Fastpitch TV Show Celebrates Its First Birthday

I can’t believe it I have been producing The Fastpitch TV Show for a year. If you have followed my previous podcasts, The Podcast Pickle Show, Today In Podcasting, Pickle Tips, or any of the other audio podcasts I have been involved with, then you know this is a major accomplishment.

I was looking at some of my older episodes, and I was truly amazed at how bad they were. I was sitting around the house last year, and decided I wanted to create a video. I grabbed a camera, and did just that. I did not have a plan, nor did I have a script. I really did not even know what I was doing.

The one thing I did have was a knowledge of the topic. I played softball, I coached softball, and I own a softball business. In the past when people asked me what they should podcast about I always said what do you enjoy? So, I decided to listen to my own advice.

My first episode was simple, and created with iMovie. Like I said it was bad, but you can see for yourself.

As time went by I actually found myself getting enjoyment out of editing the shows. I bought Final Cut Express, and started taking Final Cut Classes. I feel my quality has improved with the addition of a HD Camera, proper lighting, and a green screen.

This is my latest episode.

I think you will agree my quality is a little better, but the best thing is that a national sporting goods manufacturer contacted me out of the blue. They have agreed to sponsor the video for 1 year. Now I am actualy getting paid to produce the show, and a very fair amount too.

So it took 1 year, but I now have a video that is actualy making me money. I guess the adviuce I had been giving out was good advice after all. Now go out find something you know something about, and just do it.

I Drank the Facebook Koolaid

I created my Facebook account as soon they opened Facebook beyond the school accounts. I really did not mess with it much. I went in approved friends, accepted group invitations and that was about it. I knew I needed a Facebook account, even though I was not sure why I needed it.

Recently, I decided to work my Facebook account. I wanted to get more fans for my new media sites. In specific The Fastpitch TV Show. While making a page for the show, and creating a fastpitch softball group. I started exploring Facebook. I started spending more time on Facebook, than I had in the year or so that I had the account.

To my astonishment I started finding high school friends That I had not seen in over 30 years. Even more than that I found elementary school friends that I had not seen many, many years.

Let me give you a few examples of old relationships I have reopened. This year the first person to wish me happy birthday was Doug. Doug was a friend I made in 4th grade, and had not seen in over 30 years.

Another one is Nancy, my first girlfriend from the 4th grade. Wow, I recognized her photo right away , and enjoyed seeing her family photos, and what she has been up to.

I won’t go on, and on about all the old friends I have been chatting with. I will say that it has been a blast reconnecting with these old friends. Since all of my daughters friends are young, I don’t think they appreciate Facebook the I do.

Yes, I drank the Facebook Koolaid, and I like it.

I Am Falling In Love With Apple!

I know that sounds weird to say, or at least it feels weird to say. How can I help myself? If you treat me as good, as the people from Apple do, you will get some kind of love from me too.

I have told you in the past about their one on one training classes, which I love. At less than $2.00 per hour for a one on one lesson, whats not to love about that?

Now the newest reason for my love affair. I have been having problems with the ring tone on my iPhone for the longest time. The volume so just so low, I could hardly hear it.

Being the worlds biggest procrastinator, I never took it in to get fixed. You may of guessed that my warranty ran out. Since it ran out a while ago I never said anything to Apple about it.

Last Sunday I decided to tell them about my problem. Since I was their taking my one on one lesson I thought I would mention it. To my surprise they gave me a brand new iPhone. Yes, a brand new iPhone even though my warranty had been out for over 3 months.

The clerk even said he was going to give me the new iPhone even though it was out of warranty. That they wanted to have happy customers. Guess what? They have a happy customer here.

As I said I am falling in love with Apple.

Does Wikipedia Have An Issue With Podcasting?

I went onto Wikipedia the other day looking for some info. While I was on the site I thought I would look at the listing they have for my website Podcast Pickle. I was surprised as to how small the Wiki article was. It use to be a much bigger article, with much more info.

This morning I went back on to look at the article again. Then I decided to look at Podcast Alley’s Wiki Page. To my surprise it was not there at all. It had been completely removed. This surprised me since Podcast Alley was very important in the start up of podcasting.

Then I looked up the Wiki page for the term podcast. After seeing the page for podcast, I no longer feel like Podcast Pickle was cut short. The wiki page on podcasting is about a 10th of the information, that use to be there. The entire history section of podcasting has been reduced to Apple vs Podcast Ready. I am sorry but there was a lot of other history that I thought was just as important.

