The Good Old Stickam Days! (Throwback Thursday Story)

               This story is going long way back to the early years of me broadcasting and for those who wonder, I started with Stickam before BlogTV obviously. It is another blog post for another day very, very soon. Stickam was a broadcasting platform with BlogTV and other platforms that are now sadly gone and some are still in existed and/or I am currently banned from which I will not get into whatsoever. Anyways I was fairly new to casting and it was a social cast. No music or anything, just a chit chat session and a former friend of mine as him and I kind of disconnected when I dropped using Skype and moved into Discord full time.  Anyways this was just a social cast and I noticed that my numbers were up and my former friend noticed too. We looked at the front of Stickam.com and there I was, my mug was up there. I was like what the! They staff at Stickam must realized I was an entertaining broadcaster which I think I wasn't overly too entertaining. 


                 Also there was a time I was in a room and one of my staff at the time was also in there spamming and here comes an admin or "Staff" from Stickam and booted him out the door! I started to howl that he got banned for spamming. I was the one that reported him as the broadcaster wouldn't kick him out so they sure suffered the consequence. I can say I had some good traction when The Video Projects Team was on there but I remember my last cast before switching over platforms. Yes I played a lot of musical website chairs for many years and I just couldn't stay still during the times I broadcasted. After both Stickam and BlogTV closed down, I was just not happy. 


                I will always remember the Stickam days, I actually preferred that platform over any other platform as I got a ton more views and I got a pile of new friends that I would have over the course of several years, up to the point of me leaving the broadcasting world to be a podcaster on Audio ONLY. The platform will always have a place in my heart and was home for my now former team that doesn't exist anymore due to certain reasons but Stickam was home to the Season 3 Finale of The Entertainment Man Talk Show in 2010, was home to the network that had a couple of great shows on there and it was fun up to having someone underaged but I took care of it with a report to Stickam Staff, it is better me reporting them and getting banned numerous times but good memories lol.  Trolls were fun to play with up to having to ban em from the room. I will always remember the good times on that platform. 





Chris

How Have I Managed To Record Podcasts?

              You probably wondering how in the world I am sliding by with getting podcasts recorded? Well it hasn't been easy to get recording as the coughing is the main issue where I could get into a coughing fit and it has happened where I had to either stop recording or edit out me coughing my head off so you guys wouldn't have to hear it. That is definitely the beauty of editing a podcast able to editing out the um's, buts and coughs in my case as you know I am on the slow mend from this cold. I know, I had to cancel my plans to record due to my coughing fit I was going through but I had no other choice but to do that. It's not like it will be going far and yes I realize that it is out on Friday night and we have my niece and nephew and would be nice to have it done so I can spend time with them as I have something to show em. I hate cancelling but it was beyond my control that I was in a coughing fit. Now if I was on video, it would probably be quite more difficult to do as it would be a live podcast. With putting up the audio it could take a while to remove what I mentioned at the top of this post with the and's, um's coughs and buts.


                Either way, nothing stops me unless I am stuck in bed resting like yesterday for primary example. I continue to strive forward sick or not sick, the show must go on and I do not want to disappoint you guys with the podcast. Unless something that happens to me like yesterday then I will not record if I feel weak, tired or the coughing fit. I realize my voice sounds different, deeper as I mentioned on the first podcast that I recorded while sick, almost a week ago now. I know I have made some stupid remarks about my cold but it is who I am, I like to make some stupid jokes about myself and it entertains you guys as well in the process. In the end I am proud of myself for making the effort to try and get podcasts out on time while dealing with a cold. Like the saying goes, the show must go on and that is the way I think of things and trying to keep a very positive attitude.




Chris

Condenser Mic Vs. Dynamic Mic, Which One Do I Prefer?

