Delays, Delays, When Will It End?
Some time ago, Manong Guard got on my case for not producing the podcasts fast enough. He would rant on the show, rant in the comments, rant on the show again. Though a part of me thinks this is just karma playing itself out, I can’t help but feel that it might have been better off if I had continued editing the shows even if I was and continue to be very busy. Granted that Manong Guard and I did not tape a show this week because I got too busy, the shows we taped last week have not been posted yet and we are about to tape a new show on Monday.
I don’t know. I have e-mail, it’s rickey AT excite D O T [com], or kidflashx AT usa D O T [ph], even live AT usa DOT [ph] reaches me, but no — no one has e-mailed me anything. And as expected come Monday, I will be blamed for everything… again.
To our loyal listeners, you may know that we discussed before that I can only do one 30-minute show a week that I can edit myself, since doing more, I would probably lose my sanity. Manong Guard however adamantly refused, and we reached a compromise of keeping multiple shows per week, but recording and editing will be done in the Philippines by Manong Guard and Kristoffer respectively. You kinda would think that since Manong Guard and Kristoffer can actually see and touch each other that communication and production might be a little bit better, but I guess this is how they want it. Thank god, there is still activity in the comments, some of you might be thinking that we’ve abandoned you.
With regards to content and topics, I have no regrets about changing my “personal” format. Haha. Yes, as you very well know, I’ve gone “unstructured” with my topics, on purpose, while Manong Guard tries to stick to the old sections religiously. And this Monday when we record, I am taking it a step further, and will propose a more radical change to the podcast.
I’ve decided, although Manong Guard and I will still discuss it — passionately we hope, that I want to turn over the podcast direction to “you” our perceived audience. One glaring weakness that I see in our podcast brand is how un-Pinoy our title is: LIVE@USA.PH. I doubt that many Pinoys will immediately recognize that “PH” stands for Philippines and LIVE of course is totally meaningless (an offshoot really of our old show Live from the Bahamas — another stupid name — when we were still called Deadnuts and Diva2000). So the radical change is, either we change our name to something uniquely Pinoy like putanginam*.com or make our topics undoubtedly Pinoy that there’s just no denying who we are and what the podcast is all about. Which means, I will put on my Pinoy hat and talk about things from a perspective of a Pinoy displaced from the motherland, either about life in the Philippines and what we think is happening there or life here and what is happening to us here, and Manong Guard will talk about life in the Philipppines as it applies to people there, and what people who are not in the Philippines might think, etc.
I will not stop talking about recipes for example, but hopefully, even if I have to make it up, inject more Philippine ideas into the recipes, such as: “Oh the one thing I really miss in the Philippines is chicken tinola, specially the native chicken that my lola used to make when we went to Iloilo. The closest thing I found to a native chicken is this black chicken in Chinatown. However, it sucked. Oh, and did you know that they sell frozen malunggay and sili leaves here in New York?” Something like that. I want the topics to be about things that not only Manong Guard and I, but everyone can relate to. Though admittedly, I hated it, the Kris Aquino topic was a hit.
I am willing to go into that direction since I want the podcast to be less about Manong Guard and Kid Flash X and more about the Pinoy experience all around the world — from all around the world naman kayo diba? So I am putting the interests of KFX on the backburner and putting the interests of you our Pinoy audience in the forefront. If Manong Guard wants to talk about comic books (which we already did by the way), I will refuse, unless the slant is about Pinoy comic book creators, or a story related to the Pinoy experience.
I would like Manong Guard and I to still talk about our interests on a personal level, but I want us to be more aware that you are listening, and what you just might be more inclined to listen to. So suggestions are welcome, and we will do our best to accomodate.
Again, please tell your friends about us. KFX is a publicity whore, and you know I’m doing this to get more listeners — haha. We will not be ignored by the next Pinoy Podcast web article again. We will get more listeners on iTunes — my goal is now 300 listeners. Kaya kaya? We will finally get a new logo. Get more advertising. Put up a forum. Have guestings. Sell t-shirts.
Kristoffer, where’s the friggin’ podcasts????!!!!
End of rant,
KFX
March 18th, 2006 at 8:50 am
I am so f*cking pro-KFX! hehehe joke! But really you guys, you dont give KFX enough credit. I mean, its not easy blogging as a critic you know hehe another joke. Okay, seriously, here are my comments and suggestions and i hope they help and you put them into consideration: (1) You really have to have a better name. Not that the one right know isnt great, but as KFX said, it needs to be more pinoy. (2) A nice simple logo wouldnt hurt right? (3) Topics should be more universal. Like everyone can relate to it such as racism, discussing current issues (better if its on the entertainment news -wink!-) (4) The Kamustahan should be present in every podcast. Thanking the people that helps you in keeping the site up should always be noticed. It wont take much of your podcast’s time anyway. (5) Final suggestion, why dont you sort of like let people comment you in an audio format, play it during your podcast, and then answer it! (oh crap!!! i should do that for my podcast) harharhar…
Bye guys! And i do hope the podcasts can be finished already…I miss KFX’s infamous laugh.