I remember about a year, or so ago they were thinking of removing Podcast Pickle from Wikipedia completely. Thanks to the input of Pickle Fans from across the world it was saved. Thank you to everyone who came to the rescue. I am sorry Podcast Alley, and many of the other pages are no longer on Wikipedia.

* After I made this post I was informed that the podcasting history section on Wikipedia was moved. That makes me feel a little better. Thanks Ray

I Made The Leap Thanks To Scott Sigler

If you read my previous blog post I wanna Be A Podcast Novel Star you are aware that my name, Gary Leland has been used in several podcasts novels.

You will also know that I have invited anyone to use my name in any upcoming podcasts they may have in the works. From the emails I have received, I should be in at least 3 more podcasts coming soon. That is cool. Since I do not have the skills to be an on stage, or a screen actor.

Now Scott Sigler has moved me into the world of print media. His new book Contagious has hit the book shelfs. I went into my local Barnes & Nobles to get my copy, and confirm that I made it into the book. The answer was a big yes.

I am a character in his book. I am playing the same role of a corpse. That is the same role I played in the podcast novel. I do a great job as a corpse, if I say so myself.

Now, I can make claim that I am a novel star, and not just a podcast novel star. In case you do not know what a novel star is, it is someone who’s name is used in a novel. This is a major move in my novel acting career. I can’t wait to see which novel I am in next.

OMG, I saw where scott’s previous book Infected is also out in the book stores. I wonder if I am in it too? I better haul butt back to Barnes & Noble ASAP.

Oh yea, Scott if you are reading this my last name is spelled Leland. Not that it is a big deal, and thanks for giving me something to write about.

Did You Recieve A Christmas Bonus?

While creating paychecks Friday, it dawned on me that this was the first year ever that I am not giving a Christmas bonus to everyone.

With the economy in the toilet, our sales are down like many other companies across America. Sales are down so much that it would be irresponsible to give out a Christmas Bonus this year.

I still remember my first Christmas bonus check back in 1974. I was not expecting a bonus. I did not even know people got them. When I opened my paycheck it was double my normal salary. My bonus was a full weeks pay. That was pretty exciting at the time.

When I started my own business back in 1979, I did as I had been done. I gave out Christmas a Christmas Bonus to everyone. I gave a bonus until this year that is.

This got me thinking how many people still receive a Christmas Bonus? The easiest way I could find out was do a survey, or a poll. Thus the first Pickle Poll was created.

Pickle Poll? Yes a Pickle Poll. I simply logged intoTwitter, and ask my Twitter followers. I asked Did you get a Christmas Bonus this year? Answers started coming in right away.

I only received 26 answers. Since I have over 1300 followers I was disappointed in the number of answerers I received. The break down of yes vs. no is that 22 people did not. Only 4 people did. I know this is not a scientific poll, but I feel it is a good indicator.

At first I just thought that other companies were in the same situation I am in. Then after reading the comments people made, I realized that most companies just don’t give out a bonus anymore. I am sorry to hear that. I do hope to go back to giving out a Christmas bonus next year, and I am truly sorry I can’t this year.

If you want to follow me on Twitter go to PodcastTwitter.com

My New Media Sites For Fastpitch Softball

I have been involved with podcasting for a while now. When we started on PodcastPickle.com there were less than 100 podcasts in the world.

I finally decided to move my main business (SportJunk.com) into podcasting, and the world of new media. For anyone who may not be aware of what my main business is, it is softball. I am into Fastpitch softball to be precise.

1. I have started a podcast, SoftballPodcasts.com, a site that consists mainly of interviews with legends of fastpitch softball. I have intervied Olympians, hall of famers, college coaches, and othe people involved in the world of fastpitch softball.

2. I started a vidcast, FastpitchTVshow.com this consists of interviews, and product reviews. I am actually amazed as to how many people view each episode.

3. I started a blog, Fastpitch.US, this blog serves as a news source to help people keep up with is going on in the world of fastpitch softball.

While I have really enjoyed myself in creating these websites, I must admit that I use these sites to advertise for my main business. On ever episode , and on every site I advertise for my websites. I have sold quit a bit of product in my store directly from this advertising.

I think it is a win-win deal. Consumers get information they find useful, and I gain new customers. I think I can handle that.

I Wanna Be A Podcast Novel Star!

That right, I wanna be a podcast novel star. I know I do not have the skills needed to become a movie star, or a tv star. I have a bad southern accent, and my voice just does not sound good. In short I am no Dan Klass.