             Today's post I am going to talk about two different microphones I have used and which one I preferred to use. For those who didn't know I started out with the dynamic microphone back when I still on Stickam.com which no longer exists actually but that is when I started using microphones. The first microphone I had originally was dynamic but was a Radio Shack, followed by the Audio Technica Pro 31 Mic. Mind you it was a great start to the podcasting world and that microphone I still got an used quite often when guests are in the studio. One thing about that mic is, it has different settings then the condenser but it depends on the guest behind that particular microphone. Anyways the sound is completely different and it is hard to explain to you guys the quality but there is a complete difference in the quality. OK, let me break it down so you can understand. The Dynamic microphones are hooked up to the mixer as it has a 3.5mm stereo jack compare to the condenser which is completely different from the dynamic if that makes any sense to you guys. Don't get me wrong the dynamic is the way to start with podcasts or broadcasting if you if you are on a small budget like I was and I am still on a small budget, just saving up helps but the dynamic costed me around 70 - 75 dollars. 

              Now moving onto the condenser which yes it does costs money, around 200 bucks later but again quality which is well worth it for the price of the microphone. Yes it was a bit of a learning curve, especially when my voice echoed at the start but that is when I figured I had to get a wind sock which you guys have seen on it many times in the past in pictures I have posted on both Instagram and Twitter from time to time. The cable end to the condenser is different obviously as I had to make sure when i bought this mixer that it had phantom power for the condenser to work. However that is besides the point but the sound is really different from the dynamic but as a listener, you probably cannot notice but least quality is good.  Which mic do I really prefer to use? Well that is a hard question to answer, as I love both my mics which is ironic both are Audio Technica products, you can say honestly i vouch by the brand. However in the end, I have grown to love my condenser microphone and getting use to it now and the quality it has given me over the last 1.5 years, so I guess my condenser microphone is my pick, however microphone is a microphone and it does the job for a reason but it is quality over quantity honestly. 

Chris

Podcast Setup Changes Are Going To Be Made....

             Now that my studios plans are out there and I have been working on. This is only the start of things. First the studio is in the long term plans to repair this studio walls which will definitely cost money. But the most important the podcasting setup which records "Everything About Reality TV" & "The Collaboration" Podcasts and things are always changing for the podcast, new people want to collab which I have to make happen so I definitely have to make the room for it. I will explain what equipment I need to get. Actually let's start, I need a audio interface to take in calls and that can be up to 100 - 200 dollars or even more down the road and that means I have to put the money aside but I am working on it and I know I promised a few people but some have gone through or just been forgotten that this was going to happen as I haven't heard from them in a long time on the socials but I hope to reach out to them soon. Also Larry and I can even do the Power Rangers Podcast from two different households you never know!


              As you guys know I have a second microphone, the handheld which mind you it still works very, very well and Larry knows exactly what my intentions are and that is I am getting the second boom arm for the other microphone so this way I will not be diddly daddling around with hook it up and fiddling around with the sound. and it is so easy to actually maneuver the microphone  in when hes in the studio especially, so I am pretty excited about having a second microphone. Only catch is... IS I am going to wait till the desk is refurbished, as right now I simply do not have the room on a small desk for a second boom arm at this moment and no space to place the microphones at this moment of time. 


              However it is good that I do want to actually make some changes around the studio and to my podcasting setup here and down the road, I would love to add a second boom but it is a waiting game and right now, I cannot explain what is going on, it is something personal going on right now and I rather keep it a private matter right now. Patience is a virtue indeed and all I can do right now is continue on planning on recording the episodes and what not right now. The show must go on with this rather small desk right now and hey I have to deal with as it is and when time it will be great to have this desk refurbished and fixed up and having a wider desktop too in the process as well. It is excited to be growing the podcast setup that I have now. 





Chris

Studio Updates Are Coming!

              As I probably have heard through social media, this studio is an appalling mess right now with holes and is in need of dire renovations. I have spoken to my uncle and he has actually recommended wood board which probably even better then drywall and at a more of a reasonable price to get done and I do not know if I am able to paint it but it wouldn't matter as the studio is in the basement. Also as you know my desk is need of a bit of refurbishing and going to add on the top to make it bigger desk top and trust me it was be a very strong desk once we fix things up. I also think there will a hole for wires to go through as it will be easier and the wiring below right now it is a mess which that will also be changed up as well. It's  friggin mess underneath. Also may as well mention this as well there will be a shelf build underneath for the tower but it will have to be definitely build to hold it up as it isn't light as it has all the stuff inside it. Also this week, I am getting a new chair as this chair is definition of broken... Another blog post for another day. 


