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It's official: I've been to a live podcast recording. Finally.
For someone who travels as much as I do, you'd think that my calendar would eventually line up with a fun podcast event in some cool city.
Wrong. For the last year or more, every time I heard of a podcast show that I wanted to go to, there would be some reason I couldn't make it.
But last year, when I heard that The West Wing Weekly - my favorite podcast of all time - was doing several live shows in April, I told my husband to clear his schedule, because we. were. going.
If you're not familiar with (or a fan of) The West Wing Weekly podcast, don't worry. This is more of a review-style post, about what it was like to attend a live podcast recording. And it begins with waking up SUPER early to head to the airport the day of the show!
The Controversy Over Live Podcast Events
Before I get into specifics about the live show, I should mention that not everyone is a fan of this medium.
As prevalent as live podcast recordings have become over the last couple of years, there are some die-hard podcast fans out there who hate this concept. My husband was shocked when I told him this.
The arguments that I've read online are that live podcast recordings are the opposite of what a podcast is all about. That podcasts are essentially like radio, but definitely not TV or theater.
These "podcast naturalists" (as I like to call them) don't want to see the recording as it is happening. To them, podcasts are an ears-only experience. They want to leave physical appearances and recording equipment to the imagination.
Other nay-sayers of the live podcast are annoyed by the presence of the live audience, which they say leads to poorer production quality. This is because the audience laughter and reactions (often loud and long) can be a waste of time for the at-home listener.
I've definitely listened to recordings of live shows where this has happened. As I listened, I felt excluded from the show; like a by-stander who wasn't in on all the jokes.
I kept all of this in mind while sitting in my seat at New York's historic Town Hall for the April 23rd recording of The West Wing Weekly.
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The Basics
Here's what you need to know about the show I went to:
The West Wing Weekly is an episode-by-episode recap of the hit NBC show The West Wing, which aired in the US in the late 90s and early 2000s. (The entire show is currently available on Netflix, so you can actually watch the show and listen to the podcast as you progress through the seasons).
The West Wing Weekly is hosted by Hrishikesh Hirway and Joshua Malina. Hrishi is a super-fan of The West Wing TV show, and Josh starred in the show starting in Season 4. The two are friends, and started the podcast back in 2016.
The special guest at the live show was Aaron Sorkin, the creator of The West Wing (among many other fantastic plays, movies, and television shows). He wrote for the show through Season 4. The live show was a celebration of his time on the show (and of him in general, because he's that awesome).
What I Liked About The Live Podcast Recording
The Atmosphere
There's nothing quite like being surrounded by people who are into the same thing you are.
I thoroughly enjoyed knowing that all the people in the theater were just as excited as I was to see their favorite podcast hosts and screenwriter.
The pre-show buzz of the crowd was great, but it was even more fun during the actual recording. I got a kick out of the eruptions of laughter when Josh would drop a "private" joke that only listeners of the podcast would get.
At one point, Aaron Sorkin mentioned something from an episode of the TV show, and several members of the audience piped up to correct him. I was surrounded by loyal fans just like me - who wouldn't love that?
The Setup
The stage was set up with three very basic chairs, a stool for Hrichi's laptop, and two short microphones with big puffy tops. Aaron Sorkin used a hand-held microphone.
Everything about the setup said "nothing fancy to see here, just some basic podcasting stuff." I had to think that the podcast naturalists would be impressed.
There wasn't even a sign or projection of the show's logo. Because Hrishi and Josh wouldn't have that for a regular recording. I liked how much they kept things real.
Fantasy vs. Reality
The West Wing Weekly has just finished its fourth season, with 22 or more episodes each. That's a lot of time for a fan like me to become familiar with the ebb and flow of the conversations, and how each of the hosts behaves.
At the live show, I loved seeing the movements and expressions made by both Josh and Hrishi. Josh, the jokester, was very physical, making gestures and facial expressions as he talked (and while others talked!) He was also a bit fidgety, playing with his microphone a lot.
Hrishi, who is an experienced podcast host, and the more mellow of the two, was just as I imagined him. When something funny happened, he would scrunch his body up into silent laughter while the rest of the audience was reacting loudly.
Being able to see - rather than just hear - the podcast develop was really interesting. Everyone in the theater was hanging on Aaron Sorkin's every word, and leaning in to hear audio clips that are a regular part of the podcast. I found it satisfying to be able to match my imagined version of the podcast recording with the real version.
What I Didn't Like
Time Constraints
One thing I always hear when listening to live podcasts is the host eventually saying "We have to go - we only have the theater until 9:30!" (or something along those lines).
While I completely understand that performers and venues have contracts regarding the amount of time available, it was clear that Aaron Sorkin would have kept talking for another hour or two.
I also noticed that Hrichi and Josh were both struggling with when to cut the conversation off. When they're not live, they can take a much longer interview and edit it down to fit into an episode. Live shows are usually dropped raw and un-edited, so they can't be 3 hours long.
When they called it a night, I had that feeling you get when your favorite band only performs one song for the encore, leaving you wanting more.
The At-Home Audience Effect
Throughout the night, I couldn't help but think of the at-home audience. The podcast fans who will hear this episode without the benefit of seeing it as it happened.
When I write about Josh's physicality, and the facial expressions and laughter, I wonder what it must sound like when you can't see all that. Sure, my face hurt from smiling and laughing, but will it have the same effect for someone who wasn't there?
If I had been a regular fan who wasn't planning to write about this experience, I wouldn't have even thought about the at-home listener. Occasionally, it seems like the stars on stage forgot about them, too; they made references to signs and t-shirts in the audience. Sitting in the back of the audience, even I didn't catch these jokes.
Will I Attend More Live Podcasts?
I loved my experience attending a live podcast recording. If I lived in a larger city, where podcast events were more frequent and easier to access, I'd probably attend them all the time.
(FYI: most tickets for live podcasts are under $50.00, so attending one of these events is much more affordable than your average concert or theater event.)
I think a live podcast recording is best-suited to someone who is already an avid fan of a particular podcast. Maybe in the future I'll try attending a live recording of a show I'm less familiar with, and see if that's as enjoyable.
Live Podcasts: Yay or Nay?
So, which side of the fence do I fall on regarding live podcasts? I'm not sure.
On the one hand, I understand the excitement of fan engagement, especially when you are a super-fan of a show.
I can also see how podcasters might enjoy getting out of their recording routine (many of which take place in small studios, even closets!) This is also a great way for a podcast to bring in some cash (yes, there was a merchandise table).
But is a live recording really providing the best podcast episode for listeners who can't attend? Does it ruin the overall flow of episodes in the average listener's podcast feed?
These questions are up in the air for me.
Maybe some of you readers can weigh in. Leave a comment below with your thoughts on live podcast recordings.
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