Podcast appearances and mentions of alan bruess

Today I'm joined by Alan Bruess. Alan is a fellow podcast host. His show, “The Tailgate Entertainer” is a must listen podcast. He also develops attractions within our industry. We talk creativity, fairs, pandemic life and more on today's episode.

Creating a concrete platform in a saturated market is no easy task. In order to do so, you have to be innovative and original, two characteristics that perfectly describe Robert Smith. Robert Smith is a magician and creative content speaker who struggled to find his way into the fair industry until doing exactly the opposite of everyone else, staying inside the box. Robert Smith is most recognized for his fortune-telling act, which has come to be known as the Conjurer Fortune Machine. Check out this episode of Tailgate Entertainer with Alan Bruess and Eric Haines if you’re interested in learning how to adapt and expand your own creative career.  Show Highlights: Starting street magic Recognizing the pivot point in a career Figuring out how to live with a disease The importance of reaching out Getting buyers attention Becoming the conjurer Creating a unique way to perform in a saturated market Trusting the audience Organically developing an act Explaining a nontraditional career to others Training people in your profession Expanding a personal act and avoiding stealing ideas Only working jobs that fit your brand Building relationships Changing how you perceive no The drive behind creating content and marketing Using social media to provide value Building equity with the community Resources: Art To Market All social media handles: @meetrobertsmith Podcast: Fair Game Meet Robert Smith Robert Smith Presents

Finding your passion can be difficult especially if it isn’t a traditional path but Greg Frisbee always knew he wanted to perform. Overcoming his shyness and fear of failure, Greg took a leap of faith and has become an incredible juggler and comedian. He has performed in all 50 states, over 30 countries, and does over 300 shows a year. His show is fun, goofy, and creates a family-friendly environment for everyone to enjoy. Tune into this episode of Tailgate Entertainer with Alan Bruess and Eric Haines to hear more about how Greg utilized obstacles to establish his career. Show Highlights: Taking the plunge as a full-time performer Marketing to fairs Breaking news to close family The journey of establishing a show Struggles with putting a show together Trial and error The importance of treating others with respect How a performance can be a form of meditation Being present in the moment Struggling with being insecure as a performer Alternative pursuits if performing fails Creating healthy relationships with fair managers Not taking work personally Being in tune with the crowd and creating a magical atmosphere Finding human connection through travel Accepting people for who they are Utilizing skills from worldly experiences How performing effects those closest to you Resources: Bring Your Art To Market The Rubber Chicken Show Frisbee Show

There is a surplus of talent, acts, and shows in the fair industry. Many of the performances have been around for hundreds of years, but some of them recently have sprung and become popular over the last few decades. Tom Sailor has invented and innovated multiple aspects of the fair industry and currently works with Winter Set Concert Events. He has years of experience and insight on the fair industry that is unique to his creative perspective. Tune into this episode of Tailgate Entertainer with your hosts, Alan Bruess and Eric Haines, if you’re interested in how to break through the industry and taking risks. How life led Tom into the fair industry Belly Bucking The birth of male strippers Women’s mud wrestling Taking mud wrestling to fairs Creating a bungee diving show The biggest competition in the fair industry What the industry is missing Thinking outside of the box Areas that lack talent and room for opportunity The importance of a personal relationship Breaking through into the industry Not comparing your act to others Always putting on your best show Links: Art To Market

Anyone can be a performer, but only hard-working and dedicated individuals become a great performer. It takes many years and lots of practice to establish a name and create a timeless act, which is why not many people make it as a full-time entertainer. Todd Victor has been a full-time entertainer for over 30 years and has created beautiful stages to host various acts, he coaches entertainers, and has established a successful mentoring program to boost other performers. Tune into this episode of Tailgate Entertainer with Alan Bruess and Eric Haines to see how you can bring your art to market and take the next steps to improve your performance.    Show Highlights: Moments that led up to being in the fair industry  Giving advice to yourself in the past  Taking care of yourself and being innovative  Adjusting the show to fit where you’re at in life  Reducing wear on your body  What needs the fair-grounds can provide for performers Pros and cons of working with your spouse How unique makeup affects business  Formula for traveling  How to adapt shows to stay relevant  Bringing art to a marketplace and making a living off it  Taking classes for various skills  Hiring advisors to direct and critique acts  Practicing to fine tune skills  Emphasizing being a great performer  Finding the balance between work and home life  Getting the most out of your time and making connections  Working hard to maintain trust and make others shows successful  Resources:   Arttomarket.info

