Jake Jacobson is currently one of roughly 180 music directors approved by the PRCA to work professional rodeos across the country. His current career path found him by chance while at a bull riding in Arizona.
“I was helping in the back pens and some guy came up to me with a microphone. He said “We don’t have an announcer, and you’re it. There’s a CD with four songs on it. Let’s buck some bulls.” Jacobson recalls.
Twenty years later, Jacobson is still spinning the tunes for rodeo fans.
It is not uncommon for him to play a 1950s tune followed by 80s rock or a brand new trending song. When it comes to the fan experience, Jacobson says good music can take the rodeo to the next level.
“It keeps the crowd engaged. If you have a great announcer and good clowns, you can all work together as a team,” said Jacobson.
While some may think only are cowboys and livestock are needed to put on a successful rodeo, the music director is one of many personnel behind the scenes who works to enhance the fan experience.
“The sound guy is the first guy and the last guy out,” said Jacobson. “It is organized chaos.”
Listen to Jacobson’s story on Breaking the Barrier: