I remember being at Podfest Multimedia Expo in Orlando and listening to a keynote speaker tell a story about a time when he didn’t release an episode of his show. He put up a slide that showed an email from a listener, asking, “Where the %#&!* is Episode 479?”
Needless to say, this shows real loyalty by an audience who counts on that host to be there when they say they’re going to.
In my weekly e-newsletter I recently wrote about podcasters saying, “No one listens to my show,” and the basis of that being, “because I never get emails from anyone in the audience.” Really? Even though podcasters are always accused of constantly checking their stats (multiple times a day)? The point being, yes, someone is always listening. Think of actor Andy Garcia in the movie “Ocean’s Eleven” delivering the line, “In my hotels, someone is always watching.”
| Related posts: |
| Beware of Too Much of a Good Thing |
| A Big Three-Letter Word for Your Creator Career |
| Color Outside the Lines, Go Outside Your Lane |
I’m happy to report that yes, people will miss you when you don’t show up.
If you’re an indie musician or a podcaster or a YouTuber or any kind of creator who can and should follow a schedule, people are out there looking for what you do, and you’ll be noticeable by your absence when you don’t.
Have you been telling your audience about a new single, EP, or album coming soon? Now you’ve got them waiting for it. Maybe you said, “I’m going to put out a new song on the first Friday for each of the next six months.” Well, when that fifth month comes and the first Friday comes and goes and there’s no new music, you will have let some people down. And then the real problem is they’ll have some doubt in the future.
I always remember way back on Episode 290 of my weekly “Now Hear This Entertainment” podcast when singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist Grace Askew was in the middle of a two-year songwriting challenge, which had started off as a song-a-day for one year. Guess what? You can’t take a day off from doing something like that, whether you feel you deserve it or not. (And after all, NHTE 188 guest Charlie Midnight would be the first to tell you, “Deserve has got nothing to do with it.”)
I am proud to have put out a new episode of “Now Hear This Entertainment” on-time, every week for more than nine-and-a-half years now. The thing is, once I give myself permission to break from that, then it becomes easier the second time, and the third time, and, well, you see how that goes. So, stay strong in your commitment. Don’t cave in to “deserve” or “mental health day” or “c’mon, we’re ALL going to go to the beach.” This is what you’re trying to make a career out of and the people who are out there supporting you are counting on you to deliver what you promised.
If a major television network didn’t deliver the show you’re used to coming on every Wednesday night at 10pm, wouldn’t you feel shortchanged? And before you say, “You can’t compare me to a major TV network,” I would challenge you with, “Why not? Aren’t you aiming to be world class at what you do, or is this maybe just a hobby, then?”
In podcasting we say that as hosts we have a verbal contract with our audience. Not too different from always having a new blog here on the website every Monday, I have in essence told the “Now Hear This Entertainment” listening audience that I’ll be there for them (with a new episode) every Wednesday. If you have a residency somewhere, say, the first Saturday of every month, you have a written contract with the venue and a verbal contract with the audience. After all, you probably even say it during your show, right? “Come see me back here on (date). I’m here the first Saturday of every month.”
People are watching and/or listening to you. Don’t let them down. Keep showing up. Regularly.
For close to 20 years I’ve been helping folks from throughout the U.S. from indie music artists to authors, entrepreneurs, actors and filmmakers, small business owners, and podcasters. Let’s jump on a call and talk about what you’re doing and where you’re trying to get to. Take advantage of all my years of experience to ensure that you’re pointed in the right direction.