What a day that would be.

@ Ex-1UPpers: Thanks. I really appreciate what you guys do. I commute between Austin and San Antonio a lot and I always listen to 1UP podcasts. Without all of the insight gleaned from those, I wouldn’t have been such an asset to friends and family wanting to know about the quality of certain games.

I’m not trying to be hard on them, I’m just asking and hoping that they go into it with an entrepreneurial spirit and not settle on doing it for the art of it alone. I’ve run several recording studios over the years, and I’ve never seen one run for love it (ie free or very low cost) last longer than a year or two. These guys did a really smart thing in releasing a podcast right away. That was the best move they could make. They then committed to keep doing it and got it up on itunes. These were critical moves IMO. If they want to be successful they need to use the public awareness that’s out there right now to get them off on the right foot. They’ll never have another opportunity to have so many eyes and ears paying attention to their plans as they do right now. So that’s why I think they need to act quickly.

I love what these guys do, and I just want them to succeed so that I can continue to enjoy their stuff. Realistically they need to be paid for this, or it’ll never last. So I hope they try to make a business of it and they ask for donations and support not just for podcasting equipment, but so that they can get paid. In the recording business I’ve seen a lot of musicians and recording engineers/producers come into the studio working for free, and five years later they’re all working at McD’s or doing customer service for some shit company.

The RebelFM crew have an enormous opportunity right here, right now. If they think through the business side of things now, and think through how this can help pay for their talents, then this could be something that in the long term evolves into a full time income for them. They just have to plan it now and take advantage of it now, because as I said, they’ll never have the exposure they’ve got right now again. They should look at that 11k for podcasting equipment and realize that there are a LOT of people out here willing to donate to a CAUSE like this, which is what it is, and how you frame it for maximum success.

And again, they really should try to get donations from companies as well, as you can’t buy better publicity than telling the fans that a certain company makes your show possible. It’s gold.

Just wondering if you guys are planning any eat-sleep-game or Rebel FM shirts or anything. Y’know, late X-mas gifts for all my gamer friends to help support you guys, get the word out, and make my nerdy friends feel important.

Thanks for all your efforts!

iam hoping to make a donation next pay month but i would pay a subscription to you guys if you are able to set it up at some point.

keep up the great work and good luck with every thing.

(ratmonkey k) xbox live

Public radio constantly asks for donations to pay their bills. They tell the users how much money they need to make so they can keep going and they do telethons. If you tell your fan base that you need to make money to keep doing it, then people will donate because we appreciate what you do. Talking Orange would make a big mistake doing a for pay model, unless it’s for pay for HD. People will give more and more often if you ask and you let people know why it’s important.

I also think you need to sell ads. If you can only get $1 per 15 second spot, then do it. You have to build up a market, and you have to price the ads based on demand and not some arbitrary way that’s tied either to the old model radio ads. You need an all of the above approach to this, and you need a business plan, and then you need to constantly work it. I know that’s hard for creative types to deal with, but you will end in failure if you don’t take the business side seriously, and I’ll be pissed off at you guys for not trying, and not taking it seriously.

Leo Laporte has monetized podcasts, and he’s one of the few that’s been able to do it. If he can do it, you can. Leo’s secret is that he’s a business man, and he’s not ashamed to be paid for doing what he loves. Leo’s fanbase does not fault him for this, and yours wouldn’t either, especially given your special situation. We’d all love to see you rise from the ashes and come out of it with a potent business and be successful.

It’s not pitiful to ask for donations. As I said, the public radio model is perfect for you. You could even get some bigger gaming companies to sponsor your shows and plug them and thank them at the front and back of every show, just like public radio does. “This show brought to you from our friends at EA, without them and listeners who donate like you, this programing wouldn’t be possible”. It’s superb publicity for EA, and it also asks for donations. Why not?

I agree and disagree, It’s great to have several different quality gaming podcasts to listen to but the BEST podcasts are when you guys are all together…