I want to cut back on one of my podcasts. I had trouble deciding which. Then I chatted with a Gunn Runner, I figured it out.
The two podcasts in question are the Pub Songs Podcast and Celtfather Music & Travel.
The Pub Songs Podcast was the third podcast I ever created. It started in June 2005. It pre-dated the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast by about a week.
It’s undergone many transitions over the years.
For a while, it was a place for me to share 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 be able to just talk like I do 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 have 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 at all. 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 people it’s not as helpful.
Happily, I was at the Maggie McGuinness Pub chatting with James in December. I told him about my plans of phase out the Pub Songs Podcast. He protested. I asked him why. I got a great answer!
It also reinforced something I’ve been thinking about.
James talked about how it reminded him of the “pub.” It’s a place for music, yes, but also for conversation.
I was updating the Celtic Invasion Vacations website. There’s now a place for you to listen to all of the past podcast that featured my Invasions.
Are those episodes still relevant? Are they “Evergreen?”
Evergreen content is stuff that is as relevant today as it was 10 years ago. I was happily surprised to find they were just as interesting and fun as when I first released them. There are all kinds of interesting stories in that podcast. And I confess I miss just talking.
I improved the quality of my podcasts over the past couple years. I script almost everything beforehand. It allows me to keep the message short, sweet and to the point.
But is that a good thing?
In October, I started blogging again. I used to do it all the time on LiveJournal 10 years ago. I forgot how good it made me feel and how great a connection I made with fans.
The old Pub Songs Podcast did the same thing. It was a more personal look at Music, News and other thoughts.
So I am decided. I’m going to drop the ease of Celtfather in favor of the personal music plus thoughts from the pub.
The first episode of the reboot of the Pub Songs Podcast for 2019 is now online. It's my commitment to rebelling against the status quo. That seems appropriate since I play Celtic Geek music on an autoharp.
I'm also working on a new mission statement for the show… I'm getting close. Stay tuned.