                I really am not sure what else to say but once the desk is built, I am planning to do the rotation once the walls are repaired as well but again that probably will not be till next year at sometime but once that is done, the desk will be rotated around and the whiteboard will be moved around the desk will be against the south wall. I am not sure where the white board is going at this moment and also I want to add into the studio is a cork board as well to hanging up pictures my niece and nephew have made for me in the past years just hopefully I can end up putting everything I want but beggers cannot be choosers.  On tomorrow's blog post I will be discussing the podcast setup with the microphones and yes I said microphones and also the mixer and basically the setup for the podcast and the way we are planning on getting the setup done. I do want to change the way the things are setup for the podcast and yes I will be mentioning and bringing up the other microphone. 




Chris

Getting Excited For Big Brother Canada Season 7!

            I had a hard time coming up with a topic for today's blog post then I kind of thought why not talk about something that I am excited that is coming up, which is Big Brother Canada 7 which only weeks away from starting and there is several reasons why I am excited for this season. I really didn't think this season would come so fast as we are close to wrapping up Celebrity Big Brother US, Season 2, it is getting me excited for the 10th season of "Everything About Reality TV" which is a podcast I recap Big Brother Canada on and does well each season and it is exciting I am recording my 10th season right when Big Brother Canada airs too! Another reason I am excited for the show to be returning is the fact I will definitely have the opportunity to go to 1 or 2 evictions during the season with both Dave and Larry as well, we are planning to get tickets for the 3 of us and trust me Larry will love it as this will be his first time going to an eviction. The last part of why I am excited for Big Brother Canada is of course when it comes down to the season finale of the show, both Larry and I get together and he stays over 😒 and the reason why I have the un-amused smiley is cause he wakes me up during the night with his insane snoring but this year we are upping the ante and Dave is coming by for the finale this year and also he will be possibly staying over the night too but depends but he could just stay for the finale but that hasn't been determined which the 3 of us gotta discuss it in about 2 months from now.


             Either way I am totally excited for this season and spending some time with friends watching the show, going to evictions for the show and travelling especially into the big city for the evictions. This is a very busy season for me from evictions, to being with friends for episodes, recapping the show, i certainly do not have a lot of time on my hands for a social life as my eyes and ears are on the feeds 17 - 18 hours of the day with sleep, eating as well but it is worth the time here in the studio and I am so eager for this season to start as my worlds are about to collide. This is why I enjoy what I do with the podcast, the interaction with the fans etc! Bring on BBCAN7! Let's Gooooo!





Chris 

There Is A Reason Behind Everything!

            When I do things involving Chris B On The Web, I do it for a specific reason.  Sometimes things do not work out to plan such as yesterday having a nasty fall hitting my head and hurting my shoulder if non of this happened I probably would of had the Survivor Edge of Extinction done but again there is a reason behind everything and I had to take care of myself first to make sure I didn't break anything or end up with a concussion so that had more importance and I do feel bad as I promised I would have it ready a week in a advance but sometimes there is a reason behind things and yesterday I wasn't meant to record the Season 10 premiere. However, yes I know I promised and I discussed it on Twitter this morning when I woke up after a rough sleep and honestly I do know what I was thinking, recording it way in advance, because honestly it probably wouldn't make any sense whatsoever, especially if one point I'm better as I am starting to get better from this cold, to being sick, it would probably confused you. So it works out and planning to actually record that one either Monday or Tuesday of next week as I will have plenty of time before next Friday to posting it up. Another example of there is a reason behind everything is my cold that I am currently fighting I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to record but luckily it was at the end of this week which does help me a lot and gives me plenty of time to rest up and get better and yes I am finally feeling better finally!


