As the Podshow.com/ Adam Curry sell-out to satellite radio debate rages on the other channels, let me just voice my own concerns for the little guy, ie ME.
Dave Winer made some great comments this morning on Podcatch.com. We have to keep things in perspective, but we also have to keep things fresh and keep on our toes.
The idea of attracting more listeners and in turn more podcasters is great. The more the merrier. However that happens, it can’t necessarily be a bad thing. Nevertheless, this cannot and should not happen at the expense of creativity, freedom of expression or exclusion of marginal content.
Lloyd Davis had some great thoughts this morning on this, in a continuing monologue about Podshow, power, and creativity. It seems that the very thing which has attracted so many podcasters todate is that very thing which is at risk.
I ask myself this, "would a show like mine be picked up by the major powers." The answer is obviously NO. Of course not. I’m not trained in communication; my direction, diction, organization are all lacking. Yet I have a listener base (Gastrocast #5 recieve over 100 downloads, others average 60 or so–Thanks you So much!). Sure, I would love to have a show of my own. This is it. Might not be pretty, but it’s mine.
I got into podcasting as a form of self-expression. I actually was going to go in a different direction at first–talk about island life in the San Juan Islands. But not that much happens out here for me–I already blog about that. Go with what you know. I usually teach a cooking course two to three times each quarter. I opted not to do it this spring because of scheduling conflicts–if I have to spend a night on the mainland, then I don’t make any money on that nights class. I miss my students. It’s very interactive. 25 students right in my face for two and a half hours. I teach and cook, with the help of assistants, a three course dinner and then we eat. Hence, the Gastrocast was born.
Sure I would love sponsorship–I hope you all realize that my current "sponsor" is my own company! Tax rightoff –I would love to promote those products I use, and enjoy and feel passionate about and recieve some compensation. That would make things that much nicer. But I’ll mention the products anyway. In my cooking class I was constantly steering my students to a certain store to get supplies. They wouldn’t even give me a discount on the ingredients I used for the classes, but they sold the things I thought the students would use. But I wouldn’t stump just any item at any cost. And I don’t think podcasting will support that. I do think that if you can prove your audience then you can sell, promote and generate interest in those items, people or ideas that big-time marketing overlooks–the cafe down the street, an internet-only product, a mate’s knowledge management firm, etc. And it’s not about big revenue, larger audiences or even recognition. It should be about creativity, freedom of expression and passion.
Popularity: 4% [?]
Combine trips, do more in one outing
