Wiccan radio show

[zombieee]

I'm thinking about starting to broadcast a Wiccan radio show. I think it would be a really good research learning tool, plus I would be an informative learning tool to others. I know I often make mistakes with Wiccan theology, but correcting my mistakes would be a joy as well (I would correct any and all mistakes I make in my radio show).
Some main goals I've thought of so far are to:
NOT be a how to (there's enough of those) but to be a WHY to.
discuss and promote accurate history.
promote positive inter-faith relations.
promote an open learning attitude for all.

Can I have some feedback on this idea? Or, some ideas on the topic of Wicca to start researching?

[Blayze]

I produced and co-hosted a Wiccan radio show for several years here in Sydney. Are you looking at a pod-cast style show, or a community broadcasting station?

Will it be a regular show, eg. weekly, monthly or on Sabbats etc? How long will each ep be? These are things to think about as you plan what each show is going to be about. You will also have to work out if you are playing music or not.

If you are podcasting a show, I think you need to pay a fee for music (licensed through the relevant authority), if it is a radio station, you provide a log sheet and they take care of the licensing.

Otherwise stick to a talk only show.

1 hour is a very, very long time in radio and can take around 6 hours to prep for, especially if it is talk based. Will you be interviewing people, having discussions or are you just recording yourself lecturing on a topic, or a mix of the above? Will you be adding a listing of coming events or news?

The key to making a good show (from a producer's point of view), is to be organised. Have at least an outline of the show and if you can rehearse and time different segments that is even better. You may need a script for some parts and others, such as discussions, can be off the cuff - ad lib etc.

If you use a script and a mix of ad lib lecturing, practice moving from the scripted bit to the ad lib bit and making it smooth. You don't want to listener to realise that there is a difference.

For each sabbat we would get a panel in the studio. We would play music appropriate to the theme of the sabbat, we would have the panel present snippets of folk law and discuss experiences of various rituals that they had attended for that sabbat (past and present), we would present recipes and ideas. We would also perform the words to a sabbat ritual in the studio with appropriately timed music underneath. If necessary, someone would act as narrator. We would then open up to a moderated (by the host) discussion of the topic.

Remember that your natural speech patterns and speed will change on radio. The tendency is to speed up. You need to slow down, annunciate and drop your voice down as much as possible. Practice reading from a script to make what you are saying sound natural, even though it isn't.

Recording and editing for a podcast is different to going live with inserts. If you are live, how to you handle it when something goes wrong. Always have a contingency. If you have a set duration, stick to it. Have extra material ready to use if your timing is out. Have some small segments you can use to fill in, if the long segment you have planned just won't make it in time.

I'm happy to chat to you about content and planning if you wish.

Bright blessings
Blayze

[zombieee]

Hey there! Thank you for replying.  You have some really interesting ideas, and good advice. 

I'm thinking on holding off on this idea until I am done college. I am an art student, so I have to spend about 12 hours in the studio every day, I have an approximately 30-40 hour school week with 50+ hours of homework (studio work) each week, so that leaves not too much time for radio shows .  Maybe I'm just making excuses, lol.  But, I think lots of time to plan is better than jumping in, getting wet, and running away shivering.  if you know what I mean.

I'm thinking a podcast style with no music, since I want to put any money spent on the radio show into book purchases for research.  Since it'll be a podcast that is pre-recorded, I plan on loosely scripting the episode, and just setting it down on Garageband.  Since I have Garageband I can tweek it, edit out any mistakes (ums, ahs, gross sounding coughs, etc) and add in anything I feel I missed, or re do anything I feel I totally messed up.

The format I'm thinking so far is once a month, with the following in each show:
1. Wiccan related topic discussion - pretty much anything goes - ie, discussion on The Rede, the Burning Times, environmentalism, meditations, etc
2. Discussion of the next Sabbat - ie, ideas of things to do, suggestions for ritual, the symbolism behind the Sabbat, the history of the traditions, etc.
3. Book review - I would read and review a non-fiction OR fiction book (fiction books would have a pagan theme, or I would just think them interesting to pagans especially)
4. POSSIBLE interview.

I'm not sure how long each of these would take, on "air".  I'm thinking around 20-30 minutes? Am I under-estimating?

I have some practice with recording, I was in a band once that recorded a CD, and in that experience, I heard myself recorded for the first time - super embarressing.  I discovered I sound like a chipmunk when I laugh  . I have also made films for school, which I've either spoken in, or dubbed with recorded speech, so I've dabbled a bit with it, and I think I have a good grasp on how to control my voice.

So what do you think? Is my show format ok? Do you think I should wait till school is finished so I have more time?