The great thing about being a podcast novel star is I don’t need any skills at all. Actually I don’t even need to be alive. As a podcast novel star I could be a star forever.

In case you are not sure of what I am talking about, or what a podcast novel star is I will explain.

To be a podcast novel star you only need to be a character in a podcast novel. Thats it, you only need to be a character living or dead. Really I guess you just need to have your name mentioned.

I have been in 3 podcast novels so far. My first role was in the beginning of the podcast novel Infected. Written and produced by none other than Scott Sigler. I played myself of course Gary Leland. I was a corpse. I did not have any lines, or do anything other than lay around. It was a short , but memorable role.

For my second performance I was a character in in J. C. Hutchins 7th Son Podcast. In the 7th son Podcast I had a great role. J.C. used my high school nick name, Audie Leland. I was a bad ass pilot of an experimental jet. I think it was one of my greatest performances of my career. I really enjoyed listening to J. C. talk about my character, and when he read my lines I thought I might get an award, but them I found out there were no awards for being a character in a novel.

For my third performance Scott Sigler has brought my dead corpse back with his latest book Contagious. I feel I must have done a great job as a corpse to make it into a second novel as the same dead person. This is very hard to do. How many times has the same dead person been in two novels? Scott I feel very honored to make it back into another of your novels.

I don’t was to let the secret out of the bag, but I feel I must. The best part of being a podcast novel star is I don’t have to do anything. I don’t show up, I don’t read anything. I do nothing except wait.

Now that Contagious is coming out as a printed book I guess I can shorten my title from podcast novel star to just plain old novel star.

If anyone wants to include me in their upcoming podcast or novel, feel free to use my name. Just make sure, and update me so I can add your podcast to my podcast or novel resume.

The Fastpitch TV Show

Some of you may be aware that I started a vidcast earlier this year. As the title of this post says The Fastpitch TV Show is the name of the cast.

The earlier episodes started out as infomercials for my sporting goods stores and websites. Originally I reviewed softball and baseball products, then told the viewers where on the SportJunk.com network they could find these products.

The main idea behind the show was to make money promoting my website on videos. I guess my idea worked. In no time at all I had new customers coming in the store, saying, Hey you are the guy on the video? I had a couple come to the store that has an afternoon layover at the DFW Airport, and buy $500 worth of product. It was clear the show was getting us new costumers.

This summer while at the college world series the fellow next to me said, Have you ever been to Michigan? I said no. He went on and on about how familiar I looked. Then he figured it out. Hey, he said, are you the guy on the softball videos? I laughed and said yes. That same situation has happened to me over and over. It is amazing how often that has happened.

As I said the show started as an infomercial, but has evolved. Now it is becoming more of a news show. I have interviewed Olympic softball player, Hall of fame coaches and hal of fame softball players, and many other people involved in the world of fastpitch softball. My videos on Wikipedia, and some of my videos have been viewed more than 10,000 times.

I really have enjoyed the production side of the show. I have moved fromediting in iMovie to Final Cut. Now I am trying to edit using my green screen. I hope soon that the quality of my show will grow to a more professional level of quality.

If you want to see any of my show, feel free to view them at FastpitchTVshow.com.

Apple Lessons

About a month ago my daughter and I went into the new Apple Store that opened in Ft. Worth, Texas. My daughter wanted a new laptop for Christmas, and could not decide between a PC, and an Apple.

While explaining the Macs to my daughter the sales clerk mentioned the one on one training. This caught my attention, He told me that for $100 I could have a one hour, one on one training session every week for a year.

This seemed like a good price for 52 hours of one on one training. It took me about 1 second to decide and give him my credit card, and buy the lessons.

I had bought Final Cut pro about 2 months before, and thought it would be as easy to figure out as iMovie was. LOL, was I ever wrong. I saw this as the perfect way to learn all the different things I could do with Final Cut.

I was correct. The one on one lessons have been great. Every week I go to the store, and receive training. Then I go home, and edit using the new skills I have learned. This causes me to have more questions, which I ask the next week at my next lesson. It has actually been great, and I really do enjoy going.

Yesterday we started with green screens, and I must admit it was easier than I thought. I have now put up a green screen on the wall in my studio. This weekend I will film, and edit using the green screen. I am really pumped.

I don’t know i it is rare or not to this good of service from the Apple Stores Training, but I think this training is the best service I have had in a long time.