I call it The Unlucky Seven Dark Spot…
Seven seems to be the magical number that newcomer podcasters reach before they move onto something a little less time consuming.
The first few shows everybody’s checking out your brand new vibe. The analytics are popping which makes you feel great about you create.
By the time you get the gang back together for show number 8, someone’s got a new reason to spoil the season. They can’t make it because they aren’t feeling it to man I can’t get a babysitter.
Which I can’t help but believe is the reason why multiple podcasters set aside a Saturday or Tuesday night at 6pm to throw down several shows.
I’m not saying it’s wrong. I just know that listening habits can pick up on the tiring of vocals and the lack of fresh ideas. Especially if you’ve hooked yourself up to a 30 to 60 minute show.
Nothing creatively injures a podcaster more than those annoying days after you think you killed it but the numbers aren’t proving it.
So how do you get past The Unlucky Seven Dark Spot?
If you’ve teamed up with others to make your magic work and they decide to be no show, let them know how much it put a dent in your dedication.
Here’s a better idea. Whoever is the ruler of the kingdom it’s your show. Those that post a no show are only guests. Howard Stern always reminds his team of dedication whack packers and producer of whose name is on the show.
I get it. Life gets in the way. But don’t let the The Unlucky Seven Dark Spot… suck the wind out of your sails.
Even when you aren’t in the mood to spin your wheels on a fresh set of recording tracks. Get into that studio and lay out a map. Don’t wing it man. Leave that for the Wing Shack with their 8,000 different flavors.
I do kind of chuckle when other podcasters reach out to me to brag about how they’ve finally made it to 10 shows. Look, I love you for the endless supply of dreaming while supplying listeners with the unique behavior of the voice.
Podcasting to me is no different than being the chosen voice over talent to read and authors book. The phone call rocks your planet. Page one is still a rush. Then you realize the book is 235 pages in length. You can’t stop. You’ll lose the money.
Oh speaking of that. Money. That five letter word has a huge push on knocking your creative butt off the podcasting path. A ton of wasted energy and no sponsors again today. That dull ache of never getting lost time back eats away at your every attempt to do a great show.
So… You try a new idea. Oh look! Your podcast can be heard on iHeart Radio, Spotify and iTunes! 2nd level motivation is a party animal in a box. You feel like you’re more famous than Mario Lopez. ESPN who?
What you don’t realize is now you’ve hot even a bigger problem. You took your podcast to a biggest platform and they need your content to put their sponsors on. If you aren’t delivering what happens next? You’re taking up valuable space on their expression of art.
I guess the moral of the story is to be ready to sink your teeth into a bison sized burger and expect to swallow wind.
Not a negative! Be aware of what to expect with high hopes that those who’ve been living this past for years and thousands of shows have the willingness to lean into your game and say, “Winning is a choice.”
Podcasts that I’ve put on my daily diet include Tony Robbins who does a huge job on interviewing his famous guests in a truly heart felt motivational way. I’m also digging Conan O’Brien who has honestly had a blast poking fun at the idea of inviting people over to the studio all in the name of wanting to be his friend.
Trust me, the two of them are using the digital platform to sell their material.
Maybe that’s what you’re missing from your show. Sell something. Make it sound larger than life! That’s what Wolfman Jack did on that monster of an AM station in Mexico. He was always selling something!
I’m Arroe and that’s Pod-Crashing