It\u2019s easy to think of podcasts as an informal medium, but even simple podcasts require a level of polish to really find an audience. As for the big ones, their budgets can border on those of TV shows with sets, sound design, and lots of specialist equipment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And none of that happens without a top notch producer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So what does it take to go behind the cameras on a podcast? And how do you get hired in this influencer driven industry?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Whether you\u2019re working on a podcast, a play, or a poetry recital, a producer\u2019s job is to wear many hats. On a podcast specifically, those usually include audio mixing and editing as a bare minimum but could also involve booking guests, planning episodes, and managing social media accounts. Put simply, the host does everything you see on camera while the producer does the rest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Of course, smaller podcasts are usually produced by one or more of the hosts themselves, but for those with even a small budget, a hired producer can make a massive difference. For a professional producer, all their focus goes onto making the podcast as good as it can be, allowing the hosts to really focus on what they do best.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Podcast producing is very much a portfolio driven job. In fact, by far the simplest way to become one is to run your own podcast for a while.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is less about numbers and more about provable polish. After all, any production in the position to hire you already has the numbers. What they need to see is that you can provide better production value along with a smoother process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Your portfolio needs to contain examples of everything you do. At bare minimum that should include audio mixing and video editing but every extra skill you can throw on there is a plus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Can you set up good lighting? Can you edit for different mediums\/lengths – preserving the feeling of a conversation while picking out good highlights?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At the same time, don\u2019t be afraid to let a creative voice shine through. Is your podcast funny? Is it about politics? Or religion?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
These might sound like controversial topics but most podcasts are inherently opinion pieces. While you\u2019ll be limiting yourself from part of the market, to the right team, you\u2019re proving that you\u2019re the perfect fit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n