March 18th, 2006 at 9:29 am
300 subscribers (via Feedburner stats)? Kaya yan. Check out the shows that have over 1,000 subscribers and see what makes them click with large groups.
No, those podcasters did not put their interests on the backburner. They did, however, link those with the interests of a wider group.
A Pinoy in New York. Now there’s a high potential topic.
Perhaps you can have shorter shows or raw recordings? That will probably help shorten post-prod time.
March 18th, 2006 at 1:01 pm
Well said, KFX. Excellent. I was starting to drift off with all the pa-macho crap. But that’s true about when you move out from the motherland and all the Pinoy current events, fashion, language, music etc is frozen in time and that’s what you take with you when you move. Meaning, we’re already baduy and we still don’t know it. I heavily rely on Manong Guard’s rants for what’s going on back home–where else would I have learned the word “Havaiana”? But also relate to the displaced KFX, who might be experiencing the same conceptions and misconceptions of the Pinoy abroad. Galeng! I suddenly thought of a bunch of people who would love this podcast. We ARE all over the place, aren’t we.
March 18th, 2006 at 1:03 pm
- There’s nothing wrong with the title of the show, IMHO.
- There’s nothing wrong with the current segments.
- There’s nothing wrong with non-Filipino topics.
Keep them and just expand. You don’t have to take out anything. Just add.
No?
Well, that’s my penny for your thoughts XP
March 18th, 2006 at 9:56 pm
I think the format of this podcast is fine.
That’s what attracted me to it.
The randomness of the topics and Manong Gards
out of control dribbles.
Why do an ‘all pinoy’ only format when everyone’s
trying to do that already. This podcast is good now
for what it is.
Perhaps, KFX should just have his own podcast
that’s ‘all pinoy’ aside from live@usa.ph
IMHO
March 19th, 2006 at 12:02 am
300 is possible but are there even 2000 Pinoy Podcast listeners? I have noticed that our subscription #’s go from 150 to 200 and 200 back to around 150+ every week. I think #’s will increase for all Filipino Podcasts due the the # people getting in to podcasting in general. I suggest keep it as it is and stick to the basics.
Correct me if I’m wrong but didn’t you guys start the show for yourselves? I think some podcasts start out that way then get in to putting on a “show” like circus freaks. The listeners say jump, the podcasters say “How high?”. Chica and I used to write down all our topics on a spreadsheet so that our show flow would be tight. Later we just said, screw this! Just talk and stop trying too hard. It was too much work. Our show now takes about 1 hour to record and about 30-45 mins to edit and upload. Screw the listeners, they either like you or they don’t.
Are you looking for a white audience?
There’s a Pinoy in NY podast by Mike P
I own PinoyPodcasts.com if your interested.
March 19th, 2006 at 12:12 am
I think the show is great as it is. I love how funny and spontaneous manong guard is. i love unproudly pinoy. i love blog therapy and hepa contessa. the thing that attracted me the most to your podcast is that i can relate to you guys (aside from the fact that i’m really excited for my old friend rickey). i love the idea of the filipino take on things and the fil in us take on things and what you guys talk about. let it be what it is. let it be from someone from manila and someone from ny. i can relate to you guys better than the other podcasts that you greet on your show (i’ve listened to their stuff)… you guys have done such a wonderful job. rickey and manong guard, this podcast works. don’t be so pessimistic.
March 19th, 2006 at 12:14 am
maybe rickey can add more experiences of being in ny… more topics from kid flash. manong guard’s topics are already great!!! we need some more enrhusiasm and input from kfx too to make it better…
March 19th, 2006 at 6:02 am
KFX,
apologies for the delays, MG and i are “trying out” this form of distribution:
- MG gets me the raw recordings
- i edit them up for distribution
- i give them back to MG for posting (where they currently are)
- MG posts it back online
i know we’re still having some hitches with this new approach, but we’ll get there eventually. be mad all you want - i guess we deserve it.
March 19th, 2006 at 7:48 pm
kristoffer and KFX,
DAMMIT! I posted about not being able to access the artichoke site to upload last week pa and got no response. For this I should be held accountable? Anyway, we’re looking for an alternative way. Kahit ngayon I can’t access the site to upload even via FTP connection. What gives? Is it another server maintenance thing?
