podcake's advice for your first audio drama: pt. 1/???
IN: A MODERN MASTERPIECE | OUT: A BLANK CANVAS
♡ invest in an experienced graphic designer or artist
i once wrote an article about the importance of presentation when it comes to podcasts and i think it still holds true that visuals, even in the world of audio entertainment, can hold a lot of sway over who might be drawn to your show.
not only can consistent artwork give your show a unique aesthetic and identity, but it can also help people associate certain colors, symbols, and imagery with your show that will leave a lasting impression.
try to remember the basics for good cover art: a solid color scheme, good cropping (i love a solid 500x500), high resolution, a readable font—think to yourself, "if i saw these images, would i be tempted to check out this show?"
so i'd highly advise setting aside some budgeting to have a talented artist or graphic designer, or maybe even both, cook up some accompanying images that can go towards advertisements, promotions, individual episode art, or, if you really want to, official character designs.
do you already know how to do those things? then put those skills to good use and make your painting worth a thousand downloads!
IN: PATIENCE | OUT: FALSE PROMISES
♡ have a script before you have a cast
now this one is especially important. as eager as you might be to start an audio drama and want to get the ball rolling as soon as possible, it is imperative that you have some words on paper before you even think about recruiting actors.
and i know this sounds obvious at first, but trust me, i've run into several ambitious newcomers who started their casting calls long before they even had a rough draft to their name.
while beginning the recruitment process is tempting, bear in mind that these people you've hired—and yes, you are hiring them—are now on indefinite standby until you've gotten something for them to read.
at worse, you might end up with a project that never gets off the ground with a group of people who thought they were going to get their big debut in voice acting, or have another amazing role under their belt, left out to dry.
even worse than that, if you ever do get that script finished, there's no telling what word of mouth can do to your reputation as a showrunner, making your options even more slim.
IN: SWEET SUMMARIES | OUT: RIDICULOUS RAMBLING
♡ keep your descriptions classy
now this seems like a no-brainer. you've gotten to the point when you can publish your show on spotify or podchaser or soundcloud or wherever people host podcasts, and it all comes down to a few simple sentences to rope people in.
and while it sounds simple on paper, an engaging description can do quite a bit of heavy lifting, especially when it comes to selling people on your first episode.
in my honest opinion: short and sweet wins the race. nothing too short, obviously, but some of the best descriptions i've come across can say a lot with so little.
but if you wanna go the route of longer descriptions, i'd highly advise keeping these concise and cut down on any unnecessary fluff. get to the good stuff without being too specific—the vagueness will give your listeners something to look forward to!
also, and this is just a side note and undeniably just my opinion, but when it comes to complimentary language to describe your show—entertaining, hilarious, compelling—try keeping it to a minimum, or, better yet, have it come in the form of a quote from a reviewer or any other sort of press.
(fun fact: i had my own review quoted for the summary of the audio drama podcube™ and i am flattered to this day!)
while it's essential to be proud of your show, you don't want to assume audience reactions, and too much self-congratulatory language can come off as insecure and insincere.
instead, try descriptive phrases that present the genre, tone, and plot—trust me, it's way more convincing. long story short: be informative, but never excessive.
IN: PASSION PROJECTS | OUT: CASH GRABS
♡ do it for the art, not the money
be honest with yourself: are you making an audio drama because you respect the medium and feel your show would be best represented in this format, or are you just doing it because "well, night vale made a lot of money, so now you can too!"
for starters, get that way of thinking out of your head as soon as possible because it is no way to go about the creative process in any area of the artistic field.
if you're cynically pumping out content, people are going to catch on eventually that your endgame was never to entertain and inspire, but to reap the benefits of the potential income.
making money off of an audio drama is, in itself, a great, and sometimes guaranteed, perk, and believe me when i say there are plenty of people that will happily financially contribute to your continued success, but that should never be your main motivation.
and i get it, we all want to do what we love for a living, but if you throw yourself into a community that you have no respect for, you'll be laughed right out of the door.
Anya is live and ready to show you everything. Watch her strip, dance, and perform exclusive shows just for you. Interact in real-time and make your fantasies come true.
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Whomst? Hey, Tumblr! My name is Lea Lawson (@leals3), and I'm the creator of Vignettes! I Neil Breen'd this project and did all the things (save for the soundtrack I sourced from Tim Kulig, the open+close themes by Maria Damianou & myself, and the seven episode artworks are also by Maria!)
What is Vignettes?
It's a fully improvised short form audio drama! You read right, I wrote out loud and just had to trust that I'd find my way through each story
You'll get dropped into a situation (or an about-to-be-situation) and get to decide if the episode's char is a reliable narrator
You don't need to know any backstory to jump into any of these! That said, maybe read each episode's show notes before hitting play for CWs if you have certain triggers – episodes can be intense at times and I made these feeling grief so pls take care x
You're gonna fill in the blanks because I voice one character per episode and I don't give you context. Wait, was that char being literal or figurative? Wait, who are they talking to? Wait, did they survive?? Woah, is your theory about x episode different than your friend's? Maybe drawing your own conclusions is fun :)
The story part of the episodes only run sixish minutes, and with theme/credits only eight to nine mins long – bite sized audio, hooray! You have under ten minutes to spare, yeah?
I've solo'd this so it could be fun hearing what nonsense flew out of my mouth?
