The radio world has been turned upside down with the creating of podcasts. Comedians seem to be taking to this new form of media like no other. A comedy podcast allows a stand up comedian to have his comedy heard around the globe. Starting your own comedy podcast is relatively easy and can be broken down into a few phases, setting your podcast up, recording the podcast and disseminating the podcast.
When it comes to planning your comedy podcast, the format is one of the most important decisions and should be the first one you make when creating your comedy radio program. Some comedians choose to pick a specific theme for their podcast, like Doug Benson and his I Love Movies podcast. Other comedians like Adam Carolla choose to go with a format similar to that of a traditional morning show, complete with a news girl, sound effects and interview segments. The minimalist approach has worked for some stand up comedians like Bill Burr and his Monday Morning Podcast, which features just the comedian speaking into a microphone. Successful comedy podcasts often have recurring bits, which help create a structure for the program and aids in building listener loyalty. If you aren't a seasoned comedian, or just beginning in broadcasting, I would recommend picking a genre that you have some experience on or at least a lot of strong opinions. If your comedy podcast is too broad you have trouble focusing on topics and keeping the show cohesive.
Recording your comedy podcast can be done through a number of ways but the easiest way involves setting up some microphones and having them plugged into a recording device or a computer. You'll want a room that is not only quiet, but will also provide solid acoustics for your comedy radio recording. You will need to make sure that the microphones are spaced out properly to avoid feedback and that the microphones are held in a stand to make it easier to talk. The microphones can be mixed using a simple mixe r, and that feed can be sent into the computer which will be recorded using a software program. Someone with a good ear should monitor the podcast to ensure the quality is consistent. Make sure to test the audio quality before you record the entire podcast. The most popular software used for recording podcasts is Garage Band. After recording your comedy podcast, you can edit it down if you'd like with an audio program, I recommend the program GoldWave.
Disseminating your podcast to the masses is the last step. You will need a website to store your podcast so that people will be able to access the .mp3 files. Social media is a popular way to promote your new comedy podcast. There are even podcasts out there that review other podcasts, you can submit your show to them for review and a good way to gain more exposure. Posting your comedy podcast on iTunes requires a separate tutorial that can be found at Apple.com. Additionally a great way to get your comedy podcast notice d is to be a guest on other people's podcast, or to post on forums to generate listeners to your podcast.
Now that you've planned, recorded and distributed your comedy podcast you can repeat the same formula for the next episode. Or if the formula needs tweaking make adjustments, but the keep to a successful comedy podcast is consistency. Once people get hooked on your program you will want to keep them listening by creating new high quality shows. Advertisements and merchandise are just a few ways to make money from your comedy podcast. Many comedy podcasts are not yet profitable, however with the seismic shift to online advertising those days could be few and far between, so strike while the iron is hot and start your own comedy podcast.
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