In this episode, we're tearing down the invisible wall that traditionally separates the performer from the audience, a concept famously known as "breaking the fourth wall." This technique, while widely recognized in theater, film, and television for its ability to forge a direct connection and foster a sense of intimacy, is making its waves in the podcasting realm. We delve into how podcasters can harness this powerful tool to engage listeners on a deeper level, transforming passive listening into an interactive experience.
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Breaking the fourth wall in podcasting invites listeners into the conversation, making them feel like an integral part of the narrative rather than mere spectators. This approach can breathe life into your content, turning each episode into a two-way dialogue that resonates more personally with your audience. By strategically employing this method, podcasters can enhance listener engagement, foster community, and even influence the direction of their shows. Today, we'll explore the mechanics of this technique, its benefits, and how it can revolutionize the way we think about podcasting.
Key Highlights:
- The Origins and Evolution of Breaking the Fourth Wall: A brief history of how this technique has been used in various forms of media and its significance.
- Why It Works for Podcasts: Examining the unique aspects of podcasting that make breaking the fourth wall an effective strategy for engagement.
- Practical Tips for Podcasters: How to seamlessly integrate this approach into your episodes, including scripting tips and timing considerations.
- The Impact on Listener Experience: Insights into how breaking the fourth wall can transform your audience's listening experience, based on real listener feedback.
- Challenges and Considerations: Navigating the potential pitfalls of this technique and how to maintain the balance between engagement and content integrity.
Eager to dive deeper into the art of podcasting and learn more about innovative techniques like breaking the fourth wall? Visit us at The Podcast Haven for exclusive resources, tips, and much more.
[00:00:00] Breaking the fourth wall is when the host acknowledges the presence of the audience or the camera
[00:00:16] What up potty people and welcome back to clipped as always I'm Eric your host and clip brings you podcast production tips
[00:00:24] resources industry insights
[00:00:26] Podcast education and sometimes just sometimes conversations with my potty pals all aim to help you become a better more efficient
[00:00:35] Podcaster I'm on a mission to help you start grow and monetize your show and
[00:00:40] Hey in this episode talking about something that might help you grow your show and connect more with your audience
[00:00:47] It's funny because when you talk about growth
[00:00:50] Oftentimes people think that means like getting more listeners and growing and reaching more people and it can but I want to
[00:00:57] talk about growth as in like
[00:00:59] Growing your connection with your audience and so and so this episode is actually going to be about breaking the fourth wall
[00:01:06] So I'm gonna aim to answer several questions or at least hit you with several insights about what breaking the fourth wall is
[00:01:15] How it can help you grow?
[00:01:18] Your connection with your audience and how it's gonna allow your audience to learn more to pause to ponder and
[00:01:26] ultimately
[00:01:27] Feel loved feel wanted feel like you're actually talking to them because that's what breaking the fourth wall is and we'll get into that
[00:01:34] But before we get into it just want to give a shout out to this episode sponsor
[00:01:38] Which is Riverside if you're looking for a place to record high quality remote podcasts online
[00:01:44] Highly recommend Riverside been using it for years
[00:01:47] Maybe even the beginning the first year it came out. I don't know maybe like 2019. It's when we started
[00:01:53] But yeah, Riverside's great. Check it out great place to record remotely and get high quality
[00:02:00] Video and audio if you're new at her promo code clipped the name of this show CLI pped for 20% off
[00:02:07] Okay, so what is breaking the fourth wall? You've probably heard that you're probably like what the hell is this?
[00:02:24] I knew a little bit about it
[00:02:26] I'm just like being here in LA and growing up my whole family worked in Hollywood and so
[00:02:33] It's a theater term film term something like that
[00:02:36] But it can also be used for podcasting and breaking the fourth wall is when
[00:02:41] The host if it's podcasting or if it's like a film or theater
[00:02:45] The performer in that case acknowledges the presence of the audience or the camera and podcasting
[00:02:51] It's when the host acknowledges the audience you want to be strategic
[00:02:54] It's not like everything they say hey guys you address the audience
[00:02:57] That would be ridiculous, but I think when done strategically it's gonna allow you to connect deeper
[00:03:01] It's gonna give the audience information that they may have missed because
[00:03:06] podcasts
[00:03:08] Sometimes they're like listen to passively and so you might be in the car
[00:03:12] and maybe someone says like an interesting fact or a
[00:03:16] Statistic and you didn't catch it, but then the host is smart and they're like hey for our audience
[00:03:20] Could you repeat that and then that that dials in the audience?
