I want to cut back on one of my podcasts. I’m having trouble deciding which. After chatting with a Gunn Runner, I might be a little closer to figuring it out.
The two podcasts in question are the Pub Songs Podcast and Celtfather Music & Travel.
The Pub Songs Podcast is the third podcast I ever created. It’s been running since 2005. It pre-dates the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast (by a few days).
It’s undergone many transitions over the years. For a while, I shared some of my favorite music. Another incarnation was a shorter version of my Celtic podcast. Another couple just featured my songs or live shows. And still another was used it to giveaway MP3s.
Most recently, I started podcasting my albums in their entirety.
Celtfather Music & Travel began because I wanted to just talk like I did with the Pub Songs Podcast, but with out all the production. I could just record an MP3 on my phone and upload it directly to the podcast feed.
That’s not how it’s turned out. It too underwent numerous changes.
Early on, I wanted to get feedback from listeners. I wanted a forum to interact with fans and to share news. That never worked out.
The Celtfather podcast never had the downloads or popularity of the Pub Songs Podcast. But I long felt the Pub Songs Podcast suffered from a lack of direction.
Is it Celtic or is it geek? What is it really?
Part of the problem I face is that I don’t get feedback for these shows. When I ask for it, I usually get silence. Or I get the also generous but not very helpful, “whatever you need to do.”
As an artist I love to know that fans will support me no matter what I decide to do. But as a businessman who’s trying to create entertainment FOR YOU, it’s not as helpful.
Happily, I was at the Maggie McGuinness Pub chatting with James. I told him about my plans of phase out the Pub Songs Podcast. He protested. I asked him why. I got a great answer!
James talked about how it reminded him of the “pub.” It’s a place for music, yes, but also for conversation.
His comments reinforced an idea I've thought a lot about recently.
I feel like my music is not just about the music. It's about something bigger. It's about community of people who are different. Who don't follow the status quo. Those who want to escape for a few minutes into a different world.
It reminds me of my Firefly Drinking Songs show, which is like being in that little pub in Canton. It's about playing music in the Dancing Pony at ALEP, immersed for a few days in The Shire. It's about sitting down with friends in an Irish pub. Not drinking or watching sports on a big screen. But spending quality time, with friends, meeting new people, having fun and singing along.
That's what James was talking about. That's what the Pub Songs Podcast provides. It's a new way to experience music and Celtic Geek culture.
So I guess I am decided. I’m going to drop the ease of Celtfather in favor of the fun music and generous thoughts from the pub.
