So here’s where I am today: Sitting alone, waiting for my wife to wake up, and continuously checking my email and Skype to see if anyone has left me an email or voicemail for my show.
Let me start from the beginning.
I am the host of Single Simulcast and Sin & Solace. I know I say that a lot, but in all honesty, I am proud of the work that I have done, of the shows that I produce, and I want others to know about them. Anyways (they are both on iTunes and on Stitcher) I am doing a feedback show the day before my birthday. I am thrilled to have the opportunity to do one, but at the same time, I am petrified of the results. I don’t limit people’s thoughts, you see. Any feedback will be read, listened to, and accounted for. That is what my show is. It is a limitless well of thoughts that come from my head. Some amuse, some contradict, and some fail miserably. I know that, and I figure that the people who listen know that as well.
At least I think they do.
I have been doing my shows for seven months now, and at the end of each show, I have always asked for feedback on iTunes, or wherever else reviews could be left. Comments on the show? Leave a voicemail. At first, it was spoken with an air of confidence, because I knew that with all the work that I had put in, my listeners would want to interact with me. They would want to let their feelings be known. Hey, it wasn’t like I was asking for money or anything (even though I did do that once or twice, mostly for Extra Life, but I stopped doing it because asking other people for their money just made me feel dirty), I was just asking for feedback. Interaction. A conversation.
What I got instead was an alarming truth.
People are myopic. And in most cases, lazy as fuck.
I have a voicemail number that I pay for that has only been used twice. I have gotten exactly two emails about the show. I did a live show once on Vokel, and advertised it for a week. No one showed up for the first hour. Three people showed up overall.
It sucks to know what people really think about the hard work that we do in our shows. Obviously, they have this idea that we just wake up, turn on the microphone, and in 2 minutes, we have an hour worth of content ready to amuse them. Or that Sin and Solace just materializes when I go to sleep. Obviously, neither is true. But I have to believe that is why even though we ask for it, no one gives feedback. My friend Bokeen from Consumption Junction just did a feedback show a few weeks ago. No one called in except for one woman. I was jealous that he had one person calling in, because that is greatly going to trump the silence-fest that is scheduled for my show in January.
I think our society has lost it’s way. We do not acknowledge the works of others, we expect it. We do not thank people for what they have done for us, we ask for seconds. I do a show just for the amusement of the world, and get told it is too long for your tastes. Can I slim it down. Can I cut it back.
When I ask the people “Can you leave feedback” though?
Crickets.
Stop being lazy. We work hard for no pay just to amuse you for a few minutes. We put something out in the world and then HOPE that you like it. 98 percent of listeners will never leave feedback. They just listen, laugh and move on. While we appreciate you listening, you are the definition of the problem. You listen to the show, hear something that you don’t agree with, and move on. Or you hear something that makes you laugh uproariously, chuckle for a while, and move on. Who does that help in the long run? For me, if I never get feedback on a skit that I wrote, I just move on. If I think it was funny, I may do a sequel, but by and large, I am operating in a vacuum.
Here is the thing. In 2012, I am no longer living in a vacuum. My show, Single Simulcast is no longer a one man entity. I need your help. I need your feedback. I need to know that people are hearing my thoughts. And here’s another thing: I do appreciate all the people who live-tweet the show, your thoughts as things happen on the show. I go back and read all of them. But Twitter notes are like the smallest crab leg. They provide some sweetness, but not enough sustenance to be much more than a teaser. Take those thoughts, save them up, and call the show. Leave an email.
Look, I can’t say that I am the best listener I know, but in my opinion, I’m pretty damn close. I leave reviews for shows on iTunes to show my support. I leave voicemails and emails for shows. I’ve even donated, although that was a one time thing, because really, I didn’t really like giving my money away for something free.
Just keeping it 100.
Look. My email address is SingleSimulcast@gmail.com. My voicemail number is (916) 226-9160. I am having a feedback show on 1/17/12. Please call in. Even if it is to wish me a happy birthday, please call in. Because I am positive that if I do this show, and I get absolutely NO feedback, I will be devastated.
Let’s try and be more interactive with our favorite shows this year. Let’s strive to close the gap between host and listener in 2012.
As always, thanks for reading, and for listening. I greatly appreciate both.
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Rashanii is the host of Single Simulcast and Sin and Solace. Both shows can be found at http://www.singlesimulcast.com, iTunes, the Zune Marketplace, and Stitcher Radio.