I think that a 2 person podcast is ideal. Just as our word count bonuses are structured to encourage certain length articles, podcast pay should encourage what we want to see as well. Personally, I think 3 million for one hour is just way too much. I have never written a 2,200 word article in one hour. With the exception of mass interview articles, I don't think anyone has. I would recommend lowering single-person podcasts to $2 million. That's still a 1,400 word article equivalent, which I still think is too much, but it is a LOT closer.
I would offer something like this:
A 1 hour podcast with 1 person: $2 million
A 1 hour podcast with 2 people: $3.2 million ($1.6 million per)
A 1 hour podcast with 3 people: $3.6 million ($1.2 million per)
A 1 hour podcast with 4 or more people: $3.2 million ($0.8 million per)
From my 2 man podcasts with tlk, Sweetwater, and Archon, I feel like I am doing a LOT of work. I'm coordinating what we talk about beforehand, looking stuff up as the other one talks...it's a lot of fun, but also draining. Personally, I think this is what we should be targeting, so I made the pay per individual only slightly lower than a one person podcast, because I feel it's just as much effort.
A 3 man podcast was cake. I enjoyed it, but I didn't *really* feel I was working. That said, it was a nice change of pace, and folks really seemed to like the more relaxed tone, so maybe there's something to it. This is where it gets really easy to sit back and get undeserved pay. If you listen to the CA Chess interview, Sweetwater and 4D Chess really carried it. I kind of just sat back unless I felt an interjection added value, but while my intentions were noble, you can see how easy it would be for someone to be "on the podcast" without really contributing.
I've done two 4 man podcasts, and both were less than ideal. Not counting technical issues, I think these were EASILY the least impressive, and I wouldn't want to encourage them. I think they COULD be good. If 4 people (say, one from each team in a conference) did a podcast on one topic, and it were well-organized, it could be good. However, I think the majority would blow. Whether it's 4 people all stepping on each other or some people hiding in the background while the others talk, there is usually going to be a drop off in quality. I think this situation is where graders come in. If there is a GOOD 4 person podcast, throw them a bonus, but I wouldn't increase the base payout.
I would offer something like this:
A 1 hour podcast with 1 person: $2 million
A 1 hour podcast with 2 people: $3.2 million ($1.6 million per)
A 1 hour podcast with 3 people: $3.6 million ($1.2 million per)
A 1 hour podcast with 4 or more people: $3.2 million ($0.8 million per)
From my 2 man podcasts with tlk, Sweetwater, and Archon, I feel like I am doing a LOT of work. I'm coordinating what we talk about beforehand, looking stuff up as the other one talks...it's a lot of fun, but also draining. Personally, I think this is what we should be targeting, so I made the pay per individual only slightly lower than a one person podcast, because I feel it's just as much effort.
A 3 man podcast was cake. I enjoyed it, but I didn't *really* feel I was working. That said, it was a nice change of pace, and folks really seemed to like the more relaxed tone, so maybe there's something to it. This is where it gets really easy to sit back and get undeserved pay. If you listen to the CA Chess interview, Sweetwater and 4D Chess really carried it. I kind of just sat back unless I felt an interjection added value, but while my intentions were noble, you can see how easy it would be for someone to be "on the podcast" without really contributing.
I've done two 4 man podcasts, and both were less than ideal. Not counting technical issues, I think these were EASILY the least impressive, and I wouldn't want to encourage them. I think they COULD be good. If 4 people (say, one from each team in a conference) did a podcast on one topic, and it were well-organized, it could be good. However, I think the majority would blow. Whether it's 4 people all stepping on each other or some people hiding in the background while the others talk, there is usually going to be a drop off in quality. I think this situation is where graders come in. If there is a GOOD 4 person podcast, throw them a bonus, but I wouldn't increase the base payout.
![[Image: BVsashy.png]](https://i.imgur.com/BVsashy.png)