Changing the format of the show.

[KidderKaper]

We at Sex is Fun! are considering a change to our format that we have been using religiously since we began. Currently, our shows use the first 10 minutes for catch up and banter, then we handle the topic, then we read a listener letter (usually a question for us to answer) and then we give out listeners a game to play at home. We recently recorded a show that broke this format and I like its flow. It is also much shorter. We haven't posted it yet to hear back from our listeners but I'm excited to see what they think.

Does anyone here have any stories about changing formats or any advice as to how we should do this without confusing our listeners.

Thanks,

Kidder Kaper
host of the Sex is Fun! podcast radio show

[jeffoest]

I think if you are afraid to improve your format as you learn, you're doomed to get dull and stagnant over time - for you and your listeners. Nobody is penciling you into any one format - at least I wouldn't think so. Just explain it to the listeners (and maybe ask for their opinions as well).

[tsidock]

Thankfully, most of us don't have a producer and a team of writers. Podcasting is freedom. The best way we can preserve this freedom is to embrace change. We can do as podcasters, what current radio cannot do. We can allow our podcasts the luxury of figuring out what they want to be when they grow up.


Tom

[KidderKaper]

True, but there is something to be said for constancy too. I you mix it up too often it can be confusing for listeners who enjoy the current format.


Kidder Kaper
host of the Sex is Fun! podcast radio sho

[tsidock]

True, but there is something to be said for constancy too. I you mix it up too often it can be confusing for listeners who enjoy the current format.


Kidder Kaper
host of the Sex is Fun! podcast radio show

I totally agree with that. But it is two different things. For a more succsessful show you can follow or create a format which by definition will require consistancy. Along with all the other things discussed here and elsewhere.

However, changing your format is akin to firing yourself, as long as you are not making money, or not depending on the money you are making, you are free to repackage your show until you get the results you want.

There is no sense in sticking with a format you are not pleaseed with even if it costs you all your subscribers. Podcasting is about passion, the things you like to do and the things you like to talk about. And if it's not, that's ok too.

So yes, if you change your show, you will certainly loose some of your audience. If the change is for the better, you will more than make that up. No program manager telling you to do it or not to do it. It's your show and your choice. This is a really big!

Tom

[kickasspodcast]

I have a little insight on this issue for ya....


Recently my beloved co-host, Fosco, decided he needed a break. Not being the kind of co-host to push anyone if they don't feel like recording, I embraced this change as both a challenge and opportunity. Since the beginning of the year its just been me and the occasional visit from a few semi-regular additions. Now going from a 2 person show to a 1 guy show is a big change, you don't have the energy of the other guy to feed off of, nor can that person aid you when your failing, however... the autonomy, especially on a logistical level has been greatly increased, I don't rely on another person when deciding to record or when planning a show, and chances at new subjects covered and new areas explored arrive all the time.

Is it a format change? Well... I still play the same music, and I often discuss some of the same issues we always covered (politics, news, podcasting) but its definitely not the same show as before. I guess if I've learned anything, and its as cliche as it is true, opportunities are always just around the corner, you have to set aside your fears of change and just roll with it.

Kidder, I see you are still under the 20 podcast mark, I think you can freely experament with your format (Especially if it includes cutting out or reworking some of the meta you include in your show) you really haven't done so many shows as to lock yourself into anything, if you had done 50 or 100 or 300 shows, my advice may be to wade into the waters a bit slower, but your in your formative years ;) so go for it!

Oh ya! You wanted to know how listeners deal with it? I think if they aren't too conditioned to a rigid format, they are more likely to roll with it, the kind listeners of the KAPC have been most supportive of change and have been very good to me. There has been no decline in downloads, though Fosco is missed, if anything, it just makes me demand more from myself, this is a good thing.

note: If its just an issue of what to do with your "10 minutes" of meta at the beginning of the show, scrap it and move what little you must to the end of the show. Case in point. I really enjoy lance's Verge of the Fringe, but the time he spends talking before he starts to tell a story regularly meets my FF button and I never waste my time with the meta. Not when the rest is so highly enjoyable.

Jack

[theandyman]

I am a firm believer that we can probably sell our listeners just about anything.

Now...I don't mean by any stretch of the imagination to insinuate in the least that listeners are morons...oh no no no....just the opposite.

If you like the new flow for the show and are enthusiastic and energtic about it, you can show your listeners that it'll be a better show because of it.

By shorter, did you mean in post production or the actual amount of content will be less. If it is the former, then I think it's a win-win for you and you can sell it that you'll be able to turn around shows quicker thus giving them their shows quicker. If it is the later, that may be a harder sell. You have set an expectation with your listeners of the amount of items you want to offer.

ok..i've been rambling way to long...

All in all, I think if you really believe in the new format, use all your best sales and promotion techniques to let your listeners know that this will be best for everyone!

"Just my opinion...but I may be wrong." (Dennis Miller)

[king bonk]

i think if your rearranging garners a show with more "content" i.e. stuff people tune to your show to hear, it is a win-win.

to use myself as an example - im considering a format change too. normally my format is storytelling for 1/2 hour, then done. no promo space, no listener feedback, etc. tho i am happy with the shows i have done, i was feeling a little "closed off from the world", and felt i wanted to engage the people kind enough to write to me!

so after my stories im going to have a time for listener feedback - but how to do this w/o deviating from content? do people who want to hear a story really want to hear listener feedback as well? my solution is to thank those who have written, naming them so they feel a part of things, and then reading entirely only those emails etc that pertain to people's stories and how they interact with mine. that way it adds a dimension to the stories my listeners have previously heard. we'll see how it goes.

oh - and another thing: 1/2 hour storytrelling shows are hard for people to sit down and listen to, so im thinking about throwing in a few shorter shows that make it easier for people who just listen and go to catch an entire idea.

so its about looking at your show, obviously doing what feels right to you, but also adjusting so that you get more "show" in for the peoples time. shorter is better if you've cut the fat out.

i think consistancy is a bad thing if you stick with what isnt working. you are the consistancy ... people tune in to hear you and your content. change in format, when seen in this light, isnt as big a deal, because you are the constancy (word?)