The entertainment industry is full of unique and incredible people. There are so many innovative and remarkable acts and the people are equally as intricate. Many of these performers are simply doing what they love and also enjoy having the opportunity to bring a smile to others faces, and one of those people is Dennis Lee. Dennis is an overwhelmingly kind individual with a heart for making people happy. He is the founder of The Dennis Lee Show and continues to bring enticing acts to fairs across the country. Tune into this episode of Tailgate Entertainer with Alan Bruess and Eric Haines to hear more about Dennis Lee’s story.  Show Highlights: Highlights of Dennis Lee’s life before the fair industry  Feelings from the first time performing  Changing the fair from a hobby to a job  How traveling affects family life  Making your show unique  The importance of building a network  Impacting people’s lives  Getting kids involved and giving them the opportunity to shine  Having the ability to make people smile and pull energy from within  Influencers in the industry  Making a sincere show  What is missing in entertainment     

While the fair industry is continuously growing and adapting, and continues to evolve since the early days of live entertainment. Michelangelo Nock, owner of The Nerveless Nocks Inc., and his family have been innovating the industry since before 1850.    Michelangelo Nock has a plethora of insight and knowledge about the industry, due to his unique experience growing up in a performing family. He comes from a family that has been performing in the circus and entertainment industry for more than 9 generations. Performing is in his DNA! This interview is full of history, versatility, and insight on staying relevant in the circus industry. Live performance continues to evolve and the Nock family is evolving too! Tune into this episode of Tailgate Entertainer with your hosts, Alan Bruess and Eric Haines, to learn more about the impact the fair industry has made and how it has stayed current through generations.  Show Highlights: Pursuing the family business  How the swing pole came about  Roles being filled in the industry  Being versatile and incorporating training  Showing the audience entertainment they’ve never seen before  Getting involved with other businesses  Taking care of the grounds  Being influenced by successful businessmen  Being a team  Respecting people’s ideas  Staying current  Being creative and working in different fairs    Resources: nervelessnocks.com  http://pacificanimalproductions.com The Odd and Offbeat Podcast 

Very rarely are people presented with the opportunity to be born into their career and spend their life learning all aspects of their trade. Fortunately, Courtny Conkle did; she is the youngest female CEO in California and at the Lake County Fair in Northern California and has acquired a plethora of knowledge throughout her years.  Getting to learn different trades in the fair from a very young age has helped Courtny throughout her career and given her the insight to project her career forward. Courtny has been on both sides of the fair as a concessionaire as well as in management, so she really knows the fair from the ground up! Tune in to this episode of Tailgate Entertainer to hear all of the brilliant ideas Courtny has to share with your host and co-host, Alan Bruess and Eric Haines.  Show Highlights: Being born into the fair industry  Long-term goals for the fair industry  Contributing factors to becoming a fair manager  Areas that need re-adjustment  Building relationships in the community  Showing what you can accomplish  Eliminating old traditions  Bringing in entertainment that fits different demographics  Understanding the ripple effect   The importance of user-generated contact  Spending time advertising the right content  Relationships with younger vs older business people  Intertwining business with life  How people respond to the carnival stigma  Being able to empathize with all sides of the industry  Having people to mentor you  Internalizing what you’ve learned from others and how to apply it  Being a mentor and guide to others  How to suggest things to people that may help them  Coming into the fair industry knowing the industry Resources: This show is sponsored by Super Science Company! supersciencecompany.com  SaveSave

Not having a traditional career can make the balance between work and family difficult to juggle. In order to be successful in the Fair industry, you have to learn to balance your life while traveling, creating your audience, and still maintaining your personal life. Paul Isaak is a juggler and performer who has learned to not only juggle fire but learned to expertly juggle his career and his family. This episode of Tailgate Entertainer reveals angles of the fair industry that have never been seen. Tune in with your hosts Alan Bruess and Eric Haines to see how entertainers manage their families, make connections and still pursue their passions.    Show Highlights: How the fair industry differs from other industries  What performers think about on stage  Learning how to dissolve the barrier between the performer and the audience  What drives a performer to create their own act  Finding a community who understands your passions  Making connections and maintaining relationships with a traveling career  Balancing business and family  Taking your family on the road  Experiences like no other industry     Resources:   www.funnyjuggler.com/

