By Ken Boone It's an overcast day here in Huntersville, NC but my mood couldn't be sunnier. I woke up the fact that I have another podcast out there on the internet! And this one is special, because it was set out to be of benefit to others! It's not that the first podcast I hosted, "From Grievance to Gratitude" didn't end up being a self-serving vehicle for endless venting. No... it started out that way. It wasn't that I wanted the world to know what pissed me off, because I didn't expect anyone to listen to the show. Or read this blog for that matter. Things were progressing nicely. What started as a 75% grievance vs. 25% gratitude split to one where I had to dig deep to find anything to gripe about. In others words, I had a theme show that was running out of things to talk about! A benefit of doing 35 episodes of a show with a small following is that I can work out all of the kinks in relative anonymity. That means I got very comfortable talking into a microphone, and was able to tolerate the sound of my voice. When they announced the Covid-19 pandemic, I knew that I was going to have to do something to help my fellow man cope with this new normal. It made perfect sense that I could use the skills I developed in podcasting to give voice to freelancers who have suddenly found their livelihoods threatened. I quickly recorded three episodes with plan to release one every two weeks until things were back to some semblance of order. I was overjoyed when just about everyone I reached out to was ready, willing, and able to share their stories of survival. During the recording of the interviews, I noticed a couple of themes emerging. One was that these are a resourceful group of people. They've already started deploying their own Plan Bs, so none of them are starving. They also weren't willing to complain about their misfortunes. They were too busy counting their blessings to gripe. That's a lesson I'm glad that I've learned, at long last. Well, the first episode, featuring my brother, musician and educator, Mike Boone was released to the world this Friday. He generously shared his story with our audience. So far, the reaction has been positive. Again, nothing for me to gripe about. In two weeks, I'll be releasing and episode featuring my wife, Celia, interviewing our dear friend, videographer and musician George Don Denis of Thredd Media. That was another compelling discussion and I can't wait for my listeners to hear it. I'm sure it too will be well-received. If not, I still won't gripe about it. Celia and I are in another one of life's transition periods. Things are uncertain, but Celia is an excellent planner, and I'm a pretty good dreamer. The combination will facilitate a smooth move from where we are now to where we're going to be three months from now. If things don't occur exactly as planned, that's cool. That's because gratitude lives here ~ and there's no place for self-centered griping. You see, I cancelled that show last month! But wait... there's more!
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By: Ken Boone I get excited just before I publish a new podcast episode. Going to the host page to see the episode revealed to the world to me is the equivalent to hearing your song on the radio for the first time. It never gets old. It's a different story when I publish a podcast launch episode. That's when I question my sanity. That's when I ask myself why am I still a glutton for punishment. Although I'm convinced I create quality content, I still don't have a solid base of listeners. But that doesn't seem to stop me from creating new shows. Just call me the Ed Wood of podcasters! After creating 10 different podcasts with nearly 100 combined episodes under my belt, I know the real purposes for taking on this task. The first is that there is always something to say that can be of benefit to others. The second is that they are fun to do! I learned long ago that for me, success isn't measured by the number of downloads or sponsors. It's knowing that I fulfill the need in me to act when there's a duty to act. It's in keeping with my purpose(s) that I ended my first Ken-hosted podcast to begin another. This new one will shine a light on the stories of independent gig workers as they make their way through this pandemic that's gripping the world. To kick off the show, I told my own story. I admit that I'm luckier than many other giggers out there, but am facing my own challenges as well. One such challenge was to line up enough people willing to share their stories on the show. While I've gotten commitments from just about everyone I reached out to, getting them "on tape" has proven difficult. Remember, these are gig workers who list resourcefulness as chief among their traits. In other words, they are shifting to Plans B, C, D, and E to keep their heads above water. And I applaud them all. In the course of my pre-release social media campaign, I got a Facebook "like" from my brother, Mike. He's an accomplished musician and music educator based out of the Metro Philadelphia area. He's an in demand bassist who's worked in the music space for 43 years! Although I wanted to record his story, I didn't think that our schedules would allow us to pull it off. It was to my great delight that, after a couple of Facebook messages, he was dialing in to a Zoom meeting I set up late last week. Note to self: don't forget to write about how difficult it was for us to "join" that meeting. And the folks at Zoom made it so easy for us laymen to use their service. While the conversation was both engaging and informative, it was also long overdue. That's because, as male siblings, it's human nature for us to drift apart. Especially brothers who are in their early 60s. I've always found that odd, because with sisters, they tend to draw closer the older they get. In addition to answering the six open-ended questions I posed to him, Mike and I played a wonderful game of catch up. We talked about our spouses, our kids, and our grandkids! That one is hard to believe -- GRANDKIDS! I also came across an CD that he recorded 10 years ago, performed by a trio consisting of Mike and two of his best friends from the Philly jazz scene. I'm going to use the first track as a bumper to go at the end of our interview. Great job, Mike! In the coming weeks, I'll be recording more interviews from some fascinating people. I'll probably publish them in the same date slot as my recently-ended podcast, "From Grievance to Gratitude". However, I'm not sure whether this new show will be published weekly or bi-weekly. As I said earlier, I'm fortunate that demand for my gig has increased. Even though there is no guaranty that anyone will listen to my show, I'm going to press forward and publish it real soon. How soon? You'll just have to stay tuned. But it is coming soon. Why? Because I: (1) still have something to say, and (2) it's still a whole lot of fun! By; Ken Boone I just finished editing, mixing, and scheduling a brand new episode for a client, and I have to admit the shows are getting better. As Celia always says, "practice makes progress". And I'm getting better and faster at my craft as well. I'm not yet ready to