[Barefoot Radio.com]

Yes, be sure you work hard on constancy.

If you're not constance, you're not ****.

Don't be afraid to try new things with your format. Everything evolves, especially creative expression...

There's no need to always be
constancy,

God **** constancy!!!!!!!!!!

I mean it, don't be afraid to change up your format. Particularly change the format in your brain to understand the word you want is to use is "consistency." Sorry I was a dick the way I pointed it out.

Truly the part I'm not joking about is trying new stuff with your show. Sometimes you'll stumble on something that works better or brings in more listeners. We added a segment that was my cohosts idea and baby called the bytchphest. Folks seem to love it.

[KidderKaper]

Good info, thanks to everyone who contributed.

I'm changing the format and I'm forcing my editor to cut more of the stuff out. I'm shooting for <45 min shows with a 22 minute show every 3rd week.

I'll let you know how it goes.

[KidderKaper]

Yes, be sure you work hard on constancy.

If you're not constance, you're not sh*t.

Don't be afraid to try new things with your format. Everything evolves, especially creative expression...

There's no need to always be
constancy,

God d*mn constancy!!!!!!!!!!

I mean it, don't be afraid to change up your format. Particularly change the format in your brain to understand the word you want is to use is "consistency." Sorry I was a dick the way I pointed it out.

Truly the part I'm not joking about is trying new stuff with your show. Sometimes you'll stumble on something that works better or brings in more listeners. We added a segment that was my cohosts idea and baby called the bytchphest. Folks seem to love it.

Easy Spartacus! Turn off your left brain word fetish long enough to realize that both consistency and constancy have the same **** definition, i'm using a 12 inch PB and it is very late at night. So if I don't notice that I'm missing an I or an S in a word, it doesn't mean that I'm an idiot. Clumsy or lazy I'll accept.
Sorry was I dick the way I pointed that out.

[king bonk]

ok since bearfoot brought it up

http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/constancy

"constancy" is in fact a word and in the context it was used correctly.

[Metaphore]

I hope you didnt think that was funny BareFoot. Because it wasn't.


Oh and PICKLE HATS UNITE!

[smcminn]

The Bonk was correct:

Check Word Neighbors for the noun "constancy" in context.
http://wordneighbors.ust.hk/word-neighbors.asp?wdleft=1&searchname=constancy&showwordform=on&phrasespan=1&wdright=1&folder=All+available+texts+%2849%2C600%2C000+words %29&todict=http%3A%2F%2Fdictionary.cambridge.org%2Fcmd _search.asp%3Fsearchword%3D&submit=Find+it%21%21

[paul]

Hey back to the topic...
at the end of 2004 we decided our shows were too long, and while many listeners immediately hated it--we tried to keep our show under 40 minutes four shows in a row.

In the end it was a great experiement and has changed our show for the better.

Whatever you try---trying it only once isn't going to yield a good experiment. Decide carefully what you want to change, but then give it a chance. if it's a vast departure for your show, you'll have to get used to it before you find out whether it was a good idea.

[conradslater]

Yeah I agree with you Paul - at first the PK and J shows shorter shows seemed rushed but now they seem to be a really good length.
I suppose it means it takes the hosts as long to adjust to changes as it does the listeners.

Generally speaking I really like special episodes that pop up by surprise. a good example was all the specials that turned up during the expo.

[Barefoot Radio.com]

My goodness constancy is a word!!!!


CURSE ME! MY 100000000000 brain vocab doesn't include it!


Hey, I was just joking anyway, but I like to be corrected. It's true, if I'm wrong, I'll admit it before all y'all.

Sorry I pointed out what I thought was a mistake in a dicky way only to look like the dick myself. Oops. Pardon.

[cybercooler]

Another point is the whole "Frog in boiling water" scenerio. (as in if you change a little over time, people may not notice). I had one podcast that had one subject (myspace). I had a ton of feedback from listeners etc. So instead of having one show with this extremely boring show of me reading feedback and playing audio feedback, I came up with some quick 30-60 second clips to announce what was coming up in future shows.

I also created what I termed "the power-rant." As I'm a pretty "happy go lucky" guy, this was 60 seconds of me venting about a subject. I did it only to break up the really long story. I thought I'd never do it again. I got more feedback on the power-rant that its now a regular part of the show. I use it to transition from one "main" story into another.

My latest power-rant is termed "douchebag the salesmen" and deals with the idiots that work in Music Stores. (latest show (http://media.libsyn.com/media/musicianscooler/mcooler52_022006.mp3))

Also on my last show I "Bumped" a guest. (remember the old Tonight show, or Letterman, and they run out of time). I realized 40% of the way through assembling the show it was going to be too long. Instead of going back to re-edit (which I would've if I had more time) I decided to "play" and announce that the guest who was supposed to be on the show will be on the next one.

I also have slowly mixed in one song per show. Again, it breaks up the "talking, talking, talking.." part of my show.

[KidderKaper]

My goodness constancy is a word!!!!
CURSE ME! MY 100000000000 brain vocab doesn't include it!
Hey, I was just joking anyway, but I like to be corrected. It's true, if I'm wrong, I'll admit it before all y'all.
Sorry I pointed out what I thought was a mistake in a dicky way only to look like the dick myself. Oops. Pardon.

You are a bigger man than most.