Podcast

[JediTricks]

I've only haphazardly listened to a few podcasts, but the ones I've checked out generally seem to pick one general topic for discussion, then have 3-4 guys just talk back and forth about that for an hour or so. Occaisionally they'll split it into a couple different segments/discussions, or have a guest for part of it to interview/talk with.

Well, the most successful Star Wars collecting podcast I know definitely has multiple segments: http://www.swactionnews.com
Other podcasts I've seen have up to 10 segments and even clickable links within the file to jump to those segments, such as the TV.com podcast and some others I don't remember from back in the day. It helps keep it from being a drone-fest and boring the audience to have more material than just 1 thing for an hour. Like, can you imagine just sitting on one thread here on the forums all day instead of using the Active Topics page?

Yeah, these things kind of tend to evolve organically rather than being set up in a format from the get-go. I know some of the more established ones kind of BS around for a little bit before they actually start recording so they can get jitters and shit out of the way (some of us get them!) and also to kind of semi-establish some talking points and shit. I actually think some of them even have non-speaking "moderators" who kind of "direct" the podcast with text cues ("you're belabouring the point, you've already covered this, this isn't interesting, transition out, only spend a few more minutes on this, etc.") but I don't know how much that would work.

My concern would be a meandering mess that way or just being monotonous. Also, if it's only transitioning naturally it'll probably stay on the same general topic or at least similar general thrust, and for example, that could leave someone like me out if we're talking about comics for the whole time. Plus, if we know in advance what stuff we're going to be covering, it can help us clear up some of our thoughts ahead of time rather than getting stuck in "uh, uh, uh" stuff.

[Onslaught Six]

Well, we'll just have to see how it goes!

[Dominic]

It comes down to how good we want this to be.

Do we want something that a non-fan, or a new fan is going to look at and maybe watch more than once? Or, do we want self-indulgent rambling?

We could have a rotating format. "This week, we are talking about _________." But, we would have to stay on that topic for the hour.

The problem of the last decade is that the technology and resources to do this sort of thing have become more common. Talent used to be a bar for this sort of thing because it was more expensive/difficult to get the resources in the first place. (Less talented and diligent people were less likely to get the chance to be on the mic.) Now, because nearly anybody can do something like a podcast, people are starting to think that anybody and everybody should.

That is a huge part of the reason that I do not want to be on camera/mic. I *suck* at that sort of thing and my contribution would terdify the final product. (Given how harshly I judge guys like Spiegelman for their lack of talent, it would not be right for me to be on camera/mic given my lack of requisite talent.)

If we are going to put time and resources in to a podcast, why not make it a *good* podcast?


Dom
-isn't there enough indy-crap out there already?

[Shockwave]

It comes down to how good we want this to be.

Do we want something that a non-fan, or a new fan is going to look at and maybe watch more than once? Or, do we want self-indulgent rambling?

We could have a rotating format. "This week, we are talking about _________." But, we would have to stay on that topic for the hour.

The problem of the last decade is that the technology and resources to do this sort of thing have become more common. Talent used to be a bar for this sort of thing because it was more expensive/difficult to get the resources in the first place. (Less talented and diligent people were less likely to get the chance to be on the mic.) Now, because nearly anybody can do something like a podcast, people are starting to think that anybody and everybody should.

That is a huge part of the reason that I do not want to be on camera/mic. I *suck* at that sort of thing and my contribution would terdify the final product. (Given how harshly I judge guys like Spiegelman for their lack of talent, it would not be right for me to be on camera/mic given my lack of requisite talent.)

If we are going to put time and resources in to a podcast, why not make it a *good* podcast?


Dom
-isn't there enough indy-crap out there already?

And I think this is where you're putting too much thought into that. This isn't anything official, and really should be no different than if we were all on a conference call to each other. I think we should try to see if we can all be on at the same time and maybe set up a Skype group for it first to see if this is even going to work. Then we can iron out wrinkles like format.

[Onslaught Six]

And I think this is where you're putting too much thought into that. This isn't anything official, and really should be no different than if we were all on a conference call to each other. I think we should try to see if we can all be on at the same time and maybe set up a Skype group for it first to see if this is even going to work. Then we can iron out wrinkles like format.

We did that once or twice! With me and Scourge and Prowl. And it worked pretty well, even though we went on a bunch of tangents.

We can worry about quality levels later--everything starts off being shit, and if we try to force it to be anything more than us screwing around at first, then we'll ruin it. Structuring it this early would feel too much like work--this is supposed to be fun, first and foremost.

(Also, I'm home, like, all the time. I'm waiting on you guys.)

[Gomess]

There's something to be said for free expression as a USP. As long as it's... constructive?

I think it'd just be interesting to share what each of us would ideally like to see in something like this.

But guys don't worry about it being unprofessional or si--*O6 bursts in HEY I'M GRUMP*

[Onslaught Six]

*O6 bursts in HEY I'M GRUMP*

My girlfriend and I recently had the idea that we should rip off Game Grumps but I should be drunk. "HEY I'M DRUNK!" "I'M NOT SO DRUNK!"

[Gomess]

It's possible to rip off Game Grumps? No ok enough with the easy hate

It'd be funny if the second voice was just totally sober and a bit impatient with the first voice. 'Cos those situations in life where someone's drunk and someone isn't are NEVER awkward!

[BWprowl]

Oh lord, can I at least bring up that something like Game Grumps is precisely what I'd like to avoid here? I actually tried watching it again yesterday, the Zombies Ate My Neighbors one, and it was driving me friggin' crazy, because they'd say like two words about something about the game that actually sounded like it'd be an interesting avenue of discussion/opinion/information, then veer off into a tangent of giggling and repetitive psuedo-bickering leaving me impatiently waiting for them to actually get to the part where they DISCUSS THE DAMN GAME.

So anyway, with that in mind, if we can just pick a topic and stick with it, I think that'd be good for each session/episode. Do we know about how long we would want these things to run? I've been imagining an hour-ish since that's what the few I've listened to have been, but if you don't think we could be interesting for that long, we could always chop it down.

And have we even settled on an actual topic for what our first (whenever it happens) podcast should be on?

For the record, I will not be available this weekend, I'm going out of town for St. Patrick's Day. If you guys wanted to do it on a weekday sometime, Wednesday would pretty much be the only night I could spare.

[Onslaught Six]

Oh lord, can I at least bring up that something like Game Grumps is precisely what I'd like to avoid here? I actually tried watching it again yesterday, the Zombies Ate My Neighbors one, and it was driving me friggin' crazy, because they'd say like two words about something about the game that actually sounded like it'd be an interesting avenue of discussion/opinion/information, then veer off into a tangent of giggling and repetitive psuedo-bickering leaving me impatiently waiting for them to actually get to the part where they DISCUSS THE DAMN GAME.

That is fine! (I will admit that now I'm fucking watching Game Grumps, though, damn it. Watch the Castlevania one they're doing now and you get a little bit more of that, but Castlevania 1 is...Castlevania 1.)

So anyway, with that in mind, if we can just pick a topic and stick with it, I think that'd be good for each session/episode. Do we know about how long we would want these things to run? I've been imagining an hour-ish since that's what the few I've listened to have been, but if you don't think we could be interesting for that long, we could always chop it down.

And have we even settled on an actual topic for what our first (whenever it happens) podcast should be on?

For the record, I will not be available this weekend, I'm going out of town for St. Patrick's Day. If you guys wanted to do it on a weekday sometime, Wednesday would pretty much be the only night I could spare.

I'm open Wednesday, I think.