After 40 pre-recorded podcasts, it’s about time I did a live show so I can finally speak directly to at least some of the people who regularly download and listen to my podcasts.
Even after 3 years, the prospect of putting a pre-recorded show together to entertain people hasn’t lost its appeal, but ‘going live’ is an itch that just needs to be scratched. None of ‘Clever Little Pod’ is recorded ‘as live’ – which means that even the song links are ‘dropped in’ between the tracks, having been recorded in a block. Although that method produces a more polished end-product, it loses a lot of the ‘buzz’ of presenting in the traditional sense (even though I love the challenge of editing.)
So, the next show is going to be an hour-long special, broadcast on the CLP website using Stickam – a facility for netcasting that allows you to broadcast live audio and video, as well as interactivity for listeners in the form of a linked chatroom.
Stickam is used by Rhodders of Rhodders FM who uses it to broadcast his regular Friday night show ‘Thank Rhod It’s Friday’. The combination of chatroom banter and live audio/video works really well for him, and I’m hoping that CLP listeners will find it just as engaging.
The addition of a webcam is going to be interesting: I want it to be an integral part of the show, so I can reward the people who are watching with some nice visual ‘extras’ – ahem! – not THOSE sort of extras, thank you missus… I’m talking about comedy visuals! So if you’re expecting the normal CLP with a static shot of my face.. think again (waddya mean that IS a comedy visual?!)
My aim is to make as much of it ‘live’ as possible – so where I’m usually voicing both sides of a conversation, this time one will be live. The potential for screwing this up is massive – but makes for a funnier show, so I’m going for it.
I’m also going to trail stuff throughout the show, and have a lot more shorter, punchier features than usual to keep the audience amused, even though there’ll be more music than CLP listeners are used to. The trails should keep up the interest in what’s coming next.
Although I’ve got some ideas for the visuals, the chatroom is proving more of a challenge to integrate into the format. I don’t want to be reading out comments in the usual way – I’d like the chatters to be in on some running gags, and to contribute to the humour in some way. Something in the same vein as Morning Crescent would be great. I’m racking my brains.
Despite all of this prep, I realise that there is a very high probability I’ll be playing to an audience of 3 on the night itself. But do you know what? – I don’t care. It still presents a creative challenge that I’m going to love meeting, and in any case the whole thing will be kept and released as a podcast too – although I have a horrible feeling that something’s going to go wrong on that front, and it’ll be a one-time only listen…
Which is why you need to be there! Provisionally August 29th, 8pm UK time on the CLP website and at stickam.com/cleverlittlepod
Can’t wait!
