Live podcasting can be exhilarating and a great way to provide variety in your programming. Podcasting live can also be a great way to connect with your audience more immediately (could you set up a call-in line and take callers on-air?). Below are a 6 tips for preparing for and producing a live podcast.
- Preparation is even more important with a live show. Show notes, outline, research. However it is you prepare for a typical show, don’t skimp here. But don’t worry, perfection isn’t the goal. Your audience will trade you some production slickness for personality and a more immediate connection with you.
- Go with the flow. Set the stage for serendipity in the planning, then let ‘er rip and do your thing. Your audience will be getting the raw and unfiltered version of your show. They already “tune in” and listen, so this could be a great engagement booster, too.
- Know your gear and signal flow inside out and upside down. This way, if you do have technical issues during your live podcast, you’re more likely to be able to troubleshoot and solve quickly. There are plenty of gear lists and recommendations out there, so search away and find the right setup for you.
- Yes. You can still edit that in post. See our post on repurposing podcast content for some tips about what to do with the recording of your live podcast. If you make a mistake—even a big one—don’t sweat it. Keep going and try to correct it if you can while you’re still podcasting live. A lot of times your audience might not even know you messed up, and even if they notice… hey! It’s live! It’s all part of the show. Then, once your live podcast is over, you might choose to edit it down and scrub out the mistakes.
- Practice. Practice your segues. Practice your intros. Not necessarily word for word (don’t want to sound like a robot when it’s time to podcast live!), but certainly practice enough that you get the key turning points.
- Watch/listen to people who podcast live all the time. Pay attention to the structure. The transitions. The length of each segment. What’s working well? What could be improved?
What do you think? Have you done a live podcast? Or does podcasting live feel a little terrifying or overwhelming? We’d love to hear from you.