            Sometimes things happens like yesterday and with me being sick it wasn't meant to be and yes I realize the show much go on and I probably jumped the gun on preparing for the 10th season as it is a week away and right now I got 3 episodes before the premiere of season 10 goes up for you guys so I think I went warp speed on myself and it is not good on the stress levels, like I have said many times, I have a busy schedule and I just cannot jump the gun. This year is about me listening to my gut and trying to stay on schedule but for me to get ahead of myself, might be the wrong move. Like the title of today's blog post is everything happens for a reason and I just gotta go with the flow of things sometimes.




Chris

My First Ever Episode of Everything About Reality TV... (Throwback Thursday Story)

            Now I am more talking about the Audio ONLY aspect of Everything About Reality TV which it has been almost been 2.5 years now since making the move over to Audio ONLY side of the podcast. Today's Throwback Thursday story is about my very first episode on Audio Only which mind you was a disaster first episode as the quality wasn't the greatest and don't forget I was learning about audio engineering I guess you would call it technically or learning about sound more then video I guess you would call it what I said before. It was my very first episode on Audio without the intro that you guys now hear to this very day on the podcast, this was before I had  a proper introduction to each episode of the podcast but I managed for the very first season. Which if you were to ask what season of Survivor was it that I covered? The answer would be Survivor: Millennial's Vs. Gen X as 1 of the contestants from this season, David Wright will be on this upcoming season which is exciting to think, he was on Millennial's Vs Gen X which was the very first season I covered on Audio Only. However it wasn't my first rodeo as you all know by now I started the podcast on YouTube way back.


            The next point I would like to make is the fact I was nervous on the first episode which is normal as it is different from being in front of a camera to me just being behind the microphone. I do believe it was just nervousness that I was having honestly. The quality of the audio wasn't the best at start and remember I only had the Audio Technica Pro 31 handheld microphone which mind you I still have and is used in the studio here as a guest microphone but I got another post for another day about that. This was probably about almost an year before the condenser microphone was purchased which mind you is a big difference in the way of quality but again that's for another post on another day down the road.  Either way the first ever episode was very nerve wrecking for me but hey I have to start out somewhere and 2016 was the start of such an amazing podcast experience and I wouldn't change it for the world. 



Chris

Noticed The Older Buses Are Slowly Disappearing...

            It is amazing how fast time goes with the buses time on the road here as you know I am in Canada and the weather here in the winter especially is insane.... So there is a ton of ware and tear with the buses here or it is either that or just time does go by fast. I still remember when the GM Buses were still driving around, the old 102 bus or the old flyer buses they had here 113 & 114, or even the older Orion buses, 123, 131 & 133 for example. But after those buses went which was during my last full year of college, we then seen all the next buses 8151 till 8180 and furthermore the buses I see to this very day which are modern day buses out there. Modern is good as they are very electronic but hard to fix as a bus driver I know, he said those are really tough to repair with all the electronic but these are the buses are the future now. 


             The much older buses before had no ramp it was the old stairs on them and we are in need of the handicapped buses honestly and I am really glad we have these handicapped buses as more seniors have taken the bus and yes I have helped them by lower the seat down for them if it is up which is always nice, also I always let them on first.  All I can say is it is a new era with new modern buses so it is good to have these buses especially that I have knee problems on and off. There are tons of reasons why handicapped buses are now good to have but I do not want to go through again today's post would be another Chris rambling post. 


             In closing it is a new era and we have to have these handicap accessible buses and also buses do not last forever. They have a good 15- 20 years but then they are replaced and the buses that came out in 2006 - 2007 now are slowly disappearing as I have been on recently 8171 which is a older of the Nova Buses. Actually not many of those left. 8169  -8173 but yet again I haven't seen 72, 73 lately but it could be on a route that doesn't go to the mall but majority of them do go to the mall now minus the Simcoe which is a north and south route which is east of our mall. But in the end it is better to have up to date vehicles then older buses that breaks down all the time as I have witnessed many times in the past driving by buses stopped at the side of the road. 





