Would you want more?

[geoff]

Feel free to chime in with other ideas, concerns, comments. What I want is for the website to have fresh content each day, and for our existing show to not suffer. I can only guarantee Mickey and I's presence in any expansion hours at this time.

[woozxyl]

Five hours a week would be great but you both have FT jobs in the outside world and lives and stuff and need to keep having those things so your shows have content.
Many moons ago when I side-kicked mornings and was a program director as well, I got up around four-four thirty, went to the station, did show prep and went on at 5:30. After the show ended at ten, I had production (spots to cut), meeting with sales people and creating promotions, air-check sessions with jocks, schedules and calls to make, talking to the engineer and I might get to go home by 4:30-5:00.

I'd have a drink, dinner, bubble bath, watch maybe one TV show and bed by nine. The only way I stayed on top of pop culture was through TV Guide, People and associated rags and faxed industry gossip.
I had no life.

So, don't kill yourself to grow the show or the show won't have anything to grow on.

[Iceman2469]

I could see a 4th hour, but you'd have to start eariler i think.

[woozxyl]

I could see a 4th hour, but you'd have to start eariler i think.

That's what I voted for

[FooFa]

When you consider that Clear Channel is in bankruptcy( http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125184915050077813.html) and satellite has yet to make a thin dime, I think you're poised for greatness, eventually. As much as most of us would like more, I wouldn't want it to become a burden, as that would belie the purpose. Maybe start off with an additional hour on Fridays.

Those of us who used to watch Jen and Geoff just hanging out and talking on SA nights really enjoyed it. It might be fun if you add an hour, to not necessarily even polish it for podcasting although you could still make it available. But you could call the first hour a rehearsal or meeting and just shoot the shit without any planned segments.

[Chris_P]

I voted for five hours.  I've always liked getting new content throughout the week.  But recording it all at once can be a bit much.  It could be a bit of a strain on your voices, as few pros do five hours a day. 

The problem (it's not like you're doing news of the day), but you're recording the third hour on Friday, and it's being released the following Friday.  So the day before the CFTR, you're recording three shows that will aired Again, it's just a product of doing a pre-recorded show for release on a podcast.

So I'd still record three hours on Friday, and then you have five days to record the next two for Thursday/Friday.  Perhaps you get some of the other shows to co-host/guest host, etc.  Cross promotion, collaboration, etc....whatever you want to call it.

Again, for the price I'm paying, who am I to complain? 

[delgirl4]

I would love more, but I don't want fluff or filler. I could see adding an extra hour if you really think you need it, but I'm just glad that you do the 3. I'd hate to see no Somacow at all.

[JonCole]

I voted for five also and I don't have too much different to say from these other articulate guys.  Put simply, it's more of a quality > quantity issue, though quality + quantity is always ideal.  I'd be a little more interested in hearing ideas about how you guys could extend the show if you chose to, as far as a change in format or recording on multiple/different days or whatever else is on the table.

[ELROSS]

I have been thinking it over. Best thing I've come up with so far: Three hours on Friday, like usual, and every host is responsible for scheduling an hour of content during the week at some point during the next six days subsequent. SIX Hours of content per week, or two hosts a week and one gets a week off rotating and you still get 5 hours a week.

[FooFa]

I have been thinking it over. Best thing I've come up with so far: Three hours on Friday, like usual, and every host is responsible for scheduling an hour of content during the week at some point during the next six days subsequent. SIX Hours of content per week, or two hosts a week and one gets a week off rotating and you still get 5 hours a week.

How would that work in a leap year?

[TheJudge]

I kept skipping over this post because I'm just not sure how I want to answer. I think because I'm not sure what you're asking.  A longer Friday show or broadcasting on other nights?   

I usually miss most of the first hour as it is now and so would miss anything  broadcast earlier... and since I work Saturdays I would either miss anything later or be very tired on Saturday. 


If you mean something on another night,  would it be different from Somacow? 
I like the idea of bringing other people in to join you to make it different.  Some who might join you on a semi-regular basis... others who just want to sit in for one show, even if it's by phone (tune in next time for our special guest - insert name - )... the special guest could be a friend, your neighbor, a musician, a doctor, a chef, a therapist, a psychic, a stripper, anyone who has something to plug that you think is worthy of the time or anyone who would just be funny to hear...


Epilogue: I voted 5 or more, only because more of a good thing is always better.  right?

I would like to see a Sunday morning show... say from 7 to 8am... while I'm drinking my coffee... with a slant towards the week's upcoming events worthy of a visit by the SomaCow heard.  There are so many events we miss because we never heard of them...  like "an evening of estrogen" or "Truth or Dare with Pepe" or a comic book writer coming to town or even a Cuban pig roast... there all here----> http://orlando.metromix.com/events ... but

[SomaCowJ]

Keep in mind that our primary product is our podcasts, not our Friday evening recording sessions.

Those are just bonus for you inner-circle types, although we love growing that,  too.

So Geoff's poll is more in terms of total (hours of) podcasts available for download per week, not so much "do we need to record for five hours straight on Fridays?".

I think the idea of five to seven 30-minute podcasts per week bears inspection. It would help satisfy Geoff's desire to have "fresh content on our website every day".
It assists us with attracting the ADHD denizens of the internet (which is all of them), and it only changes our recording schedule by thirty minutes in either direction.
Getting the four of us together for hours at a time, uninterrupted, is way tougher than you might think.

I'm afraid that the editing/publishing load on Mickey would be unbearable, though. Dunno.

[1Private_Dick]

As for me, I love the show..and the 3 hour length is fine, I just wish there was at least another broadcast during the week..like a 6-9p on a Tuesday or Thursday. Friday's are sometimes tough to catch for the simple reason..(which seems selfish)..that is when the time starts that Diana and I get to spend time together. We don't see each other during the week, due to those nights being dedicated to the children, and their schooling..so when the weekend comes..that's "our time"..and it's a little tough to sit home on a Friday night. Unlike myself, I could sit here and stare at the screen for hours...Diana..not so much. It works out now, though, because one of her boys is in the high school marching band, and must attend/perform at the Friday night football games..home and away..so I'm good for now to catch the broadcasts..but when football season is over for high school..well.. ..I'm sure I'll miss some live broadcasts...

[JonCole]

Keep in mind that our primary product is our podcasts, not our Friday evening recording sessions.

Those are just bonus for you inner-circle types, although we love growing that,  too.

So Geoff's poll is more in terms of total (hours of) podcasts available for download per week, not so much "do we need to record for five hours straight on Fridays?".

I think the idea of five to seven 30-minute podcasts per week bears inspection. It would help satisfy Geoff's desire to have "fresh content on our website every day".
It assists us with attracting the ADHD denizens of the internet (which is all of them), and it only changes our recording schedule by thirty minutes in either direction.
Getting the four of us together for hours at a time, uninterrupted, is way tougher than you might think.

I'm afraid that the editing/publishing load on Mickey would be unbearable, though. Dunno.

Have you considered outsourcing the editing?  I'm not really volunteering and I don't know how you guys record exactly, but there really isn't an easier way to get the more behind-the-scenes stuff done for you guys?

[mickey]

Have you considered outsourcing the editing?  I'm not really volunteering and I don't know how you guys record exactly, but there really isn't an easier way to get the more behind-the-scenes stuff done for you guys?

There are some folks on the production staff that are control freak.  Not naming any names (Mickey), but the editing is part of the creative process and it is difficult to hand that over to someone willy nilly.