advertise my services, but I'll be able to respond to the call if asked. I was given a tight deadline, which required me to work over the weekend. I never wanted to do that, but the increased workload requires it of me. Weekends were when I would devote a lot of energy to the creative pursuits of the residents of my humble abode. But to date, our endeavors don't yet translate to cash in a significant way. So, I'm still on the clock -- reluctantly. While the economy is on a bumpy ride through fiscal quarter after fiscal quarter, some segments have experienced an uptick in demand. Fortunately, mine is one of those segments. In my past, I've never been that fortunate. Although not always the first eliminated, I always seemed to get caught without a chair when the music stopped playing. Except when I put myself first. Getting accustomed to a new way of doing business requires adjustments from everyone. As for me, I have to make the conscious effort to prioritize the needs of my business to at least be on par with those of my clients. I want to win at Musical Chairs occasionally. And because I'm finishing this blog post one day before publication, I'm slipping on the job! So what am I going to do about it? I will not be falling for the "be lucky you have a job" implied threats. Been there, done that! Through multiple economic downturns, I've been able to keep the job that I had at the time. I will continue to fulfill my fiduciary duties to my clients, but now I'm treating myself as a valued client as well. I've already adapted my podcast business to include a new show that shines a spotlight on the gig workers out there and what they're doing to cope with this uncertainty. To be honest about it, that topic does more for the public good than any of the work done by my paying customers. Sorry guys. My wife, Celia, was more forward-thinking than all of us. She geared the content of her podcasts toward coping, self-soothing, and adapting to change. The response to her messages has been overwhelmingly positive. That's why she's the brains of this operation. And she has to record an new episode for release this Friday. Now, back to my new show. Celia graciously agreed to help me produce, write and host it. I'm excited to get started, and although many states are beginning the process of re-opening, I do believe that the show will still have relevance for foreseeable future. However, I still have to pick up the pace or I'll miss the boat. Again! Paying clients are great. They provide me with the resources to pay my mortgage, buy our medicines and groceries, and help us maintain a decent quality of life. But our work is equally as valid as theirs. So today I vow to no longer neglect or short change our mission and ministry just to make a buck. I can both support my work as well as that of my clients -- as long as I remember to pay myself first! Now, back to work! By; Ken Boone Ok, I just finished a super busy week at my little production company. And a crazy one at that. It's Saturday morning and I'm thinking that I can look forward to a relaxing weekend. Or maybe not. I feel like something's missing. Yesterday, I recorded, edited, and published Celia's latest podcast episode in slightly over two hours. That's a record for me! All of this while creating a series of social media posts for a Facebook Live event sponsored by a client. And I did all of the above without my take-out pizza getting cold! Earlier in the week, I posted a couple of podcast episodes for a client who, because of the pandemic, was forced to radically change their business model. I'd suggested they record podcasts as a way to reach more people without driving all over the state for meetings. That was two years ago. Now they are taking credit for creating and producing their new show. As pissed off as I am, I'll leave it to karma to settle that score. There were also a number of agenda items that I didn't want to bore you with. Some were billable, some were done on gratis. And it looks like this will be my hectic life for the foreseeable future. However, I still feel like something's amiss. Sipping on my first cup of coffee, it dawned on me that next week will be the first one where I won't be posting an episode of my podcast, "From Grievance to Gratitude". I'm not counting the weeks that I didn't record or publish while I was recovering for my health situation. No one could have done this under those circumstances, so I'm cutting myself some slack. As I've said hundreds of times, I didn't set out to make the podcast a marvel of broadcasting. My goal wasn't to get thousands of downloads. Nor was it pick up a bunch of sponsors. It was a means for me to practice my craft while getting a bunch of crap off my chest. And in that regard, it was wildly successful. After 35 episodes ranging in quality from garbage to mediocre, two things happened. First, I was running out of grievances. I realized that I have a lot to be grateful for. Second, COVID-19 swept in to change life as we know it. Family, friends, and strangers alike were thrusts into unfamiliar territory. Forced to shelter in place, the lucky ones were able to work from home. Another group of them were able to collect unemployment, so they could at least cover some of their expenses. The third group were the independent workers who had no safety net. They are forced to scramble to find new means of support. That third group is the one I think I can use my skills to help. Since I've been a gig worker exclusively since I moved to the Charlotte area in 2009, I'm well positioned to speak to their issues. Since 1999, I worked a either a consultant or a contractor for a number of corporations, large and small. With over twenty years of independent employment, I know that I'm well-equipped to hear their stories and bring them to light! Here we go again. While starting this post to "grieve" the end of my little show, gratitude kicks in to show me a different perspective. Which brings me to the capstone events of my week. I pitched my idea of the new podcast, titled "Freelancer Survival Stories" to a few people I wish to record for upcoming episodes. They all agreed to take part in this endeavor! The format is still coming into focus. But one thing I know for sure - I won't be conducting any interviews. Not just believe the prospect of asking dumb questions terrifies me. It's also that I think it will be more powerful to hear my guests' stories, in their own words, without someone trying to herd them into certain responses. I'm instituting a "No Gotcha Questions" policy for this show! With God's grace, we will launch the podcast the week beginning June 1, 2020. I plan on creating episode up to and including a time when things have been restored to normal. But you never know. ABC's Nightline was suppose to run until the Iranians released the American hostages in 1980, and it's still going strong! |
About the AuthorAs owner of the Descant Music & Media Group, Ken is a creator and producer of several podcast shows. He is also a music producer, as well as a writer and an accountant for small businesses and nonprofits. Archives
June 2020
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