Podcasting addiction

[Philippa Ballantine]

Well it is a few weeks until Digital Magic hits the bookstores- yes 08.08.08 and both Tee and I are pimping like crazy critters, but I have this problem....

I am already casting Digital Magic in my head, even though I promised I wouldn't start recording it for at least a year. I keep reminding myself I have other things to do, but doing Chasing the Bard has given me a taste for the Fey. Oh that, and my first review of Digital Magic- yes it was very nice. Suddenly all I can think of is "I want his voice" or "ooh she'd be great as..."

So beware, once you start on this merry-go-round it is addictive. I think it is the interaction with listeners I love the most, and hopefully NOT the sound of my own voice.

[Dan Sawyer]

I'm putting $10 down on you not being able to resist recording Digital Magic before your moratorium is up. You're good at this, Pip. Count me in for any voice work you need for DM, and/or production support.

[Philippa Ballantine]

I actually have thoughts of going back and doing a rewrite on it and then podcasting it. If I get Weather Child and then Digital Magic podcast then I'll think about it. I'll see how long it takes Tee to do Morevi; remastered! =)

[D L Owens]

Ever thought of doing a full cast production of Weaver's Web? I loved the original but I know that you've done a lot since that time: podcasting, writing, promotion and existing.

[Philippa Ballantine]

I promised not to do it for a year, but things happen, and I am not the most patient person. My Mum sent me as a 7 year old to a little old lady up the hill who taught Speech and Drama. We did poems, plays, and speeches- both prepared and impromptu. She was a private teacher, and they are still a popular choice for parents in New Zealand. I also did competitions, my best one was probably the death scene in Cleopatra, with a rubber snake and fabulous costume. 'I have immortal longings in me...' Great fun.

[Gail]

Hi, Philippa, I just heard you and Tee on Ultra-Creatives, with JC, and enjoyed it very much. It is not really a surprise that you and Tee both have acting backgrounds, but I wish you had talked about yours - what kind of program were you in as a kid? It sounds great. Clearly American schools fall short again!

To tell you the truth, when it comes to people who like the sound of their own voice, I was thinking of several ministers I have heard preach, and now I'd probably include some motivational speakers (and who knows who else I might come up with, given time). These are not speakers who are looking for much audience participation, not the ones I've heard. They are persuasive speakers.

Actors are continually involved with their audience, right? (My experience with the stage is minimal.) There's a difference between a congregation who receives wisdom, and an audience who reacts.

Podcasting separates the actor from the audience to a degree. Maybe it just delays the audience participation for a little while.

Hey, wait! You didn't promise US not to begin recording Digital Magic for a year. But even if you keep that promise, there's surely no harm in enjoying a mental casting call! We'll look forward to 8/8/08, and helping you celebrate.

[Philippa Ballantine]

I think the acting side of it makes all the difference to the presentation of a book. I studied Speech and Drama for over 10 years as a kid and it has stood me in good stead. Also made me immune to hating the sound of my own voice. And yes Gail, I do like an audience IRL as well! =)

[Frank Marcopolos]

I think the acting part of voice-acting is much harder than it seems. At least for me, anyway. But when done properly, it makes an audio book MUCH better, I think. When it's a straight read w/o much differentiation throughout, it leads my ears to boredom.

[Gail]

This goes a long way towards explaining why so many people put so much effort into making a podcast. I'm glad it is enjoyable to do, I can vouch for its being enjoyable for the audience.
My experience has been that people who like to hear themselves talk also like a live audience, the larger the better.

[Mark Butler]

I got into the podcasting bit because I used to listen to audio-books and thought most of them were pretty sad. Most of the ones I used to listen to at the library were simple reads, wooden recitation of the words. I always thought the use of inflection, gasping after a run, talking fast to indicate excitement, etc. could add a lot to the experience of a story and the few times I listened to one like that really made the book better.

of course its a lot tougher than it seems :-) and my first attempts were pretty amateurish.. but that's the cool thing about Podiobooks, this forum and community and chance to grow and get better. Watching you guys and listening to your efforts just keeps helping me all the time.

[Edward G. Talbot]

I don't know, I have so much else going on that I never get sick of my voice in the recording. If I ever got to record/edit for more than an hour straight without interruption, I suppose it might. Actually, though, I like my voice better on recordings than I do in realtime.