There are seven episodes to this show, and the total runtime is 59 mins so TBH this is very bingeable!
It's not just my voice, you'll also be treated to a full score and SFX!
Finally, it's my first time with full creative control of anything, and made this on a wing and a prayer. It's a little rough - but the point was the journey: raw and imperfect
Whenst? (I know that's not a word. Just let me do the bit). All episodes are out now! ^_^
Where to listen? Click to find your podcatcher links here
OR click an episode title below for individual links:
Episode #1: The Loop - They haven’t been here before. Or have they?
Episode #2: Hex Code - An audio log is played. Are their suspicions real?
Episode #3: Downfall - They decide their timeframes. Are they good at their job?
Episode #4: Speak When - They dared to speak up. Should they have?
Episode #5: Faces - Grief looms in any world. Does it hurt the same?
Episode #6: Glitch - They volunteer to test experimental tech. Was it worth the money?
Episode #7: Siphon - They are trapped by what they are. They are trapped by what they are?
And if you scroll down this Tumblr, or look through the hashtag #vignettes pod, you'll find posts with a little BTS of each ep & plenty of chatter in the hashtags too
Why? Why not? It kind of just happened. For real though see the website for more info :) Thanks for dropping by. Please share the show if you liked it, and I'll undoubtedly see you 'round the AD world!
*Since this podcast is partly funded by the Toronto Arts Council, I'd like to try and source local VAs. Toronto actor a bonus.
Looking for a Spanish speaking/accented voice actor with a lower register voice for Dominus, a Catholic Horror Podcast!
1 scene, monologue, roughly 3 pages long.
The character is Fabian, a gay male nurse, and will require some intense, emotional horror acting.
Paid opportunity, $50 CAD.
If you're interested, please send (a) voice sample/s to [email protected]
It can be any voice sample, but if you would like a line from the show:
I was eventually able to pursue home care. For my bedside manner, I was able to land a job that paid me more than I’d ever been paid, but for good reason.
Spanish accent preferred (this includes European Spanish and any Latin American Spanish accent) for the line read. You can adjust the wording to fit how you would say it naturally.
Please indicate if you are Canadian (Temporary Resident, Permanent Resident or Citizen accepted) or not in the email.
These vacations might not be peaceful, but they’re all a treat to listen to.
If you want to listen to some audio dramas about people going on holidays or taking long journeys (in time for the summer), here are some recommendations! They’re mostly horror, but there’s a peaceful sci-fi, a murder mystery, and lots of cool stories with exciting plots. Check it out if you want to feel like you’re going somewhere new.
Greater Boston is a bi-monthly full-cast audio drama that blends the real and the unreal, the historical and the fantastical. It all begins with the death of Leon Stamatis, a man for whom the least hint of uncertainty makes life unbearable. But by leaving the world, he has irrevocably changed it.
Anya is live and ready to show you everything. Watch her strip, dance, and perform exclusive shows just for you. Interact in real-time and make your fantasies come true.
✓ Live Streaming✓ Interactive Chat✓ Private Shows✓ HD Quality✓ Free Actions
Free to watch • No registration required • HD streaming
After a computer failure and some other technical issues, episode 2 is LIVE! I'm editing the website now to add the transcript but you can listen right now on Spotify!
We apologize for the long wait, but we are finishing up production right now and we are expected to have episode 2 up and running within the next week!
We hope you enjoy!
And anyone new that might be seeing this if if you're trying to get your friends into it, Elevator Pitch, The Blood Still Speaks follows the life and many deaths of Abel Carter, a New Orleans medical examiner who has the ability to resurrect in water. Along this Life he meets many friends (and foes) that make him start to wonder how alone he really is, and the pilot is already up now!
We are SO proud of the accolades that our angry little show has received - along with being selected for the Tribeca Showcase, we were nominated for an Ambie, selected for NJ Webfest and HollyShorts, and won Best Writing and Best Lead Performance and the Colorado Webfest!
Anya is live and ready to show you everything. Watch her strip, dance, and perform exclusive shows just for you. Interact in real-time and make your fantasies come true.
✓ Live Streaming✓ Interactive Chat✓ Private Shows✓ HD Quality✓ Free Actions
Free to watch • No registration required • HD streaming
Hey everyone! I'll be live on the REDACTED TikTok discussing casting, working with friends, sending auditions, and more at 3pm CST today (7/20). Stop by and say hi, and feel free to invite anybody you know that's interested in being a part of a show, making a show, or just podcasting in general. I'll be trying to do these daily for a bit with different topics around making the show!
-Athan
Anya is live and ready to show you everything. Watch her strip, dance, and perform exclusive shows just for you. Interact in real-time and make your fantasies come true.
✓ Live Streaming✓ Interactive Chat✓ Private Shows✓ HD Quality✓ Free Actions
Free to watch • No registration required • HD streaming
They call the spaceship that crashed in the Nevada desert “The Ghosthouse” because it screams—the screams of thousands of extraterrestrial political prisoners uploaded into its horrific mainframe. The only way to free them... is to transfer them into the bodies of humans willing to share their minds with an alien second consciousness. But who would volunteer for that? Graham Shapiro, divorced and adrift at age 50, is one of the first to raise his hand. Give Me Away follows Graham’s journey into a world of radical hospitality, one which will touch everything—and everyone—in his life.