Anyway, as for the format, I like it as it is. Unbeknownst to our listeners, we chat a little after each show and insist that we do it because we enjoy talking to each other. I think KFX’s open-letter stems from all the publicity and success that his two blogs have been garnering. Well to me L.U.P is a different animal altogether and, while I would be the first to rejoice if ever we grow the live gang to a good number, I still do not think that it would be worth compromising the things we hold valuable.
I am raw. Always have been. Always will be. I can talk about Mixed Martial Arts one week and then cooking a good antipasti the next. Comic books one time and My Sassy Girl the next. To me this show is about that… about you guys listening in on real people with uncontrived interests. It is this same honesty that makes me go back to listening PI.com or the Virginia boys of Sini-gang. While I may not adhere to their beliefs, like the same things they like, or 100% remain interested in their topics, I listen because these sound like real people to me and, if not for geography, time, and other hindrances, these are the same people I would probably be hanging out with on the weekend with.
I do hope you listeners feel the same way about us. I do hope, at one point, you start considering us your friends.
This is why I watch Conan more than I watch Leno. Leno, to me, gets better guests and is chocful of nice topics… but I like Conan. He’s a guy I would hang out with.
In summary:
1. Yes the name of Live.Usa.Ph can be improved.
2. Yes I continue to enjoy my conversations with the REAL KFX (please stand up)
3. AND No I don’t want to change formats… I’d rather quit that sell out (and I mean this!)
Thanks to all the Live supporters, the real Live Gang. And to KFX’s fans… DEAL WITH IT!
March 19th, 2006 at 8:06 pm
KFX,
UPDATE: Okay… I figured out the problem on my own. I at least have access to the ftp site now. Seems like you reverted to the old server (is this right?)
I uploaded already… will send you an email for location.
MG
March 19th, 2006 at 8:45 pm
We’ve been live supporters since ep 5, and we kept looking forward to listen evry week due to the fact that we can relate on what they are talking about… we might suggest some things;
the name can be improved as long as the content will be retained i.e unproudly filipino, kid’s flash in a pan, blog therapy, hepa contessa….
we can minimise topics that majority of us can’t relate with, let’s say it can be tackled once then head on to the other… updates from previous topic is good though… and yes, we consider all of you as our friends! we still support you whatever decision you might plan to do!
March 19th, 2006 at 9:09 pm
KFX/MG,
as your humble statboy, can i just pitch in my $0.02 (or P0.02, however way you want it) to this whole thing?
- it’s okay to “lose” the structure every now and then, or altogether devoting certain shows about particular areas of interest (notice the past few episodes you’ve done recently), but don’t get rid of it altogether.
- talking about the perspectives of a disgruntled Pinoy and a displaced Pinoy on the topics discussed works very well (and is why i think unproudly Filipino is such a hit), but these perspectives can already be discussed within the realm of your present topics/structure. you don’t need to shake up everything all over again.
- take from the few comments already provided by some of your avid listeners (Mishi (i put you first okay?), balbonics, ambientrider and Ediwn and Cherry) and work on those. for example - (1) references to older topics; (2) more content (i think more for KFX than MG - heheh); and (3) more energy (again, more from KFX than from MG)! i’m sure there will be loads more comments that will be suggested which will be useful for the show. (come on gangsters! give us your support and comment!)
*whew* this sure is long. i know i’ll suffer as a result of this (but ten again, it’s nothing that a few hours of work past bedtime will fix) but i firmly believe that _this_ is how you will achieve global domination.
… i’ll go back to my makeshift room under the stairs now…
March 19th, 2006 at 9:50 pm
kristoffer - Niyahahaha, I’m first.. YES! XP
Now seriously.
I’m not one for promoting but ya’ll need to take a chill pill so go to http://taralets.net and relax while we wait for the next live episode. We released a new episode today. BTW, I also have my own solo podcast. Criticisms/Suggestions/Lots of Lovin are appreciated. My name’s the link.
/end plug
I love live@usa.ph as is but will continue to support you guys through whatever changes you decide to do.
March 19th, 2006 at 11:21 pm
Why not call it PinoyAids.com. You aid Pinoys with your podcast.
March 20th, 2006 at 2:29 am
Hi guys,
I just want to say that I enjoy your podcasts and there is a certain type of uniqueness found on yours that are not on the Filipino podcasters. Anyway, I just want to say that I enjoyed the last episode when you talked about food and what you made and Manong Guard’s restaurant experience.