We’re back with Season 2! It’s an entirely new season, so Alan here to catch you up on everything since Season 1 ended and also the exciting things in store for Season 2. In this first episode of Season 2, you also get introduced to a co-host, who is no stranger to Tailgate Entertainer fans!   The fair industry is an adventurous occupation that few people have insight into, but the Tailgate Entertainer brings you interviews with some of the most reputable performers in the Fair Industry. From acrobats to the youngest manager in the industry, to the inventor of women’s mud wrestling, the hosts Alan Bruess and Eric Haines will take you on a journey to explore every aspect of the fair industry. Tune into this episode of Tailgate Entertainer to see what this season has in store for you.    Show Highlights:   What Allen has been working on  Change in work  Who is coming in the next season  Shift and adapt  Couples, youngest manager in the fair industry, and the inventor of women’s mud wrestling  Sponsors  Creating Scholarships    Resources:   Eric’s Previous Episode Suggest ideas on where scholarships go: Tailgateentertainer@gmail.com 

It’s our first anniversary edition! Key Takeaways Sometimes simpler is better. Remember this when looking at a shiny, new object or project. Taking on a brand new platform—be it blogging or podcasting or something altogether difference—is a challenge that will lead you toward several failures, but will also teach you lessons and bring you great successes. An accountability partner will work side-by-side with you and will adjust with you as your needs adjust. 50% of success is just showing up! Gauging success of a new undertaking means going beyond looking at profitability. Listen in now! [smart_track_player url="http://traffic.libsyn.com/maximizeyourstrengths/MYS089.mp3" title=" Looking Back on Year One with Accountability Partner Alan Bruess " artist="Alissa Daire Nelson" social="true" social_twitter="true" social_facebook="true" social_gplus="true" social_linkedin="true" social_email="true"] Time-Stamped Show Highlights 2:30 – How Alissa and Alan met 6:54 – The slippery slope of skipping “just one” episode/post/etc. If you skip one, it’s super easy to skip the next. And any loyal following you have will think you aren’t dependable. 7:52 – Challenges over the first year 16:31 – How an accountability partnership works 21:50 – How Alan measures success 23:03 – The importance of hearing from your audience It is human nature to want to feel needed and wanted and that you’re doing important work. 25:55 – Start with your “why” and keep an eye on the long game 28:15 – Capitalizing on Strengths when running a business with your spouse As much as married couples really need to understand not only what their own Strengths are but to see the light in their spouse's Strengths, to be able to re-shift that is important to change the conversation.  31:32 – Shining the light on Alissa Over the course of the past year, Alissa has not only released 89 podcast episodes, but also wrote and released a book! 34:02 – If you’re thinking about starting something new… If you think you just don’t have it all together yet… That time will NEVER happen! You just have to move forward. 35:14 – When you feel like you just want to quit 37:13 – How to handle your failures to keep moving forward You can either be crushed by your failures or you can seek out the lesson. Pivoting is awesome, and we need to do that, quitting should never be an option. 39:25 – Quitting versus a planned exit 39:45 – Closing with a quote

Pain and suffering are always topics pushed under the rug, but what people have failed to inform you is, oblivion is not bliss. Today we are going to sweep it all out from under the rug and hit the topics that are, more often than not, avoided. Feelings of self-worth, effects of tragic accidents, pride, the ICU, all topics that lack a sense of hope, but your guest, Elisa Hays, will hopefully leave you with an appreciation for life and hope in the virtue of humanity. Tune in with your host, Alan Bruess, for a taste of this bitter-sweet message.    Why people want to talk about their hurt  Defining your worth  Dehumanizing yourself in the ICU  ICU psychosis  Understanding and experiencing pain  Acknowledging pain instead of belittling it  Existing in a fundamental foundational level  The way pain changes the views of everyone around you  Finding reasons to laugh when bad things occur  How accidents change relationships  Reflecting on memories that impacted Elisa  How horrific accidents change your motivation  Living with a handicap  The disadvantages of living in a wheelchair  How accidents consume your life  The ripple effect of doing good for people      Elisahays.com Facebook: Elisa Hays   

