Here’s an excerpt from an email I received this morning from a disgruntled reader/listener who is a little bit peeved about the advertising that’s popped up on the site these past couple of weeks…
“It’s a sad day in Portland when the king of irreverent local wit is taking money from big business. Guys like me start to wonder when the compromise will start now that money has entered the picture. It was probably just a matter of time but it’s beginning to look like you’re on the big payroll now and how can we trust that you’ll be honest with us after that?”
Yeah, I get it. It’s oh so much cooler to work every day for nothing right? So much more fucking bohemian. Never mind the fact that it costs money to do this every day and I don’t have another job other than this one right here. Never mind that I need to eat, pay bills, keep a roof over my head, and all that other crap that everyone else does – I shouldn’t want for a few bucks? Never mind that bandwidth costs money. Never mind that it takes no fewer than 4 fucking computers to do this the way I want to do it every day. Never mind that I personally foot the bill for at least 10 other shows with 10 other hosts that aren’t as far along yet and don’t make money in their own right.
Never mind all of that.
What you’re really implying here is that I’ve sold out, right? You’re asking yourself “gee, how much is Parkers Waffles PAYING this loser to say he likes their food?”
The answer to that one is easy – not a goddamn cent. When it comes to little local businesses that I like, I’ll just say that I like them and I don’t want nor need a reason other than that. When it comes to a soda company or the world’s largest manufacturer of buttplugs, well shit, only a dickhead declines a nice fat check in this economy. If you think you’d do anything differently then you’re lying to yourself or just plain stupid.
One thing I will never do though is compromise my values (because I only have about 3 of them to begin with) or go chasing advertisers for the show. If it’s easy and it works within my system of right and wrong and doesn’t interfere with my ability to say whatever I want then yes, I’ll cash that damn check every single time.
Now ask yourself, who the hell told you that you should work for a living and not get paid? And why were you dumb enough to believe them?
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{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }
Didn’t even finish reading your thoughts. Was too pissed at the emailer. Dammit Portland, pull your head out. Yes, we do these shows because they’re a blast and we love them. But you know what, being funny and awesome doesn’t pay bills, food, or action figures (especially the action figures).
Will I take money from anybody? Damn close! If “Modern Pegging Magazine” wants to drop some cash for me to keep doing my show, they get a plug. (Get it, heh). Now, if The Society for Putting Babies on Spikes came calling, well, I’d have to think long and hard about that one. (Unless Eddie himself asked, then I’d totally be okay with it).
So, just because on PDXSucks (or my own little show, GeekintheCity Radio) happens to throw in a 30 second spot or two doesn’t mean we’ve sold out. It just means that we don’t have to spend ALL of our “expendable” income on the show… THAT YOU GET FOR FREE!!!
Trust me, when we do sell out, you will totally know. Cause we’re gonna’ through a massive party… All paid for by the man.
Whew. I feel better already.
Seems more inevitable than anything.
You’re lucky to have some people believe in your efforts and want to help you pave the road to a better, more robust future for the show, as well as it’s host(s).
It either works, or it doesn’t. Yes, ads can be annoying, and certainly there are folks who take this kind of opportunity and exploit the f*cking hell out of it…but we as listeners still have the ability to click the ‘stop/delete podcast’ button. (Right after we figure out how our headphones work, of course).
This sorta ties in with something Cort and I talked about on our show last night (plug, pimp, plug, whore) regarding hyper-idealistic people self-righteously wallowing in their own naivete. We were discussing how people were starting internet petitions and boycotting Whole Foods because they discovered the CEO of Whole Foods was acting like a CEO when it comes to Health Care.
Well no fuckin shit. He may be marketing his corporate goods towards your CLIF-munching ass, but he’s still corporate. You honestly thought he was listening to Jimmy Buffett and handing out turkeys to homeless people in front of his office just because he has seaweed burritos in his deli?
Same thing with this: You think that just because Robert has an irreverent bent that he should be something like Podcast Che Guevara and reject anything “The Man” might toss his way? That’s so unrealistic I’d expect James Cameron to make a movie in 3D IMAX out of it soon.
Self-righteous anger is all well and good but people have to EAT. Rage Against the Machine were distributed by Columbia Records and showed up on a Godzilla Soundtrack but that didn’t stop a lot of dreadlock wearing suburb revolutionaries from buying their catalog at Tower Records. At some point, you gotta decide whether you want your voice to reach more people or whether you wanna martyr yourself for 15 die-hards who jerk off to the concept of piety over everything else.
The emailer probably has a trust fund, and just expects everyone else does too.
Great retort. I love it….you’re supposed to wallow in someone elses pity and beliefs and kick your hard work to the curb, just so you can “keep it real”. Great rebuttle to the emailer….perfectly put.
Robert, I give out free hugs if you need it man, just let me know
RW-
Keep up the good work. I understand all too well the real “cost” of pursuing something you care about. Money,unfortunately, makes this crazy lil’world go round.
I don’t think you answered the question– to me, the emailer seemed less upset about you making a living and more skeptical of your integrity–your ability to hold steady to your values. You wouldn’t be the first person to throw it all out the window for a quick buck. Just sayin’. You mention in one heated sentence that you won’t compromise those values– well, inquiring minds want to know. What ARE those values, exactly? And where do they come from?
RW has no values! LOL! Are you kidding me? Have you been paying attention at all to this? DILDOS!! They had an ad for DILDOS!!!!
Actually, I resent that comment. It wasn’t an ad for dildos.
It was an ad for dildos, dongs, buttplugs, vibrators, stimulators, simulators, love dolls, leather, lingerie, bodywear, pumps, and lotions.
Why stop at dildos?
Thanks for the support, it is appreciated. As Aaron said way up there, we would just do this because we love it – we did about 100 episodes that way. There does come a point where you have to be able to justify the time and the expense though, there’s no getting around that and unfortunately there a very few options out there at the moment.
As to my values, that’s probably worthy of a post all its own. Put simply though, I’m not about to go on the record and say that I like a product that I really don’t like or promote anything that would require me to change the format of the show – I’d rather do it for nothing than do that. For example, I detest Subway sandwiches – I loathe the smell, flavor, texture, hell – I loathe EVERYTHING about Subway’s food. I’m not about to get on and do a 30 second read about their crap. “Hey friends, doesn’t a delicious faux bologna shitwich sound absolutely delicious right now? Well I tell ya, my friends down at the local Subway Sub Shop are cookin’ up a real treat this week!”
No damn way.