in the toolbar
Browse the variable sections:

General Information - Event Name, Event Location, Group Name, Group Location, Group Division
Custom Sections - Any fields from your Group Data setup

Click a variable to insert it

Variables appear highlighted in orange in the editor.

6. Save Your Script

Click Save to create the script. It will appear in the list under the group type panel.

Writing Effective Scripts

Sample Script Structure

Please welcome to the floor, from {Group Location},
{Group Name}, performing {Show Title}.

{Group Name} is directed by {Director Name}.
Music composed by {Composer}.

This group is competing in {Group Division}.

Ladies and gentlemen, {Group Name}!

Best Practices

Do	Don't
Keep scripts concise - 30-60 seconds when read aloud	Write scripts that are too long
Include all required variables	Assume announcers will fill in missing info
Use formatting for announcer emphasis	Use excessive formatting
Test with sample data before events	Create scripts without testing
Create multiple scripts for different occasions	Use one script for all scenarios

Tips for Variable Placement

At the beginning: "From {Group Location}…" provides immediate context
Group name repetition: Mention {Group Name} 2-3 times for recognition
Conditional content: If a variable might be empty, consider alternate phrasing

Formatting Options

The spiel script editor includes these formatting tools:

Tool	Purpose
Bold	Emphasize key phrases
Italic	Stylistic emphasis
Font Size	Adjust text size for readability
Alignment	Left, center, or right align text
Lists	Create bulleted or numbered lists
HTML	Switch to source code view for advanced editing

Next Steps

After creating your script:

Manage Your Spiel Scripts - Edit, clone, or delete scripts
Use Spiel Scripts at Events - Assign scripts to competitions

Troubleshooting

"There aren't any spiel scripts yet!"

This message appears when no scripts exist for a group type
Click "create one" to add your first script

Variables aren't showing

Ensure your Data Collection setup has active fields
File-type fields are not available as variables
Check that fields are marked as active in Data Collection configuration

Script won't save

Ensure the Name field is not empty
Check for any browser errors
Try refreshing the page and re-entering your content