Is this generation really evolving? Are we different than other generations due to technology? Or are we simply coming full circle with the advancements previous generations have put in place for us? After years of advancements, we are finally beginning to see the fruits of the internet. But, have these advancements brought us closer together? Or magnified our differences? Tune in while Kady Porterfield answers a few of these questions, and more, with your host, Alan Bruess.  Today, Alan and Kady Porterfield also discuss: How Kady became the head of the agriculture department and her history in the industry How to get millennials involved, engaged, and keep them there How this generation has grown up more diverse and open than any other generation The extreme advertisement of everyone being entitled or capable The importance of learning and asking questions The positive & negative effects of phones and social media Tips for older generations to relate and use to help the millennial generation The viability of the fair industry How to engage through social media Showcasing what people want to see but keeping the traditions The value and educational resources tied to the fair Figuring out how to bring urban kids or schools in general involved The importance of the fair Showcasing the culture of the community

Time, money, travel, and experiences are all a few things we have in common. In the fair industry, it takes a lot of investment in all of the following. But, a few special things about our guest today is his constant great spirits, his classy behavior, enthusiasm in his work, his amazing story, and the magic he puts into his work. Welcome balloon artist, Dennis Forel, with your tailgate entertainer, Alan Bruess.   Today, Alan and Dennis Forel also discuss: The inspiration that led to his career Where his career led with persistence Opportunities for balloon artists Putting together an original act Being rotated between people you work for Upholding your act and keeping your enthusiasm The importance of being versatile People can tell when you’re not being authentic You have to be diverse and unpredictable but reliable Why you should always go the extra mile Being part of the outreach you work for The difficulties of having a family while being in the fair Being honest about your circumstances with your employers Getting the courage to take the next step Stumbling into your career Mistakes in the business The vitality of building relationships Showing your commitment If you don’t match the theme, you won’t be hired   Gofundme.com and look up Kevin Ridgeway Balloonacy.com Dforel@dslextreme.com Phone number: 310-218-2629

With everything that’s been going on in today’s media, it’s easy to feel bombarded by the hate and negativity. It’s hard to say whether this is a new conflict, or if we’re simply becoming more in tune to the situation. Join your tailgate entertainer, Alan Bruess, on discussing this new topic that we all deal with on a regular basis and listen for ways you can improve this situation for yourself.  Alan also discusses:   A remedy for hate  The importance of expressing yourself  Art fuels the thirst for knowledge  The ways art is supposed to make you feel and influence  Will what you leave behind be remembered? How creating love for yourself creates love for others  Despite what is happening, you have to work for yourself  Broadcast what you stand for  If the situation around you is gnawing at your soul, do something about it  

Just like every other industry, the fair industry is all about connections. But, the special thing about this industry is that everyone is willing to support and help one another. Now, who doesn’t want to participate in that?    Today we are going to listen to and learn from one of the fair industry’s greatest supporters and influencers. This will give you some personal insight and show you the relationships and strong bonds created in this field. Join your Tailgate Entertainer, Alan Bruess, while he interviews his long-time friend and impactful leader, Chris Whatley  Listen as Alan and Chris also discuss: His theater career shaped the course of him going into the fair industry  He built a robot that got him into the fair industry  He designed a set and used his creativity to get a show booked for fairs  Everything happens for a reason  Due to the fluctuation in business, the rug can be pulled right out from under you How to keep a group of people loyal and to go along with the journey  The difficulties of using real guns for the show in different states  The values and importance of the fair  The product you produce doesn’t matter if you present it poorly  The quality of your videos for the fair is vital for success  Communication skills are lacking in the youth  You have to be flexible      Links:    Lagniappeproductions.com  Facebook: Lagniappe Productions  

