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Confidential — internal use only — do not share or forward

SERVED 123 · Field Guide 01 / 09
Served 123 LLC
DOC REF · FOG‑OBS‑01
DISTRIBUTION · AUTHORIZED OBSERVERS
CLASSIFICATION: CONFIDENTIAL
Contracted Observer Onboarding

Field Observation Guide.

Everything you need to walk into a venue, document a broadcast cleanly, and walk out — shown step by step. A typical observation runs 20–40 minutes on site, followed by a short Site Inspection Sheet.

20–40 minutes on site Questions: info@served123.com
REFWatch This First

A reference recording.

About sixty seconds from a prior assignment — exterior shots, the walk-in, and event footage from a screen. First-time observers should review it before their first visit.

Example footage from a completed observation. Provided for reference only.
01Your Role

Observe, document, leave.

Some bars and restaurants display licensed commercial sports broadcasts — UFC, boxing, soccer, professional wrestling, rugby — without the license those broadcasts require. Served 123 documents these instances on behalf of the broadcasters and rights holders. You attend as an ordinary paying customer, record what is openly visible on the venue's screens, complete a short report, and leave. Nothing more is asked of you.

You attend as a customer

Enter, order a beverage, take a seat with a clear view of the screens, observe, and leave. This is not undercover work and involves nothing covert or confrontational.

You do not enforce

You observe, document, and depart. Enforcement is handled separately by the rights holders' legal teams — it is never the observer's responsibility.

This is well-established work. Observations are conducted routinely and the overwhelming majority proceed without any incident. You are operating on familiar ground, with support available throughout.

02The Visit, End to End

One visit, five deliverables.

Here is the whole observation as it actually unfolds — from the sidewalk to the door to your seat and back out. The five required deliverables (tagged Deliverable) fall naturally into this sequence. All five must be returned for an observation to be complete and compensable.

Approach the venue

Deliverable 1

Before going in, take two exterior photographs from two different angles, each with the venue name visible on the sign or window. These establish the location for the record.

Walk in — keep recording

Deliverable 2

Start recording outside and continue through the entrance without stopping. This single continuous take links the exterior to the interior.

Take a seat & order

Blend in

Sit where you have a clear line of sight to a screen showing the event. Order a beverage and settle in like any other patron. Section 04 shows how to choose your spot.

Pan the room

Deliverable 3

Record a slow, steady pan across the screens, the seating, the bar, and the room generally. Move deliberately — rapid motion blurs the footage.

Film the event — 60 seconds

Deliverable 4

Frame a screen showing the event and record at least sixty continuous seconds, with the on-screen action and the broadcaster's corner watermark both legible. Pause for commercial breaks and resume when the event returns. Section 03 shows exactly what to capture.

Settle the tab & complete the sheet

Deliverable 5

After you leave, complete the Site Inspection Sheet (the PDF in your assignment email) and return it as a finished PDF — not a Word document. Section 07 walks through every field.

Submit within 24 hours. Email all five items together to info@served123.com with the venue name and observation date in the subject line, while the details are fresh.

03What to Film on Screen

What a usable capture contains.

Your sixty seconds of event footage is the centerpiece of the evidence. Two things on the screen matter most — the broadcaster's watermark and the live scoreboard or score bug. Frame the screen so both are legible alongside the action.

FIG 1Anatomy of a usable on-screen capture
R3 03:42 LOGO REC Live score / clock confirms a live broadcast Network watermark record it exactly as shown On-screen action — centered & in focus
Record the watermark exactly as you see it — DAZN, Paramount+, ESPN+, Peacock, FUBO, Telemundo, and so on. Don't interpret or guess the network; capture what is on the glass.

Audio is part of the evidence. Broadcast commentary and crowd noise both help confirm the event — do not mute the recording. Keep your own voice low, and avoid seating yourself next to speakers playing unrelated music.

04Where to Position Yourself

Pick the right seat.

A good seat does three things at once: gives you a clean line to a screen showing the event, lets you record without contorting, and keeps you unremarkable. Choose your spot before you order.

FIG 2Reading the room — a sample floor plan
BAR EVENT SCREEN YOU clear line of sight ENTRANCE speakers — don't sit here
Aim for a seat with an unobstructed view of an event screen, far enough back that raising your phone briefly looks natural, and away from speakers playing unrelated music. A corner or wall-side table is ideal — it puts the room in front of you for the pan.
05Recording Technique

Steady beats long.

A short, stable, well-framed clip is worth far more than a long shaky one. Brace your device against the table or your chest and hold it naturally — the way anyone holds a phone. Lowering screen brightness keeps the recording inconspicuous.

Don't
  • Filming vertically — cuts off the screen and watermark
  • Tilted, drifting, or shaky framing
  • Phone muted, or held high above your head
  • Stopping the clip every few seconds
Do
  • Horizontal, both hands, braced steady
  • Whole screen in frame — watermark & score visible
  • Audio on; brightness low
  • One continuous 60-second take
06Your Broadcast

Know your sport.

Select the sport you have been assigned to verify. The reference below adjusts to match — what networks tend to carry it, what to prioritize in your footage, and the sport-specific details the Site Inspection Sheet will ask for.

Assigned broadcastNone selected
Where it airs

Prioritize in your footage

Sheet will ask you for
    07Site Inspection Sheet

    What the sheet needs.

    The Site Inspection Sheet captures information obtainable only on site. Read these before you go in, and jot observations in your phone's notes app as you go — never reconstruct the form from memory. The PDF is in your assignment email; return it as a finished PDF.