[00:03:24] You're like oh this is great because I missed it and now I have a chance to pause
[00:03:28] I think that's the big thing is like the opportunity to pause and be like okay
[00:03:32] He's speaking to me or he's helping me out and I'm gonna take this moment
[00:03:37] To listen and feel just like that intimate connection or feel wanted
[00:03:42] Feel like the host actually cares about me and is acknowledging my presence so it can be really helpful
[00:03:48] in that sense and
[00:03:50] There's one
[00:03:52] Example that I want to use and actually I didn't even really think about it
[00:03:55] My guest last week if you first of all if you haven't heard that episode last week's episode episode 93 with Greg Wasserman
[00:04:02] He's the head of partnerships and growth and community over at cast magic. He actually brought it up
[00:04:07] I haven't seen the movie Deadpool, but apparently in that movie
[00:04:11] Somebody one of the actors talks to the camera or talks to the audience
[00:04:16] And then he also mentioned a good example, which is Ferris Bueller's day off which classic movie loved that movie
[00:04:21] And Ferris is always talking to the audience. He stops
[00:04:25] Many many times throughout the film and addresses the audience
[00:04:38] Okay, so here are some techniques and strategies of when you would do this again
[00:04:42] You're not gonna like do this all the time
[00:04:44] rhetorical questions are great for breaking the fourth wall or inviting the audience to ponder a thought in
[00:04:50] Education if it's like an educational show where you're teaching somebody something if that's like the niche that you're in
[00:04:54] Great easy way to do it with that type of content
[00:04:58] But also you know if you have a guest on it, could you tell the audience when your tour dates are I listen to a lot of comedy shows
[00:05:05] And so I did that or could you repeat that for the audience because I know our
[00:05:11] listeners our
[00:05:13] Podcasters who are eager and hungry to grow their show
[00:05:16] So if you could just give them that tip over again, they'd really appreciate it something like that
[00:05:21] Or hey tell the audience where they can find you and I'm kind of addressing the audience
[00:05:27] And then the guest even gets the opportunity to although they're talking to me kind of talk to the audience and be like hey guys
[00:05:35] The stoke that I got to be on this show if you want to learn more about my offerings hit me up at blah blah blah
[00:05:42] XYZ.com or I also want to highlight the importance of timing and context which I have a be authentic too
[00:05:48] Don't just do it to do it because I've told you to do it right now
[00:05:51] Think about when it might be a good time and I promise you will come up naturally if you're thinking
[00:05:57] With the audience in mind what you kind of always should be with your show and you're practicing and the more reps
[00:06:03] You do and the more interviews or the more solo cast
[00:06:06] If you're always kind of keeping this in the back of your mind, it will come up naturally when you can break the fourth wall with
[00:06:12] the audience
[00:06:13] And yeah, you want to maintain the flow of the podcast and so while you are like pausing to
[00:06:20] Reiterate or connect with the audience you don't want to interrupt the moment that that naturalness that needs to come will come in time
[00:06:27] But you have to be thinking about it, and I think it'll come out naturally
[00:06:32] So that's really it for me today
[00:06:33] just wanted to highlight that breaking the fourth wall and it was Greg Wasserman from last week's episode that really got me thinking about it more and
[00:06:42] I think when we talk about podcast growth like I mentioned at the top of the show or
[00:06:48] Everyone's talking about getting more listeners and more outreach and
[00:06:51] you know
[00:06:53] Juicing up the numbers getting more downloads and then you can monetize this and that but if you focus on growth from like
[00:07:01] Connecting with the existing audience that you have
[00:07:03] I think you're gonna be able to deepen relationships and grow those relationships
[00:07:08] Um, I think that's a big part of growth too is growing the connection. You already have rather than
[00:07:15] Trying to build a hundred new connections from scratch
[00:07:18] You've already got some people watching you and listening to you right now
[00:07:21] And so break the fourth wall with them and get them involved
[00:07:24] I think that's going to improve your content
[00:07:27] And I think your audience is gonna love it
[00:07:30] So recommend you give it a try experiment
[00:07:33] Try the several techniques of like rhetorical questions or reiterating a talking point. That's a good way to start
[00:07:40] Be natural guys and the more you do it it will come out more naturally
[00:07:45] So that's it. My voice is a wreck in this episode, but it is all good. It's late. I'm getting it in
[00:07:51] Gotta get it in guys
[00:07:52] Thank you for listening head on over to the podcast haven calm
[00:07:56] That's where you can find everything pertaining to the show show notes blog posts educational resources
[00:08:02] Guides tips tricks and more. That's the podcast Haven calm
[00:08:06] This is clipped. I'm Eric Montgomery keep listening keep engaging keep grading. I'm out