Hi BullyBrat (very interesting name, by the way), I wish I could have communicated with you about your issues with the podcast, but when you post a 3 star review on Itunes it makes it difficult, so I’ll post my response here.
“They started out good really podcast…”
First of all, thank you for listening to the podcast initially. I know there are lots of podcasts out there (even for Once Upon a Time), and a new listener is always cool. I’m also glad you enjoyed the show, even for a little while.
“…now they miss things like hansel and gretel could not leave town in her car ast hey are storybrook people.”
Well, we did discuss Emma’s car not being able to leave Storybrooke in our 002 First Thoughts – True North episode we released last night: http://www.onceuponatimepodcast.com/002-ouat-first-thoughts-true-north/. We also pointed out that the car may have actually stalled, or maybe Emma faked that the car stalling to have a reason to contact Eva and Nicholas’ father to come to start the car, and Emma may have used the situation to bring the family together. So, in this instance we didn’t “miss” it, but we may not have articulated it in the same way you would have. Okay.
That’s why we welcome feedback, to give the listeners opportunity to help us out on things we may miss, misspeak, etc. Actually to be honest, there are things we purposely don’t bring up because we want the listeners to have the opportunity to add their take on something to the conversation. If we brought up every plot point, fact and Easter Egg in our podcasts, the podcasts would be multiple hours longs and no listener would ever send in an email or call in, because we would have brought out everything.
I have said this many times, this podcast is made up of 3 parts; Us, the listeners and the cast and crew of Once Upon a Time. All three working together, not just the hosts bringing out all the facts about the show.
“they do not read e mails on podcast at end or listen to fan feed back, it seems like they only like call-ins, very, very disappointing…”
I am at a loss of how you could have thought this. We do one show every week specifically for reading and discussing emails, these shows are called, “Feedback and More”.
The last FAM episode we read and discussed around 30 emails. We do like Call-ins, but not any more than emails. We like them the same, because they different ways that listeners can communicate with us.
Now, it is true that we don’t read emails and play voicemails on the same podcast episode, because especially this week, it would have been a four hour show. For the sake of the listener, I break up the Email and Voicemail episodes, because I don’t think most people have 4 hours to devote to listen to a podcast.
I’m sorry you were disappointed, but my question is, Did you send in an email that we didn’t read, and this is why you are disappointed? I’m curious about that. Please let me know.
“…they started great now they changed their format and I am unsubscribing,”
I don’t know how we changed our format. I was always up front about what each show was for. The only thing that has changed is we have gotten more voicemails and emails than we used to.
“they don’t know that if people do not like their changes, they opt not to come back”
Believe me, I know this. I am fully aware that if people don’t like our show, they un-subscribe, don’t listen and move on. There are other Once Upon a Time podcasts available, and I’m quite sure some have listened to us for a while, but chose to stay with the another OUAT podcast. I’m wondering if you listened to all the episodes, and heard me say, “I don’t want the people who send in emails to feel left out, so we will devote one whole show a week to them..,” anyway, it sounds like you’ve made up your mind, and that’s fine. It’s a podcast, not a contract. You are free to move on and listen to any other podcast at any time, but I wish you would have let me know something, anything before the Itunes review. I am available on Twitter, Facebook and email. I would have listened to you. I’m not perfect, and I know there are many things that can be better with the podcast, but if I don’t know prior to a 3 star Itunes review as you are unsubscribing, it’s hard to change anything to try to meet your satisfaction, because I would never know if you liked my changes based on your review.
BullyBrat, if you are reading this, I wanted to let you know that I received an email from someone who mentioned that we were releasing too much content, too often, and the shows were too long. I am working on resolving once I post this. I would ask that in the future, if you don’t like a podcast for any reason, please let them know, so they can have a chance to make a modification to a show that might keep you listening. Just a thought.
I hate to see these reviews. Unfortunately, they will always be there. All we can do is try to read between the lines to find some sort if constructive criticism, then ignore the rest. I think your response to bullybrat did just that, and I wanted to commend you both for trying so hard to make all your listeners happy.
With that said, I wanted to let you know that I think the podcast is perfect. I have never heard of a podcast being so in touch with the fans. I have only just started to get involved, but I have been listening for a few weeks, and feel like a part of small community all because of a great show on television.
Please keep doing what you are doing, and try to ignore the naysayers. As they say “haters gonna hate” and there is not much we can do about it.
Thanks again for doing such a great job!
I really appreciate your reply so much. I did want to use my post about this review as a “teachable moment” to give practical advice to people (me included) that review something. To be honest, I’m still bugged about it, but its replys like yours that remind me why I started. It all started with my wife and I talking about Once Upon a Time on our couch, and I said, “I wonder if people will listen,” well they did. I’m so humbled that you do, as well. Thanks.
I know it’s hard when you put so much time, energy and passion into something to have someone criticize your efforts. That being said, I love the podcast and gave you 5 stars! I hope you keep it up and don’t take any negative comments too personally. Can’t be all things to all people. Stick to what you love!
Well, bullybrat certainly seems to be living up to his/her name. I wonder how many of the podcasts bullybrat has actually listened to, and for how long–the entire podcast, or just part of it?
But, Jeff and Colleen, I figure for every bullybrat that contacts you, there’s probably a thousand or more who appreciate so much what you both do. You’re not going to please everybody. No one can.
So just keep on keepin’ on. You guys rock! 😎
I’m one of the thousand! I eagerly await each new podcast to hear your theories and observations. Thank you Jeff and Colleen for all your hard work!
there’s always going to be that one person that needs to be a troll. BullyBrat is exactly that, a bully. Ignore him/her. You guys are awesome 🙂
Well, for the most part, You can’t please everybody, but it is valuable to hear from them from time to time. A mind at rest tends to stay at rest….blah blah blah and begins to get boring! We’re only 9 episodes into what could possibly become several YEARS! (hopefully!) of weekly podcasts! and there are going to be “hundreds” of Bullybrats chiming in. I think you all, Jeff & Colleen, handle the balance of an ever changing and evolving show with as much class, patience and inclusiveness as there could be. Can you imagine what the writers must go through? The very nature of a show like this which aims to bring two “polar opposite” groups of personalities together – FairyTale Romantics and DieHard Technical Puzzle Hounds – and make it work!, is, in itself a massively ambitiuos goal as would be a Podcast of the same subject matter! You all are doing fine and there’s more than enough room for everybody! Diehard Romantics who often get confused by the storyline and/or timeline, can find on the same blog posts reasons/logical theories for what just happened by Diehard Puzzlehounds who are constantly mulling over statements, facts, time and theories that would otherwise be boring as hell to Diehard Romantics! And Diehard Romantics contribute the MOST important thing of all………………..RATINGS!!! They keep the damn show on the air!! Without them, there is no show for Puzzlehounds to mull over!
So far, Jeff & Colleen, you’ve managed to keep a good supply of both… so just keep doin’ whatchyer doin’ and hopefully we’ll be able to do this for some time to come!
Now can we get back to work!, Please!
Thanks, Manny
Jeff, the comments are nonsensical. The format hasn’t changed- but the offerings have expanded with (wait for it) more fan feedback. I would not worry about pleasing irrational people.
Jeff, people don’t tune in to this podcast for formats or email reading or whatever. They tune in to be part of a positive community, to exchange ideas on a show of common interest, to interact with others in a stimulating and supportive environment. That is the value of what you have created. Stay true to those fundamentals and the rest will take care of itself.