Chris

What Is The Plan With The Power Rangers Podcast?

             I know it has been weeks since the announcement that The CBOTW Show was to be discontinued due to lack of views but what does this mean for The Power Rangers Podcast, what is going to happen to those podcasts. As you know I have 3 of the 5 episodes up and I need to do the intro for the remainder of the episodes then it will be posted back up on the website and we will be able to move and as of right now the collabs page is it's own page as that was the original page had some issues. Anyways right now I need to focus on getting the collabs page update and in the coming weeks, I will be working on it once I am feeling better and back to my old self for those who didn't know I am dealing with a sinus or head cold right now and trying to cut back the amount of recording time as my voice does go odd after a while but I have to record but it is on the list of things to do down the road.


              What about the newer collaborations? It is coming down the road, just right now with my busy schedule I cannot commit to a schedule for the collaboration podcast at this point and I am in a very hectic schedule for Everything About Reality TV Podcast as I am working on Celebrity Big Brother, then following this season, I am working on Survivor and Big Brother Canada so right now it is a tough schedule as once this season wraps up then I move into the 10th season with 3 podcasts a week which will be a very busy schedule so I cannot give you a timeline at this point and Larry knows as I have been keeping him posted on things and I know . I have to do the prep work and right now I just do not have the time to do that said prep work as I am preparing other podcasts for Everything About Reality TV Off Season which right now, I will not be seeing an off season till December at this point as soon as Season 10 of this podcast is finished, I got right into the next season the week after.


              With saying that, Once Big Brother Canada 7 is finished and I plan on working on the prep work for the podcasts and it could take up to a month, a month and a half but once the prep is down, once I type up the notes, we will schedule a recording day and soon as the editing process is done you guys will be the first to know. As for the fall recording, I do plan on an October/November with a Late December release so that I can tell you all about now as I am planning in the summer to be full on with working on the collaborations with starting a new ERA which I will talk about down the road, you know what I will mention it breifely; Starting this fall is a new era for Larry and I as we will be out of the Zordon era and moving into brand new era. Him and I will be covering in the early winter when it is released Power Rangers Lost Galaxy and Power Rangers Lightspeed Rescue and I did start watching some of the episodes but got lost in the series but second time is a charm and cannot wait to get back into these. 




Chris

Favorite Rock Bands

              First of all, my apologies for not having the blog post up at all yesterday same with the podcast but as you know I am sick and finding it hard to get work done but also I had Larry over so I kind of should of just done a blog and still record but post up the episode today and that was my original thought when I schedule but that is not what I am talking about, I am talking about my Favorite rock bands which is the most easiest as I got a bunch of them on my list and this is why I decided to write this list blog for you guys today: 

1. AC/DC- Ever since hearing Thunderstruck at the Ontario Junior Hockey Games, I instantly loved their tunes. Also Hells Bells Highway to Hell, TNT

2. Metallica- I have heard of a mash up of the well known song Enter Sandman and I listened to the original song but haven't listened to many others tunes by them.

3. Autograph- One of my favorite tunes by this band, Turn Up The Radio which I heard on a broadcaster's channel, however they have passed away unfortunately 4 years ago today. May he R.I.P. Was a great broadcaster too!

4. Beatles- Growing up, my parents introduced me into the oldies listening to CKDO while growing up, I definitely got an appreciation for the older rock and roll which is good I can appreciate modern and older rock. 

5. Hedley- I discovered this band during my time on Riot Radio while being an On-Air Host for them from January to April and I know it's pop and rock but some of the tunes are really rock and I enjoy their music. I don't think I actually have it ripped onto my ITunes right now. 


