1st: Know Thyself

Before you start, it is vitally important to know what you're going to talk about. Even if it's simply hot topics of the day, at least that's something. But getting more specific will help you understand everything ahead of you - who your audience will be, what format your show should take, and who you'll invite to be guests. A talk show about comic books? Fantastic. A talk show about zombies? There are plenty already out there, including the nationally syndicated Talking Dead. The point is to pick your angle and stick to it.

2nd: Whose Hear?

Now that you know your angle - (let's stick with comic books for this exercise) - you can start figuring out who your audience is. Knowing your audience will help you figure out how long segments will be, how to talk to your audience, who your guests should be and what your topics are. A comic book audience will be male, in their teens, 20s and early 30s, and will want detailed specifics about the books they love and the creators they love to hate. So your job is to know the specifics, get those guests and charm that audience.

3rd Where Hear?

Your first inclination may be to host your talk show on television. After all, that's where the big boys and girls play. You might want to show that you can work that medium. But if you're doing your own show and you want to be on TV, you'll likely have to broadcast on cable access. And cable access is going to give you a limited audience. It might be a big audience - thousands of local cable subscribers - but it's still limited. Especially when you consider the power of the Internet.

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Today aspiring talk show hosts and producers can shoot a shoestring talk show on a $100 high-definition video camera and broadcast the show on YouTube or their own unique web page. There, the audience potential is enormous - millions of viewers across the globe. And if you don't want to build a set, consider launching a podcast. You can showcase your talk show chops just as easily in audio as you can on video.

Fourth: Party

Once you know your angle, your audience and your medium (and have gathered all the friends/crew and production equipment you'll need to produce your show), it's time to find some guests. This is, of course, easier said than done. The hard part is knowing whom to invite on your show.

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If it's a show about comic books, you'll want to research the most popular titles, creators, comic book companies and ancillary personalities - comic critics, comic shop owners, comic book filmmakers, and outspoken fans. The easier part will likely be getting them on your show. After all, who doesn't want to talk about themselves or their work or their company or the comics they love?

5th: Promote It! 

After you shoot your first show, consider sharing it with the media to help promote your program. Research the outlets that regularly report on your topics. For comics, that could be any of a number of websites and blogs, weekly news columns, or magazines like Wizard or the Comic Buyers Guide. Getting the word out will help you gather an audience even before you begin. And consider keeping this promotion up after your show launches, as well.

HERE TO HELP YOU!

As you are super serious about doing your show, you can benefit by getting professional input and adding vital services such as studio editing or public relations. You podcast could be a gamechanger - at least you will have the satisfaction of having produced something you can be proud off and in your own way making a contribution to the quality of talk shows

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Consider talking to us about either helping to produce or hosting your featured show HERE!