Just when I need to try and concentrate on revamping The Sunday Alternative and kicking things into gear career wise, my stupid brain kicks another idea about. I recently set up an account with Audioboom because I wanted to listen to Russell Brand's new podcast series, and I ended up with an account that allows me to upload podcasts, just what I don't really need. At first I pondered putting The Sunday Alternative on there instead of the Internet Archive but I only have a free account which allows me to upload as many times as I like, but only ten minutes in length. At first I thought I might as well just ignore it as I don't have a need for a ten minute long podcast, and I don't really want to start something that isn't on my to-do list.
Then it hit me by accident; I was just thinking how because on a Saturday we haven't been going into town until later in the afternoon, or that I haven't gone into town because I have been spending the day in the office (on a Saturday, no time and a half for the self-employed), we haven't had breakfast in a cafe for a while and I haven't as a result been writing about them. So of course the idea of a ten minute breakfast review came to me, an idea that very few people would be interested in. Or would they? Maybe I would be offering a valuable service to the greasy spoon cafe frequenting world and people would thank me. If people wanted a clue as to where the best fry-ups were to be found, all they would need to do is have a quick listen to my verdict and make a decision based on it. As it seems unlikely that I am going to be offered a food column based on the bits and peices I have written in my blog about breakfasts, I might as well offer the service as one of my ever-growing portfolio of free content in the hope that it will lead to donations. Obviously the donations don't go into my pocket but are used to create entertaining podcasts, short films, comedy sketches and such like. If I go ahead with this idea I will pay for the breakfasts out of my own pocket because I don't expect to be paid to eat delicious but life shortening meals. Also, I won't do breakfast reviews on request and will remain independent and honest in my verdicts.
Another thing, although I haven't been offered a job as a breakfast critic, I did come very close to having an idea stolen. Or borrowed. Not the first time this has happened in Hockley!
An exciting (by 'exciting' I am using the word loosely) detail about this particular podcast is that I have added (or downloaded to use the correct vernacular) AudioBoom as an application on my phone, this means that I can record a breakfast review while the meal is still fresh in my mind. I might get funny looks doing it in the cafe itself but I can record it into my phone as I walk away and people will just think I am talking on the phone and not mental. Because let's face it, recording a podcast on the move about breakfasts isn't the work of a nutter is it? That's as daft as posting an entire blog of photographs of sweets or Disney characters on ice-cream vans. Is it any crazier than photographing cups of coffee? No. This is why I refuse to join Instagram.
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March housekeeping
To purchase my audio books, albums, and books, please visit my Shop & Donations page.
I am trying to raise the money to extend The Sunday Alternative, read about it here.
We also need to fund a pilot episode of a new music and cookery show, read about it here.
Every penny that I receive via the PayPal button will be used to fund future projects such as podcasts, short films, comedy sketches, documentaries, and more. They will be made available for free online and I will not personally benefit financially. All help is greatly appreciated.
steveEoliver@gmail.com