    Location & building

    a
    Arrival and departure times
    Note the time on your device the moment you arrive and again the moment you leave. Do not estimate after the fact.
    b
    Venue name, address, and phone
    Confirm the phone number from a receipt or signage; confirm the venue name against your exterior photographs.
    c
    Building and cover charge
    Number of stories in the building, whether residential units sit above, and the exact dollar amount of any cover charge (record $0 if none).
    j
    Fire code occupancy
    The posted capacity placard, usually near the entrance or restrooms. Record the number if legible; otherwise estimate capacity using the bracketed range on the form.

    Screens & broadcast

    e
    Total screens vs. event screens
    Count every screen in the venue, then record how many were displaying the event specifically.
    f
    Screen locations
    Be specific — above the bar, back wall left of the stage, on the patio. Detailed enough that someone entering the venue could find each one.
    g
    Watermark / network logo
    The broadcaster's logo, usually in a screen corner. Record exactly what you saw — DAZN, Paramount+, ESPN+, Peacock, FUBO, Telemundo, and so on.
    h
    Visible streaming device
    Yes or no. A laptop wired to a screen, a phone driving a projector, a tablet on a shelf. If you cannot tell, record "unable to confirm."

    People & the room

    d
    Door staff and server
    Brief descriptions — build, height, hair, attire, approximate age. The server's name usually appears on the receipt.
    i
    Event advertising
    Chalkboards, sandwich boards, and window signage outside; posters, table tents, and flyers inside. Photograph from a distance where you can do so naturally.
    k
    Brief venue description
    Two or three sentences — bar location, flooring, wall décor, general ambiance. A short written sketch, not an essay.

    Sport-specific

    Select your broadcast in Section 06 — the sport-specific fields will appear here.
    08Before & After

    Pack right, submit right.

    A few minutes of preparation prevents a compromised observation. Confirm each item before you head out.

    Device charged, or charger packed
    Video recording drains a battery quickly. Aim for 80%+ on arrival, or carry a power bank.
    At least 2 GB of free storage
    Several minutes of HD video can exceed 1 GB. Clear unnecessary files before you leave.
    Cash for cover charge and a beverage
    Event nights often carry a cover charge and a one-drink minimum. Only the cover charge is reimbursable; food and drink are at your expense. Order modestly, tip normally, and keep the cover receipt.
    Plain, unremarkable attire
    No company logos, no uniforms, nothing that draws the eye. Dress like a typical patron of the kind of venue you are visiting.
    Site Inspection Sheet on your device
    Save the PDF to your phone, or print a copy. Do not plan to complete it from memory.
    Confirmed broadcast start time
    Aim to arrive 10–20 minutes after the broadcast begins. Earlier, and the event has not started; later, and the observation window may close.

    If someone asks what you're doing

    This rarely happens — but if a staff member or patron asks about your recording, the simplest approach is the best one. You are a paying customer in a public venue and owe no one an explanation. Keep your answer brief, friendly, and truthful.

    Keep it short and honest. "Just grabbing a few clips — good atmosphere in here" is enough. A brief, relaxed answer ends the conversation; an elaborate story invites more questions.

    Don't claim to be something you're not. There is no need to invent a reason or a backstory. Staying vague and genuine is more convincing than a rehearsed line.

    If you're asked to stop recording, stop immediately. Don't argue or negotiate. Put the device away, finish your drink, and continue your visit normally — you may already have enough footage.

    If questioning persists, or you feel unwelcome: conclude the visit naturally — settle your tab and leave. Do not argue and do not re-enter. Once away from the venue, email info@served123.com and we will advise. Your comfort and safety always come before evidence collection, without exception.

    Submitting your observation

    1
    Review your evidence

    Confirm both exterior photos, the walk-in video, the interior pan, and a clean sixty-second event clip are all on your device and clearly legible.

    2
    Complete the sheet

    Fill in the PDF from your notes while the visit is fresh — universal and sport-specific fields both. Save it as a finished PDF, not a Word document.

    3
    Email it all together

    Send all five items in one email to info@served123.com within 24 hours, venue name and date in the subject.

    09If Anything Happens

    The uncommon cases.

    Most observations proceed without incident. The scenarios below are uncommon — but if any arise, this is how to handle them. When in doubt, contact us either way.

    The event is not being broadcast.
    Still a valid observation, and still compensated. Photograph the empty or alternative-programming screens, record video confirming your presence, and complete the form as normal. A negative finding has evidentiary value too.
    Recording is interrupted by a device problem.
    Submit whatever you captured, with a brief note on the form explaining the interruption. Partial evidence may still qualify. If unsure, email info@served123.com for guidance.
    You are asked to stop recording or to leave.
    Comply without protest. Conclude the visit naturally — settle your tab and exit. Do not re-enter, do not argue, and do not record any confrontation. Once at a safe distance, contact us and we will handle next steps.
    You have a safety concern.
    Leave first; report afterward. If you are physically obstructed or a situation escalates, call 911 before anything else. Your safety supersedes every other instruction in this guide, without exception.
    You cannot complete an accepted assignment.
    Let us know as early as possible so the observation can be reassigned. Circumstances change — early notice is what matters, and there is no penalty for it.
    HELPField Operations

    Questions? Reach out.

    Before, during, or after an assignment — email field operations and we will respond promptly. Please do not call the main line; it routes to client intake, not field operations.

    Field operations inboxinfo@served123.com

    Email reaches field operations directly and is monitored throughout the day. Include your assignment reference where you have one, so we can locate the matter fast.

    Confidential — internal use only — do not share or forward
    © Served 123 LLC · Confidential — for distribution only to authorized contracted observers.