              There is my list of Rock bands I do like and I do have a bunch more but it would be an endless blog post but is neat to share my list with older and newer and I like the 80's rock a bit too so bit of both. Well a good 90% of these bands are older but there is nothing wrong with that honestly. I am old school for being a Millennial but those who know or didn't know I was born in the 80's so I guess I have to know music from that era too I guess but like I said above my parents got me into the oldies so it is now in my blood and I listen to the oldies plus the newer music as well, so a mix pretty much. What is your Top 10 Rock Bands? Leave it in the comments below and I will be speaking to you guys again tomorrow on tomorrow's blog post which will be an interesting post so to speak.



Chris

With Everything About Reality TV, I Take It One Season At A Time! (SOMETIMES!)

             I know sometimes, I talk about the planning that goes behind the next season and right now I am up to the 11th season in scheduling but that is not fully scheduled yet but it will be down the road but right now I need to focus on this season, which is the 9th Season of this podcast which is the most important thing right now. I know Music City has concluded and let me say, I enjoyed the show this year and hope their is a 3rd season. I mentioned that on JMack's (Jessica) from Music City and she actually liked my comment! So awesome! Back to what I was saying, I take it one season at a time but from time to time I end up planning for the future of the podcast. I know right now I know there is plans for Survivor 38 & 39 for right now so I am solid for the rest of this year for right now. This season is slowly coming down to the final week and a half left in the game of Celebrity Big Brother and at this moment I am thinking ahead with the next Survivor season and Big Brother Canada starting up soon I have started to think about the 10th season of the podcast within 2.5 years it has been a whirlwind of a journey as a podcaster and I am just overwhelmed with the amount of love and support I have gotten over the last 3 years of it being on the air both YouTube and Audio ONLY.


                  Sometimes you gotta think ahead and if you remember that blog that I did back in December, I gotta stay on my toes with this podcast and yes I know at times I am way ahead of myself but that's just me, it is who I am, I am just one step ahead and that's OK to stay one step ahead of the game and I know I run scenarios in the back of my mind to what works and not work and I think this time around, I think things are working out with the 2 - 3 times a week schedule and you guys seem to really like it too so it is a good thing, like I said before the listeners, the fans is what is the most important thing to me honestly. I know sometimes. I know I am going on a bit of a rant but again that is my personality showing at this time. Either way I make the right decisions for the right reasons and you guys know where I am going with these ideas by the end of the day.




Chris

My Favorite and Least Favorite Items on The Binding of Isaac

              I have to give a shoutout to my followers on Twitch on my Twitch channel for this idea as we were in discussing it during one of my runs on The Binding of Isaac last Saturday which I would like to say it was an incredible first stream back, was so overwhelming to see the amount of listeners in the stream for my first stream back on Twitch. Anyways, today I will be listing my favorite items and why and here is my list:

Least Favorite Items:

-  Lemon Mishap: No clue what the heck it does or what real use honestly, nor the purpose of the item is. 

-   The Poop: No clue what use this really makes to me honestly or the purpose of the item anyways.

-    Dead Cat: I demise this item and sometimes I end up getting  by accident from time to time but I am starting to get better at not getting this item but there is a challenge that I need to do with dead cat item so it will be interesting to complete it.


Favorite Items:

- Ipecac: The explosive shots is 1 of the 2 favorite items I love and when I get this item, I get excited when I do get this item but it has been a while since i have gotten the item lately but cannot always get this item.

- Brimstone: I had no clue how it worked at the start but then instantly fell in love with it but it has been a rare item to get from the devil deals or else where in the game but when I do get the opportunity I will take it.

- Technology or Technology 2: Love this item and was actually one of the most earliest items I ever got actually on top of another item which will be my last listed favorite on my list on today's blog post.

- Orbitals: Such as Brother Bobby, Sister Maggy, Harlequin Baby, Ghost Baby, Little Steve and much more, was one of my very first items I got on the game I previously said and I believe I had 3 or 4 at once at one point.


              There is my list, hope you guys enjoyed reading my post today, like I said at the start of the post today, I was inspired by my Twitch followers and listeners that gave me this great idea and I thank you for this inspiration. Tomorrow's blog post was suppose to be a weight loss update but I need to hold off so I am doing something different to give you guys the heads up now.



Chris