As a podcaster, I’m also a business owner like yourself, meeting with clients an on heavy deadlines, working for hours upon hours and trying to get podcasts when I can. My subscriber rate according to libsyn is around 47,000 and downloads of podcasts from iTunes or direct are always different from several hundred to several thousand but I can only do so much.
I have since dropped shownotes, and when from several podcasts to a longer podcast on Sunday. If I find the time to do extra during the week, I’ll do it but if I can’t…I can’t.
I do sense a bit of frustration and what you are both doing is unique but difficult. You both are podcasting from different countries, timezones and both have different professional/lifestyles and as I mentioned in an earlier podcast, it’s a odd couple type of feel that works. But I would rather have one quality podcast than several multiple ones. Would also love to see a bump up on the quality of the sound bitrate (sorry, if I’m asking for too much).
Last, would love to hear interviews or having special guests on your podcast. I think it would be great interaction to see how you two interact with guests.
Anyway, keep up the great work!
kndy
March 20th, 2006 at 2:46 am
Forgot to mention one thing…how I realize how the podcast numbers went up is on the keywords you use for iTunes. For example, if you put cooking…I would imagine the numbers and subscribers to go up.
If there is certain things you discuss on your podcast, I highly recommend adding it to your keywords on your RSS feed because you will see a spike in numbers from iTunes listeners.
As I mentioned on the last post…libsyn may report that I have 47,000 subscribers (and I noticed some podcasters use the numbers versus downloads) but my downloads are anywhere from several hundred to several thousand. Although my subscriber numbers are high, I know I don’t have that many listeners/downloaders.
But with the usage of keywords of topics I discuss from time to time…cooking, fashion, entertainment, video games, etc. it puts you on other listings and iTunes keyword searches that brings in more listeners.
So, just had to add that real quick. I started with 125 listeners from direct downloads back in 2004 and after the use of keywords…it has jumped to several thousand.
Oh…also, do you happen to have a podcast promo for your show that I can play during my podcast break. I’m trying to obtain more Filipino podcaster promos to play but all I have is Sini-gang and cuying podcast.
So, far our main access for promos for use our podcast breaks are on podcastpromos.com but would love to support other Filipino podcasters by playing their promos.
kndy
March 20th, 2006 at 2:50 am
Parang identity crisis o emotional turmoil ang live ngayon ha.
I just like to listen to you guys talking, whether it be about something Pinoy or not. I’ll still listen to whatever you guys dish out as long as you continue to do so.
More listeners ? kaya yan ! as long as you provide regular podcasts. Otherwise, people might stop checking back if they don’t see anything new.
Power 2 (the) Live Crew !
March 20th, 2006 at 3:57 am
First of all, I knew I would be blamed. Even after more than a week delay which is beyond my control, it is still my fault. Again, I have an e-mail address.
Secondly, I knew MG would vehemently disagree on some or all the points that I have proposed. We will discuss this on-air in the next episode — exciting! — but one thought: We’re selling out to whom MG? Our audience? I think, the situation here, is I, KFX, have changed. I am not interested in promoting a personal brand if you will (and this has nothing to do with MG and what he wants to do), but rather would like to develop the show which in reality involves our loyal (and future) listeners. My position is that KFX and MG will be clearly defined in any topic that we speak of, but I’d just like the topics to be more accessible to a Filipino audience so the points of entry are more open. The reason Sini-Gang and PI are getting more listeners and more natural recognition is not just because they are “being themselves” (which of course MG and I will continue to do) but rather because they are more clearly defined in what they are doing: Filipino-Americans in Virginia Beach, and what could be a more apt title for irreverent podcasting than putanginamo.com? It’s really my fault for not thinking of a more clever title, but I’m just thinking of ways to get more visibility, for what I believe is the best Pinoy podcast out there — and that is MY core value, to reach out to as much like-minded Pinoys as possible, and to bring them together like what we have done in the past few months doing this show. There is no selling-out in that.
Thirdly, the post stirred up discussion so yay. It looks like we have differing opinions all throughout which is great, and part of the learning process. It’s great to hear what you guys think.
Finally, the shows just arrived, so there was indeed some good in this rant. Yay. The things I have to do to get results. Haha.
Thanks to everyone who commented. We will see you guys in the next show!
March 21st, 2006 at 10:50 pm
Agree with the posts about the format of the show. Definitely love the banter between MG and KFX. Please don’t change it. As for increasing membership… why not just use the stars of the show in the name? Once the Pinoys see “Manong” they’ll know it’s definitely Pinoy.
March 25th, 2006 at 1:29 am
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