If you could give newbie you three tips, what would they be?

[StephenJondrew]

Here's the situation, you've just found a time machine. As a podcaster, naturally your first trip is going to be to go back in time and talk to yourself who is JUST starting podcasting.

What is the top 3 things you would tell yourself?

These are my 3 (keeping in mind I started podcasting in 2008 -- I'd have a different 3 if I were starting now)

1) It's ok to try different microphones, but recognize that you might have to spend a bit more than $15 to get better sound. With that said, stay with your gut feeling and don't go with a condenser microphone. Your gut is right - stay with a dynamic microphone.

2) Don't swear. It's a bad habit that might suit the show now, but it'll take you a long time to break that habit if you want to do a clean project down the road.

3) Be prepared to suffer. You'll have issues that come up, such as different levels of participation from co-hosts, you'll have major changes within your shows, and you will even have situations where although you've invested years into the project, you'll be best to close up shop and start something new. Although these are stressful and painful at the time, you'll learn from them all and it helps make you a better podcaster.

[yakko]

1) Plan out your shows. At a minimum, come up with your show outline and fill in as much as you can for the next 2 or 3 shows.
2) Don't focus on the hardware so much. Record with what you have to get comfortable hearing yourself.
3) Don't buy that Blue Yeti that you wasted your money on. Research mics, and learn the pros and cons of the Yeti vs. dynamic mics.

[StephenJondrew]

Good list - I especially like #1. The concept of thinking a few steps ahead is lost on a lot of people.

[StargatePioneer]

What a great concept. Let’s see what I can come up with.....

1) Buy an Audio Technica ATR-2100 instead of that Behringer XM1800s and that Behringer QX802USB. You’ll obtain slightly better sound without all the hassles of trying to dial in the gear and concentrate on how to create content

2) Learn a graphics design program. You’ll be surprised how often you’ll need create or revise images.

3) Go into it realistic expectations. Understand the available statistics and what is considered average downloads per show. This would have helped me not be too frustrated with progress over time.


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[joshuacliston]

1) There are no shortcuts between ‘your vision/tastes and your ability/skills’ ... you just have to do the work (and lots of it).

2) Most of what you learn from others (snake oil pushers) is either wrong for you, or just plain wrong.

3) Find a topic niche or niche group of humans and aim to go super deep. Either embrace the sub sub sub niche(s) and/or the people that live in those communities. The “middle” is a bloody Red Ocean, and with commercial radio coming in globally, it’s only going to get worse.


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