Episode 13: Show Planning, Collaboration and Preparation
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This show digs down into the detail of how to plan a show that has the key qualities that will keep your listeners, listening. We point out the things you need to consider when planning a show, we look at the role of hosts and co-hosts and how to choose good ones. We examine a raft of tools that Dave and James use in the production of shows and then we look at how to prepare each individual show. This episode is packed with loads of tips and techniques from the absolute beginner to those who have been podcasting for quite a while.
In this show we answer your listener questions as well. If you have specific questions you have from this show or any of our others, then leave a comment on our blog at podcastersemporium.com or send an email to podcastersemporium@gmail.com and we will be happy to cover your question in a future show.
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The software and services we discussed on today’s show:
- Google Docs
- FeedDemon
- Delicious
- WordPress.com
- WordPress.org
- GoDaddy
for Domain Names
- Domainsite for Domain Names with Google Services
- Feedburner
- Blogger
- Podpress plug-in for WordPress
- We use BlueHost hosting for this show
- Example run-sheet for this episode (pdf)
- SAMPLE RUN SHEET for your show
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Thanks for Listening
James Williams and Dave Gray
Good show guys, 2 commentsYou mentioned about what to talk about. IE. not just about anything. My 2 cents is that if you have two hobbies and one of them is technology. Pick the other one. The tech genre is saturated and the listeners are very discerning. If you other hobby is knitting you’ll find that the listeners will be stoked that there is even a podcast on knitting. 2nd one. How about rather than building a community why not go to where the community is now? For instance to take the above example say there is a rampant knitting forum. Talk to the admins and maybe look at co branding. That way there is a constant stream of new people coming past your podcast and the tech side can be looked after by someone else. The first ever podcast I listen to (OCAU) back in the day was an organic extension of the forum and my show has done incredibly well not through my podcasting skills, but through being on a forum
by Scratchy
on 19. Mar, 2009
Great show again !If I can add my 2 cents on choosing between a topic, I would always go for something I’m passionate about. It’s just a lot easier to talk about something you are passionate about. Your podcast will sound more natural, less scripted.As far as tracking downloads goes, I pretty much use the same tools as you guys. I do use Podtrac, Google Analythics, awStats and the stats provided by LibSyn.In order to determine the number of viewers / downloads I actually use a combination of Podtrac and LibSyn. Those are the stat’s I’ll be using in a Press Kit I’ll be sending out to potential sponsors.Anyway, great show as always, and looking forward to the next one.Regards,Stefaan
by Stefaan Lesage
on 19. Mar, 2009
OK, Not many comments on this one guys. I think people love discussion about tech things and do’s and don’t tech wise but don’t grasp the subtly of talking about planning. Some good points as I mentioned earlier. Can I put in a request. Rather than waiting another 30 episodes to get the whole start to finish of the process. Can we have a start to finish process (technical) taking no more than 30 secs per section.Ie.-Record as a WAV file.-Open in Audacity-Edit file.-Compressor-Normalise? -anything else-encode as MP3 (bitrate, joint stereo? variable bitrate?)etc etc. Then you can spend the next future episodes diving into the topics in more detail.
by Scratchy
on 06. Apr, 2009
@Scratchy: I am not sure that we are looking at 30 episodes to go through the whole process. We are developing shows based on listening to what people are asking for and covering topics that are relevant to that audience.I am not sure that we can do what you ask either:”Can we have a start to finish process (technical) taking no more than 30 secs per section.”That just can’t be done! 30 seconds on a topic like editing – which in itself takes me 3 hours and employs skills and tricks learned over the last 4 and a half years… Big big ask.But not only that; the idea of Podcasters Emporium is that we are helping podcasters develop their shows to sound the best and have the highest production standards out there. To gloss over things or to briefly cover quite complex tasks and skill sets not only makes for a very short series of PE but also would sell short what we are trying to accomplish.We can accept the fact that we are covering things in depth, as opposed to quickly to get people started; type of thing. While we include gladly our budding new podcasters we also accept that we have listeners with existing podcasts that are doing well but want to take it to the next level. We want to help them make that next level.You mention technical discussion in your comment. Is that to say that you would like to see some more technical discussion about the practicalities of putting a show together? If so this is something that I think we can manage and it is something that we want to do. Let us know if this is what your driving at.The other thing is that we might be able to do an overview show – where we talk through the “process” and then revisit each step for the inside knowledge on the “how” and more depth to the skills required and tips and tricks involved. Just an idea – not discussed with James at all.Please let us know anything else you think we should do differently – no promise that we will but we would like to strike a balance here one way or another. But we also want to stay true to the concept as well.On a side note; I think you might have under-estimated our audience here, in that while the show is not stacked with comments itself, we have had a great number of comments from people – informally and in casual discussion about the show and through twitter and other mediums – saying that they really enjoyed it and got a lot out of the episode.
by Dave Gray
on 06. Apr, 2009
In that great Aussie saying.Yeah, Yeah, Nah. Comment of feedback was simply based on comments received via this blog on previous shows. Only 2 listeners (Stefaan and Myself) have commented compared to previous shows. I have to write in depth reports delving into the depths of many an insomnia curing topic. There is always a one page abstract/summary at the start. Yes you can go into more detail further into the report but there is a reason an overview is called an overview. So I know all there is to know about mixers now but SFA about editing. When you study something at university etc. you first paint the subject in broad strokes then drill down. I’m looking forward to both but consideration should be made to the freequency (or lack therof) this podcast. If you do it a leasiurly pace my personal feedback is do the overview stuff first that way if it takes us 2 years to get to the masterclass on editing techniques at least I have an idea. Yeah I know you couldn’t cover it in 30 secs. Maybe that was directed to James ;-)
by Scratchy
on 08. Apr, 2009
Hi guys, a very quick comment (though sure I’ll be back again)…I just discovered your show yesterday and listened to 3 ep’s last night. Fabulous stuff, great production values, incredibly informative, and you two work off each other very well on-air.I’m hugely looking forward to listening to ep 13 (Show Planning etc) tonight. I’ve just started as the co-host on a podcast devoted to bicycling and I’m hungry for great tips like you provide. Our podcast is lucky, as we are associated with Triple R, a Melbourne community radio station, so we can use their studios to record. However I edited our most recent show at home in Audacity (also recorded some of the content on location on my Mini Disc). But your shows have so much to offer us, regardless of the access to facilities that we enjoy.I did a community radio show about 20 years ago and it feels good to back in the saddle… I’m approaching podcasting just as I did radio, in terms of good production and what makes an entertaining show. I’m looking forward to improving my skills with experience, and with your tips, and I’m sure i’ll be back to the blog to comment/question again soon. Cheers.
by Juz
on 16. Apr, 2009