Fredericton-based Podcast Goes Behind the Curtain of Freelancing
FREDERICTON–Chris Tompkins and James Turner have something to share. As freelancers living in New Brunswick (Tompkins is a graphic designer and Turner a conversion copywriter), the pair discuss the similarities and differences of their work in a new podcast, Copy & Design Brew.
Every week, Tompkins and Turner set up in Turner’s home office with a couple craft beers to tackle a different topic related to freelancing, copywriting and graphic design.
We had a chat with them to find out where the idea came from and what they’ve been drinking.
What’s your process like for coming up with things to talk about and getting into the recording?
Turner: We just realized we were having super interesting conversations every time we talked. We’d be sitting there having a beer and then we decided if we recorded this and put it out, that is what a podcast is. So now we have to be super careful when we see each other not to say too much before we start recording.
Tompkins. From there we developed a list but it kind of changes from episode to episode. Sometimes earlier in the week we’ll have an idea. One time we went in and James didn’t even tell me what we were talking about until we started recording.
Turner: Ideally we’d like to get to the point where episodes are determined by listener feedback, people being like “what do you think of this? What do you think of that?” That would be cool because it would be more natural. We’d know at least one person would want to hear.
Do you find you have a lot of similar experiences even though you’re in different fields?
Tompkins: I think there’s a lot of overlap. We’re still both doing creative work so there’s overlap in terms of dealing with clients or how projects tend to go through revisions. I think we both come at it different ways but when we’re talking about how we typically do things, we usually end up on the same page.
Turner: There’s obviously the difference in the deliverable. I was shocked at how many revisions graphic designers offer … I realized that was different than copy.
Who is your podcast for?
Turner: People like us who work on their own all day and want to feel a sense of camaraderie. Your Friday afternoon beercast is kind of the slogan. That’s our thought too in releasing it at 3pm on Friday. It’s for people like us who kind of want to feel like they’re part of that.
Tompkins: I’ve been talking to people who aren’t at all that who have been listening to it and they’re saying “I don’t know anything about copy or design but it’s interesting to hear about it.” I didn’t think that people who weren’t interested in either going freelance or copy or design would really listen to it.
What happens when you guys sit down?
Turner: Chris usually brings the beer. We usually start chatting and realize we need to stop chatting because we have to start podcasting. We get all the angry stuff that no one needs to hear out of the way. Neither of us wanted it to be an end of the week bitch-fest … For the most part, we want it to be off the cuff. We start recording, we talk until one of us notices that it’s getting close to the 20-minute mark and we try to end on a high.
How do you choose your beer? Do you talk about the beer in the podcast?
Tompkins: Usually I just grab random beer. I’ll just decide “I haven’t been to this brewery in a while and they have something new. I’ll go get that.” Or I’ll go into the liquor store and think “these cans look interesting.” I think it’s a good thing to mention it once in a while. There’s so much happening in Fredericton …
Any recommendations?
Turner: TrailWay. The first time I tasted that was because Chris knew that they were opening and brought a growler over. They’re doing something different over there.
Tompkins: It’s so hard to pick. What we get at TrailWay is amazing and then the next week I get Graystone and that’s all I talk about for a week, this new Graystone beer. Then the next week we go to Grimross and get something from there and it’s great. Then we grab some Maybee and that’s good … I don’t like a specific brewery over any of them. It just depends on what kind of mood I’m in. We’ve talked about expanding a bit and bringing in some cider from around the city as well.
What kind of response have you had?
Tompkins: We’re still encouraging people to give us feedback whether on iTunes or sending us an email. We just want to know people are listening to it… We want to know the good and the bad.
Turner: Good critical feedback. I’ve had feedback from people who aren’t in the industry at all who are like “it’s surprisingly entertaining. I learned something I didn’t know.”
Tompkins: Anything I’ve heard has been mostly positive but the people I’m hearing from are the people who wouldn’t necessarily listen to a lot of podcasts or be in the industry so it’s good to have that but I’d definitely love to get more feedback from the industry.
Turner: I think it could inspire you to think of something in your own life just based on the things we’re talking about doing or the clients or the ways we’re finding clients.
Where do you want to take it next?
Turner: I want to interview people. I’ve got a lot of copywriter friends who’ve been champing at the bit to get on podcasts generally so that’s what we’re thinking for season two. We’ll do some Skype interviewing but they must be drinking a beer, regardless of what time zone they’re in.
Tompkins: Eventually this is going to develop into us doing some kind of talk and going to a conference or something and just getting to talk about it.
Turner: That would be fun or doing a live podcast. If we had a little booth at a conference out front interviewing the speakers. We’re both really into the craft beer industry. People start breweries and their art matters … there’s art involved and there’s usually really interesting copy on the beer. It’s kind of on point for us to be talking about it so I can see us even doing a brewery season where we talk to the founders of breweries.
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This interview has been edited for length and clarity.