As I sit here in early July I have to start thinking about the 2010 Podcast Awards. Honestly the past couple of years the event has been exhausting. It takes up well over 100 hours of my time each year to pull off.
Last year was the first year that we did not break even financially, after paying all expenses and increased trophy costs. I had about a $1000.00 in additional expenses that came out of Podcast Connects pockets. The goal is break even not loose money!
So the question I am asking myself should the awards continue. I am also irritated that last year we went to all that work and less than half of the winners were willing to come on the awards show. Plus Ustream.tv even though we warned them multiple times, got blown out when we went over 4000 people on the live stream.
While I will likely punish myself maybe it is time to bring in some podcasters to help. What do you think?
I think the Podcast Awards serve an interesting role in the podcast community, churning things up and introducing folks to new shows thanks to your nominations.
Even if there were no trophies, the bragging rights alone make it worth it.
As for streaming, have you tried something like live.twit.tv and stream over multiple services simultaneously?
I hope they continue! Great for the community!
Pingback: No 2010 Podcast Awards?
Todd. As you know, I’ve supported the awards for several years now, and will gladly do it again (drop me a note). The awards are a great way to highlight some of the best shows out there — and the ones with the most passionate audiences. It would be a shame to see them stop. I think the comment above about skipping trophies is right on. While that may not be the biggest expense, it would surely help trim the budget.
I would have to agree with Dave from PCP.
The awards are a great way to introduce and acknowledge good shows to a community of listeners, especially within a medium that anyone has access to participate or contribute to. The awards offer a filtering process to the mass quantity of shows available. I personally now listen to two shows (“Dan Carlin’s Hardcore History” and “The Naked Scientist) all due to their nomination last year on Podcast Awards.