That first show

[RobotsLove]

I've been wanting to start a podcast for a while and I've had some experience with news radio on a local level (although that door kind of closed on me when I dropped out of college).

My show would be talk-radio based but I'm at a loss as to how to craft that first show. It's kind of like not being able to go zero to 60 in zero seconds. The second episode I can just jump into my topics and conversation. I also think it's a little convoluted to introduce myself for a full episode as that wouldn't really ramp up into my style either.

Any ideas or tips how to get off the starting line?

[dpeach]

My first podcast I started off with the typical "here is who I am and what this show is about" episode. It was shorter than a normal show and I released it a short time before my first real episode.

When I started my second podcast, I ignored the "first episode" show. After having listened to more podcasts, I realized something. The first 10 people who hear your show's first episode (Mom, Dad, close friends, etc.) will already know all about you and you have probably already told them about your show. So they need no introduction. After you have a few shows out and you start getting subscribers, then you will have new people go back and hear that first show. By this time, those listeners already know who you are and what your format is.

Because there are podcasters that I really enjoy and want to hear all their episodes, I have found myself (many times) agonizingly going through their "episode 1" and thinking that they should just say what they want to say instead of taking a whole episode to tell me what they are going to say.

Does that make sense? Having an introductory episode is not horrible. Most podcasters do it. From now on though, if I start any more shows, I will just start with the show and forget the intro episode. The only way you would have hundreds or thousands of people listening to your "episode 1" is if they already knew you from something else. Then, what would be the point of an introductory episode?

Those are my thoughts. You should just start your show and do it the way you are going to do it. 3 months from now when you have a large number of listeners, you can bet that the majority did not hear your "episode 1" first and they have been able to follow along just fine. So just jump right in like you have been going at it for a few weeks.

BTW, my first podcast was Missionary Talks (http://www.missionarytalks.com) and the second is My Thought Spot (http://www.mythoughtspot.com).

[Rasheed]

Hmm, I'm having a similar problem as RobotsLove, although I have no prior experience in audio recording, so I'm even more challenged. My problem is when I chat away in the microphone, my voice sounds normal, but when I try to record for my first podcast, my voice chokes, and I sound like reading from a piece of paper (while I'm not), sounding all formal.

Perhaps it's the unfamiliarity with the microphone and hearing your own voice, or perhaps it's the realization that if you record for the podcast, strangers are going to hear your voice and judge you by it. First impressions are the most important in any relationship, and you want to do your best at talking. However, by doing so, you spoil the spontaneity in your voice. The theory is that you should just be you, not someone else, just you. If people would want to hear a beautiful voice, they listen to the radio or go to the theater.

I keep saying that to myself, and perhaps it will sink in after a couple of days. Or not. I read somewhere that some podcasters need a co-host, because they are just lost and clueless on their own. They need a sparring partner to focus their thoughts.

Podcasting is an art form, and you really need to practice. And to improve you need to fail now and then. If you don't make any mistakes, you will never learn anything. To be human is to err.

Anyway, I like the idea of skipping an introductory episode, and cut to the chase. Why do an introduction if your format is going to change with every new episode? Just produce that first episode the best you can, just being yourself, and publish that baby. I'm told that the first five episodes are probably going to suck anyway, so why be nervous about it? I guess you should consider those first ever made episodes disposables, episodes you throw away, once you've improved beyond the NooB stadium.

Another way to get around removing those first five, ten, twenty, or more episodes afterwards is to avoid numbering your shows. Why not just put a date on the podcast, so it isn't that obvious that previous art exists. Only people who look at the ID3 tags will notice some earlier episodes are missing. Of course, you can't do this if all episodes are required, e.g. in a podiobook. However, in that case, you could re-record those first crappy episodes, once you have the experience, knowledge and equipment to create better sound.

I really needed that pep talk for myself ;)

Take care.

[WyethDigital]

Don't spend a whole show introducing yourself, your format or your concept. If you can't describe it in a sentence or two (or thirty seconds, whichever comes first), then don't describe it. People will figure it out eventually. Just jump into your show and do your first one the way you would expect to do your tenth one.

As a general rule of thumb, your first episode(s), no matter how you do them, will probably leave you cringing six months from now. Just accept that. If the show is horrible to you, then consider it a dress rehearsal (not a bad idea, anyway), and don't add it to your feed.

Just do it!

Good luck,

Eric

[Yotto]

The first episode of PRC, I spent about 3 minutes explaining what the show would be like. It's my least favorite 3 minutes of the entire run of nearly 50 shows :)