Would you like to be more savvy about the best type of structure for your business? Or are you unsure about whether someone doing work for you is an employee or an independent contractor? If so, listen in to today's episode of Tailgate Entertainer with Alan Bruess, as he talks business with his knowledgeable guest, Thomas Rock Lindsay.   Thomas owns a company called Humanly HR. He has more than twenty years of experience working in a PEO (Professional Employer Organization), focusing on all aspects of workers compensation, risk management, loss control, employee benefits, HR and payroll. He also hosts a podcast called SmallBiz Brainiac. Thomas is a valuable resource you can turn to if you're trying to solve problems related to your business.     On today's show, Thomas will share about three topics which come up all the time in the fair industry:    Is someone an employee or a private contractor? Is your business structured properly for your needs? (i.e. sole proprietorship or incorporated) Business Insurance. Today, Alan and Thomas discuss: The huge fines levied by the IRS for treating an employee as a private contractor and how you can avoid this happening to you. How insurance and licensing play into the IRS's decision to fine or not. What could happen if someone is injured on the job while working as an independent contractor, without licensing or insurance? A test you can take to tell the difference between an employee and a private contractor- and where you would go to do that. Your exposure to liability due to your choice of business model- whether you should incorporate or not. The differences between an LLC, an S Corp and a C Corp. Where you can go to learn more about business structures. Partnerships in business- a good idea or not? How to know where to start with business insurance.   Links:   Thomas's website: www.smallbizbrainiac.com   Thomas's email:    tom@smallbizbrainiac.com   Alan's email:         tailgateentertainer@gmail.com   Resources:   Thomas's Podcasts: SmallBiz Brainiac (Note: Episodes 3 & 4 deal with the test relating to employee or private contractor) The Khan Academy: www.khanacademy.org

If you have talent, as yet untapped, or you love watching performers do their thing at fairs, Terry Fator will certainly inspire you. Whether or not you are in the fair industry, you will love Terry. Listen to his down to earth approach to becoming successful as he talks to Alan Bruess about his meteoric rise to fame since 2005, on today's episode of Tailgate Entertainer.   Terry, singer, comedian and ventriloquist/impersonator,  a great, funny, regular guy, won America's “Who's got Talent” in 2007. One year later, he signed a five-year deal with The Mirage for $100,000,000! All this, with skills he honed while performing at fairs. Listen in today, as Terry talks to Alan about his incredible experiences and the fascinating people he has met, in the world of the fair industry. Join Terry and Alan, as they discuss:   Terry's passion for performing on stage. How Terry started performing at age three. The touching story of Terry's sensitive handling of an autistic boy at a “meet and greet” session. What it takes to win in life. How Danny Gans really inspired Terry to become a ventriloquist/impersonator. Terry's standing ovation in 2006, at the Rocky Mountain Showcase. How Terry got to perform on “America's got Talent”. How you can work your way up, as an entertainer, through the fair industry. Terry's unprecedented rise to success. What you put out, comes back to you. What Terry does with the money he earns from selling merchandise at fairs.   Connect with Terry: www.terryfator.com Get Tickets for Terry's show in Las Vegas   Join our Facebook Group! We'd love to get to know you better!  

A win-win strategy for both buyers and sellers trying to find common ground at trade shows. In this discussion, Elisa Hays and Alan Bruess talk about how to communicate more effectively between the two sides and the importance of creating dialogue centered on added value. Show Notes What does “negotiating up” mean? What buyers and sellers can ask each other to start negotiating How can an entertainer provide more value to get higher pay? Solving the problem of maximizing value with a limited budget Trade shows and conventions matter to both the fair management and fair service providers The trade show interaction is transactional and relational, according to Elisa When fair managers decide to “negotiate down” they bring in LESS to the fair When entertainers try to book their business and they look at big holes in their calendar Nobody wants to step up their game when somebody keeps negotiating down When entertainers say: “ I guess I’m not a good fit for you” Can entertainers emphasize their main skills and prominently display more? Service members can negotiate up by being problem-solvers When asking more and telling less is highly appropriate   Resources:   http://www.elisahays.org

In this heart warming episode, Tammie Ryan shares her lifelong involvement in the fair industry.  She talks about her challenges as an entrepreneur, living on the road, and where she sees the greatest opportunities for others.  Tammie is highly respected and loved by many in the industry.  As you listen to her open up about her life in this episode, you will quickly understand why.   Tammy is instrumental in getting Alan Bruess into the entertainment industry Tammy invited Alan into the convention The biggest takeaway in the job that she remembers She knows almost everybody in the industry Talking about your products to build relationships? Her biggest struggle when she was starting She always wanted to be a teacher She believes the younger generation needs to get involved in the industry Tips in building relationships   Tips for success in the industry

