Concept 
What's A Show?
We define a "show" as a series of online videos that are tied together by consistent branding, style, and release schedule. Shows can be fiction, or non-fiction. A show can be made by one person with equipment they already own, or a bunch of people with a big budget. Blip shows are different from viral videos, friends/family videos, or music videos, because they are recognizable as a series of related videos. Like a TV show, the concept is consistent while the content is varied. But shows on Blip are not identical to TV shows.
Traditional TV shows have gatekeepers that control the small number of shows that get broadcast. A show on Blip will be distributed to hundreds of millions of viewers for free, using Blip's tools. Perhaps most important is the fact that, because Blip shows are viewable on the Web, Web show producers can potentially grow a powerful fan base using social networking technology.
Show Examples
Below are six different shows that convey the amazingly diverse types of shows on Blip.
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Journalism. "Alive in Baghdad." Interviews with Iraqis in Iraq. High content, low budget.
Blip Show Page | AliveInBagdad.org 
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Youth culture. "JetSet." Amazing execution, resolution, sound, content and community.
Blip Show Page | JetSetShow.com 
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Video Blog. "Beach Walks with Rox." Prolific and creative video blog from Hawaii.
Blip Show Page | BeachWalks.tv 
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Concept Examples
Content is king. The first step to good content is to come up with a concept. Your concept is your compass. It keeps you headed in the right direction by guiding your decisions about which way to go. If you just can't seem to come up with a concept, start to produce your show quietly and refine your concept with friends and family.
Below are three shows with excellent and concise concepts. What's your idea? What story are you going to tell? What's your passion? What makes your show different?
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"Where pop culture meets stock culture." 
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" African wildlife adventures live from the bush." 
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"A Little Aloha Every Day."
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Ask Yourself...
- Who is my audience? Successful shows usually begin with a core audience in mind. Your show's concept and consistent tone will help you find a core audience. This does not mean sacrificing your artistic vision. Maybe your core audience is you and your team? Maybe you make shows you'd want your kids to watch? Either way, keep your core audience in mind.
- Do I know my lines? Use provocative one-liners to attract viewers. Create tag lines, descriptions and titles. We'll cover this in the Distribution section, but it's a good idea to think about it now. Here's an example: TERRA: The Nature of Our World, a collaborative indie filmspace and laboratory exploring the melting pot of nature and culture. Episode 329, "Ewe." Description: "Do you know where your favorite wool sweater comes from? Have you ever been to a sheep ranch?"
- Do I have the time? Day jobs, night passions. Will the two ever meet? Can you do both? We advise starting at about half the frequency of production you hope to get to, or doubling your projected numbers of staff. Or just give production time your very best guess and multiply by AT LEAST three. While you may be able to make a show in half a day, can you do it every week? Rain or shine? Sick or well? With good equipment or broken?
- Am I really live? A few people can do talking head shows right off the cuff. Most have to do a lot of editing to make the content flow and make sense. What may seem "live" is often highly edited. Do you have the time to edit?
Tough Topics
- Kids' Shows It's sad that the shows society probably needs the most are also some of the most difficult to make. For example, Sesame Street is a huge and complex production with child psychologists as part of the crew (see crew list). Be very careful when making media for children. Get professional guidance, but don't be scared away. We need more responsible and positive media for kids!
- Politics A tried and true way to make inexpensive media that riles up a crowd. But be careful. It is an intense and time sensitive area with a lot of competition.
- Current Events Current events can be very time consuming to keep up with. Be careful diving into this realm if you have a day job. Another danger is that your content is susceptible to becoming stale and out of date, as time passes.
- T & A This is a visual medium, but T & A will only get you so far. There's got to be some substance behind the eye candy. When you upload your video, Categorize it with an applicable content rating. If you're hoping for a sponsorship, be aware that companies align themselves with shows that reflect their company's public image. Once you've succeeded in acquiring a sponsor, don't surprise them. For example, if you've been uploading PG-rated shows for an extended period of time and you suddenly upload an R-rated show, your sponsor may take issue with it.
Links
- Learning Center Veterans Speak Section. See how others started out.
- Definitions from Wikipedia: Television Program, Video Clip, Video Blog, Virtual Community.
- "This American Life" storyteller Ira Glass on the use of anecdotes and moments of reflection in storytelling.
- Storytelling Training. From Current TV.
- BBC Interviews with media makers. Video interviews with new media producers, writers, filmmakers, journalists, hosts, directors, editors, etc.
