"One And a Half Podcasters" - In The Knerd

If you've been visiting this site or following me on Twitter/Facebook in the past few weeks, you'll know that I've started a new podcast called "My Video Game Buddy" with my 7 year old future stepdaughter Chloe.  In case you haven't listened to the 2 episodes out, we sit around and talk for about 10-15 minutes about a specific video game that we play together.  The other day I was thinking about how many episodes we could do before we had to start buying new games and I realized we'll have content for a good couple of months :)

Another thing I've realized is that podcasting with a child requires a lot more effort.  On Obsessive Comics Disorder or The Nerd is the Word, I hardly do any editing if any at all.  Most of the time I take what I record, mix it down and upload it to the internet.  Then I might listen to the episode after the fact when it has been downloaded on to my iPod.  However, with Chloe involved, I'm more heistant to do that due to a couple of factors, mainly that sometimes she can be a little shy in the beginning or can get confused about what I'm doing.  So I make sure to listen to each episode and cut out any big mess-ups or anything, which she doesn't mind as I told her I can do that.  It makes her more comfortable putting herself out there knowing I can cut out pieces.

The biggest obstacle I've had to overcome though, is the simple fact that it is impossible to keep a 7 year old still.  She likes to move around and as such, she comes in at different volumes as she is never the same distance from the mic for very long.  I don't fault her, because do you know any child that likes to stay still?  The first episode was the worst, as she insisted on standing up during the episode and she would stand in one spot but move all around the microphone.  She started to do it again for the second episode, but I quickly realized she needed to be sitting down to help keep her near the mic.  You can tell that its better in the second episode, and its even better in the third.

Wait, what?  Third episode?  That's the last lesson I've learned when recording with Chloe--recording episodes in advance.  You may have noticed there was a two week gap in between the first and second episode.  Chloe was asking me after the first episode if we could record another one, but I was trying to keep to a weekly schedule like I do with OCD.  However, that next week she ended up being very busy with schoolwork and other things that we never got time to record.  So I've realized that I need to be willing to record when she is free and willing--even if we just put out an episode.  For example, last Friday when we recorded episode 2, we had enough time afterwards that she wanted to know if we could record another one, so we did.  Now if we don't have a chance to record this week, I have an episode in the can waiting.

Chloe and I are still very young in podcasting together, so I'm sure I'll have much more lessons learned as time goes on.  In the meantime, if you have young children and are thinking of podcasting with them, here are a few things to think about.  I think you'll find it a wonderful experience, as your kids will love participating in one of your hobbies.