Wow! It’s the 26th episode of Tailgate Entertainer! I’ve gone this far, more than halfway in meeting my personal commitment to the show. My personal commitment is to deliver a show every Tuesday of every week. It’s not an easy task for a guy like me, 52 years old, who works 12-15 hours a day on my regular job; and I have to add more work hours talking to our guest performers and scheduling their interview, preparing interview questionnaires, setting up the hardware, recording the actual interview, editing the audio to be able to share with you the tips, advice, strategies, and secrets of talented performing artists in the fair & entertainment industry. At this point, it’s not a revenue generator for me and I spend a couple of hundred bucks each month to produce the show so I can present the colorful lives  and career of fair people.  I learned I have been able to spend quality time and collect wisdom from them and how they succeeded in the fair industry; and I happily shared everything with my audience.  This is one way of contributing advice to the people who may want to enter the industry to preserve and perpetuate this form of entertainment for future generations.   In this episode, I share with you: The reasons I created this podcast My life history – the role played by my stepmother Irene in making me rethink what I wanted to become as a grown up Why I chose the fair industry in my podcast My role in the fair industry - What I do for a living My audience – approximately 30,000 kids attend these shows A new product that is coming soon which is actually a by-product of this show How much doggone work this podcast is-- I don’t earn any revenue from it yet I spend about two hundred bucks each month to produce it Sometimes I go hungry or fall asleep with fatigue while working on the show The difference between a podcast and a live show – in a live show, I get instant feedback and see the immediate reaction of my audience. I know what they like and what they don’t like whereas, in a podcast, feedback isn’t immediate and sometimes I don’t even get your feedback. I don’t know if you like my show and what you want to listen to and know. Although the show is downloaded in 9 different countries, unless I get your feedback, I won’t know how you like my show. Society has benefited positively from the entertainment provided by the fair industry –it helps build one's sense of self, country, belief system, and culture. Fair and circuses today present acrobatic performances and exhibitions of skill, strength,  and daring Fairs often require immense numbers of performers and even complicated and expensive machinery. The importance of the fair industry - Fairs are unique in our country. They are a reflection of our Communities--a place where people  can be entertained, educated,  and experience new things Fairs can teach children valuable skills, even life skills Fairs can teach children how to raise animals, care for them, and train them tricks The fair serves a great purpose-- a positive impact on our society, county, and state fairs I’m not quite sure I could continue maintaining this show but I do want to keep it going I love the fair industry for a lot of reasons. Do you?   Thank you for listening. Thanks for your time.  Please help support this podcast by subscribing to Tailgate Entertainer on Itunes . The show’s life is in your hands. Do pick your favorite episode and share it with your family and friend. Send me your feedback, too. You can contact me directly at Tailgate Entertainer website.   Join our Facebook group: Facebook Thanks again. :)

Welcome to an episode I’m calling “Mid-Season Madness,” because we in the fair industry are at the midway point of our season. Most of us have been out on the road, away from home, for a LONG time now. I’m currently in Missoula, Montana, after recent stays in Great Falls, Bozeman----and the list goes on and on. What makes it different for me right now is that I’m traveling with my son, which is terrific for me. Today’s episode is a Tailgate Talk, which means it’s just you and me, talking about some of the behind-the-scenes aspects of the fair life. Let’s talk about some important refreshers---some things for all of us to remember at this point in the season. Here are Five Tips to help you get through the rest of the season: What we’re creating for fairgoers are EXPERIENCES They are paying for wonderful, impressive experiences Give of YOURSELF Magical things happen! Do something out of the ordinary for someone else Shhh! This is one of life's  secrets! (but it shouldn’t be a SECRET!) Get a different perspective Sit in a “different chair” and look around Have a little compassion Help those who are a MESS Don’t make people feel STUPID Let life HAPPEN Don’t get frustrated with what you can’t CONTROL Your ATTITUDE is all that you CAN control Attitude determines ALTITUDE My personal story: Why I believe some things happen for a REASON You can listen to more podcasts here: http://www.tailgateentertainer.com/podcast/      

Alan Bruess from The Tailgate Entertainer podcast joins the show to share with us how his Strengths have led him to a fulfilling career not by the book.

