Poll: Should video episodes be Patreon-only?
Added 2020-10-13 14:46:58 +0000 UTCHello, Patrons! Amanda here. Have you had a chance to listen to episode 27 yet? It went up yesterday for you guys to listen to early, so don't forget to check it out :D
Anyway, I have an important question for you guys, and it has to do with the Youtube video versions of the podcast episodes.
When the podcast was first started, it was planned on being uploaded to Soundcloud like the other podcasts produced by Panda. It would then be uploaded to other podcast services like iTunes and RSS through Soundcloud's automatic services. The Youtube versions of the episodes, where relevant images are displayed in a video during the discussion, were an afterthought of mine (Amanda) as a way to increase the audience of the show. These videos unexpectedly ended up being very successful and I'm willing to bet that many of you found the show through Youtube, not Twitter or Soundcloud.
The problem is that these videos became more and more complex and time-consuming as the show went on, mostly by accident. Panda edits the audio of the podcast itself, but I'm the one who puts the Youtube videos together, and I don't work quickly or efficiently when I make them. If an episode is ever late, that's pretty much the only reason why (besides it simply not being recorded yet).
I'm wondering what to do about these video episodes going forward because it was never my intention when I launched this podcast for me to have to invest so much of my time into producing 1-2 hour videos every week, on top of planning and recording the podcast itself and managing the social media accounts. On one hand, they've been integral to the growth of the show, but on the other hand, they're starting to hold us back on keeping a regular schedule.
I've thought of a few alternatives and made a poll, and I thought I'd ask our best fans, our Patrons, first. Take a look at the possibilities below and leave a comment if you have questions, comments, or even other ideas. Do you have any thoughts about the situation with the video episodes?? I've love to hear them if you do!