7 things you need to start recording your new podcast.
Are you starting a podcast?
Need some equipment recommendations and you're on a budget?
Here is some food for thought and a couple of recommendations -
Podcasting is hard, it is a full-time commitment, like keeping your girl happy by making it rain orgasms on a Friday night. It takes consistency, practice, creative thinking, project management, execution, celebration, and main character energy - all done by YOU.
Can you get the best of the best equipment, 1000%, I'm not here to tell you not to purchase that, BUT, I am here to provide an additional angle to this in-between space you are in.
Starting any new project is challenging all together - so you've read up on ALL the ways to start a podcast, how you should set it up, the style you want it to be, whether you are interviewing people or co-hosting, then you're going to come up with how often you're publishing an episode, NICHE NICHE NICHE because god forbid you don't know that yet, and most of all, you're going to know EXACTLY the theme in which you're going to create content around.
"Knowing what to do vs. knowing what to do while you're doing it, are two entirely different things!"
Photo: First time I set up the mic, and started recording.
So here we are, consumed all the information out there, and now it's time to purchase the equipment.
Keep this in mind - the more complicated the recording equipment, the harder it will be for you, in the beginning, to sit down, master the equipment and the software, and want to record the content.
Let me tell you, making your equipment easy, accessible, and quick to use is the best decision I made when starting out. Whenever I want to re-record my intro/outro or realise I need a bit of buffer content, I attach my mic to my laptop via USB, open up the recording app, and I'm ready to go in under 5 minutes. I can keep my mic on a stand on my desk, whenever I need it, I grab it and I'm ready to make moves - I made the mistake, in the beginning, to keep it on a desk in the basement, thinking I'd prefer to record in the middle of the night in the dark, little did I know, by leaving it out of sight, it's out of mind.
In addition, my process is not your process, and your process is not someone else's process - the beauty of being the creator is that you can experiment with all of that on your own terms.
Photo: A realistic setup for a recording session, video + audio.
The most common mistake amongst podcasting newbies, including myself, is:
1) Getting the wrong equipment for their needs and their style/relationship with technology.
2) Taking too much time to plan and not giving enough room to adjust the plan when actively working on the podcast.
3) Making it too complicated, by comparing or striving to be like the professional podcasters out there who are the Simone Sineks of the world (who btw has an entire team working for them).
4) Overthinking before you start. There is no point in overthinking all the details of what you have or don't have yet - because the truth is, you're going to face a lot of things you didn't even think about until you're in the thick of it. Action brings clarity.
"Trust your gut and trust your process. If you go against your own energy, you'll be fighting with yourself more than you need to be."
Photo: A realistic day of recording and editing an episode.
Here are my top 7 ++ recommendations for a simple, budget-friendly, setup:
#1 Microphone accessories
#2 Laptop accessories
#3 Programs
#4 Optional
#5 Stay authentic
Lastly, getting started with the basic instruments can go a long way in helping you discover what your needs are once you're out of the 'learning/failing phase' of the podcasting process. You will learn as you go, and you will adjust your processes, equipment, style, and mindset as you evolve in your artistry.
Photo: One day, you will see your name on the big screen, next to the creators you respect.
In a nutshell
Stay authentic to yourself and your process. It's ok to be on a budget, it's ok to not have it all figured out, and most of all, it's ok to give yourself the space to be whom you need to be to get the content out in the most authentic way you know how to. YOU ARE COOL!
Leave any questions in the comments :)
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