Because of his Podcast: He Discovered a Niche Who Needed A Product Got a note from Corey Fineran I just handed my boss my resignation letter! This podcasting journey started 7 1/2 years ago and it's now allowed me to leave my job and start my own business! You've probably heard me talk about Ivy Envy (my podcast on the Chicago Cubs) more than the one I did for my employer. Since 2012, I've been able to call myself a "professional podcast producer" as my employer created a new position for me to do video podcasts for teachers to play in their classrooms to help high school students with disabilities in their transition from high school to life after high school (primarily through work/employment). Well, there is a huge need for this type of curriculum and schools all over the state of Illinois have started using that podcast. I saw a need and last summer, I started working on starting my own business, creating innovative and interactive online transition curriculum and marketing it to schools all over the country. After receiving contracts from school districts and cooperatives, I'm able to leave my job at the end of this school year. Many of the people in this group have influenced me (whether they know it or not) to take this scary jump. +Bob Zerull +Ray Ortega +Daniel Hayes +Nick Seuberling  +David Jackson  and of course, +Tawny Fineran who has been insanely supportive over the last year as I've worked on building this. If you're curious to check out what I've been working on, you can find it here: http://transitioncurriculum.com Another Problem with Your Show's Title Headline As I now work for Libsyn (where you can get a free month using the coupon code sopfree), and I get to see some mistakes that people are making. Now I'm doing a bit of a repeat, and that is people make horrible headlines. In the past I've talked about starting off a headline with the date. What I am seeing now is people putting the name of their show at the beginning of the headline. Why this makes no sens, is any place you can see the headline (your website, a listing in iTunes) you already see the name of the show. Also here is another thing to keep in mind, on the podcasts app from Apple, you can only see 45 characters of the headline if you're not subscribed to it. Once you subscribe you see the entire headline. However, would you subscribe if every headline was:  School of Podcasting - How to Podcast Today w  School of Podcasting - How to Podcast Today w  School of Podcasting - How to Podcast Today w  You're wasting really, really valuable space.  Why do we care? I had a client who had a respected media outlet that wanted to put their RSS feed on their site. They tested it and the headlines were horrible, and they wanted the producer to change all of their headlines.  Want to make great Headlines, check out my Free Headlines Resources Multiple Websites Question Revisited Paul said, " Heard your comments about updating multiple websites. I have 7 x WordPress sites, have used ManageWP for a couple of years now, love it! VERY easy to update all sites at once, gives you immediate admin access to all sites without login and very simple to add and take new WP installations, with dynamic pricing.  Daniel said, " I use iThemes Sync. ]But you should also check out JetPack’s built-in module for plugin updates. Then, you can login to wordpress.com/plugins (I think) and update all your plugins from there. It’s not as thorough as Sync or others. But it’s free with no limit on sites. Is Blab.Im Going Away? The quick answer is no. However, the CEO stated this week "Blab is not doubling down on broadcaster tools.” They want to focus more on equipping people to hang out. We talked about this on the Ask the Podcast Coach show that I do every Saturday at 10:30 AM EST and here are some theories of what this might really mean. They can't make it reliable Podcasters are perfectionists They are working on other projects (an app for teens) This is as good as it gets.  For me it means, I'm not leaving the platform until it doesn't work for me. I will be scouting other options.  Thanks For the Review "What a fantastic resource this show has been for me. As a 51 year old professional in the entertainment industry, I knew nothing about podcasting when I decided to have my own show. The School of Podcasting has and will continue to be my GPS (great podcasting source). Thanks Dave for doing your homework! Alan Bruess, Tailgate Entertainer" from AlanB-Tractor Guy. This review was sent to me automatically from My Podcast Reviews (have all reviews from all countries, as well as sticher be sent to your email ) Advanced Podcasting Recording Tools in Plain English Today I'm joined by Chris Curran of the podcastengineeringschool.com and http://fractalrecording.com/ who has spent years as an audio engineer in the music business, and is now turning his skills on podcasting.  Now keep in mind, you do NOT need these items to get started. Next week I'm doing a podcast with just a microphone and audacity. No effects at all.  Today we talk through  What is a compressor? What do the knobs do? What does it sound like if I messed up? What is a noise gate? What do the knobs do? What does it sound like if I messed up? What is a De-Esser? What do the knobs do? What does it sound like if I messed up? Thinking of Starting a Podcast? Check out www.podcastingpuzzle.com and www.schoolofpodcasting.com