I need your input please

[Dave Homewood]

I'm a bit baffled. The popularity of the Wings Over New Zealand Show, according to the download figures on the host site, seems to have really dropped off this year. Less and less people seem to be bothering to actually listen or download shows.

And I am hearing so much less feedback now when episodes are released. A few episodes have not received comments here or on the WONZ Forum at all.

Plus I have recently talked with several of the people who always were avid listeners, and they all say they don't really listen much any more. Some have not listened for ages and are way behind. They say they plan to catch up but they never get around to it.

I don't know what it is I am doing wrong.

I thought that the quality of the shows was getting better over time, and I put a lot of work into them. But now I get virtually no-one saying that they enjoyed a new episode, etc, compared to a year ago.

And there is no longer any of the ideas and other such feedback coming in either.

Has the WONZ Show done it's dash?

I hope not as I have several big projects lined up for the next few months, some very exciting and some already halfway through production.

Please, tell me what you're all thinking. Good and bad criticism, ideas, suggestions or anything you want to say would be more welcome than the current silence. The silence is very disheartening, considering how much work goes into most of these shows so that people can hear then for free.

If nothing else, can you please spread the word on your own Facebook pages and elsewhere about the Wings Over New Zealand Show, and about the Facebook page, to maybe generate some fresh interest?
www.cambridgeairforce.org.nz/WONZ_Show.html

www.facebook.com/WONZShow

[11SQNLDR]

hey Dave,

I'm 4/5 of the way through all of them & delighted to see another show listed this week - particularly as it's another WWII veteran.

I have taken the shows for granted since joining the forum a couple of years back.... knew they were there & thought of listening to many but never quite had / made the time.

But a few long haul flights and a daily walk with the iPhone & headphones plugged in changed all the at 4 months back & I've listened to heaps in that time, some even twice..
I agree that the quality of the product has improved over time & hope a few other forum members 'rattle their dags' and listen in & comment.

I hope for many more over the years ahead, you are to be commended for recording these stories as I know in years to come my sons will enjoy them & it is up to all of us to spread the word so that you get to hear our appreciation & feel empowered to carry on!

Cheers, Stew

[baz62]

Nothing wrong at your end Dave. For me it's finding the time to sit and listen, simple as that. I was actually thinking that if my car had a stereo with a built in MP3 player i'd be listening driving out to Rangiora or to work. Don't stop as you are doing something few others are (if any) and the ones I've lsitened to to were a real treat!

[11SQNLDR]

Most modern cars have Bluetooth and that is all that is required if you download the shows onto an iPhone, iPod or similar.

I often listed to podcasts whilst on a 'roadie'.

Looking forward to hearing more from Noel Kruse

[Dave Homewood]

Thanks for the feedback Stew and Barry, I appreciate it. It's great to hear they are being 'discovered' and appreciated by recent converts.

Baz, can you upload them to your phone and listen with headphones in the hangar, like an iPod?

Noel shall return in May if all goes well. I am looking forward to it, the Caribou era!

Don't get me wrong, I love making and sharing the shows, it just seems like lately I was wondering if their popularity was dropping off. So many people have said they haven't listened for ages, and it is a bit disheartening really. I make these shows with my aviation enthusiast friends in mind.

Keep spreading the word please.

[baz62]

Apr 6, 2014 16:48:42 GMT 12 Dave Homewood said:

Baz, can you upload them to your phone and listen with headphones in the hangar, like an iPod?

Hell thats a great idea!

[Luther Moore]

I'm going to listen to the new one tonight.

[harvard1041]

Hi Dave

Don't be disheartened, lots of us like them ! - they're a really neat oral history and I suspect will pass the test of time, long after some of our ( slightly ) silly threads on other things have long been forgotten....

I just listen to them on the computer without downloading them...does that mean I don't contribute to your stats ?

They're all good Dave - keep up the fine job

Cheers
Hvd1041

[shorty]

I don't have an iphone, ipad, mp3, bluetooth (whatever that is)and I don't do facebook so I guess I am at a bit of a disadvantage?

[Radialicious]

Shorty, if you ask nicely, Dave might record them onto a C-90 cassette for you

Dave, the really important result of your work in recording these podcasts, is that very suddenly, history is recorded forever. I'm sure that even if the countometer isn't whizzing over as much as you'd like, you are doing more than anyone I know of to record our aviation history. In years to come when these veterans aren't with us, your work will suddenly take on a new meaning and value.
Keep it up fella

[Dave Homewood]

Sorry Al, I don't believe you can buy blank tapes in the shops any more.

All you need to do Shorty is push play on the webpage, and it will come out of your computer's speakers.

John, my understanding is that the meter is counting both plays and downloads collectively.

Thanks for the very kind words chaps.

Something I don't understand is on iTunes loads of the shows have no popularity rating, as if they have not been getting downloaded through that system. Yet others have have good ratings. I am wondering if this is one reason, is iTunes working for those who use it to get the latest episodes?

[obiwan27]

Hi Dave, you're not doing anything wrong. I'm finding that I have a backlog of podcasts to listen to and it's because I have a backlog that I am not downloading them as frequently at the moment. Also I now have a tablet, so will be playing them via the webpage in future, rather than downloading via iTunes. Cheers.

[b10m]

Dave, Don't worry, I listen to everyone when ever a new one comes out, it is downloaded automatically, I transfer it on to my IPod and listen while I am on the walking machine. (Im a fat fella)
I also drive a bus for a living, and I am always using my IPod as it is far better than listening to shrieking kids. I think on one job that spread out over a couple of weeks I listened to every one of Noel Kruse's podcast.
Bloody good stuff.

[Dave Homewood]

Thanks. I am taking a wee break for a week or two but hope to bring more shows to you all soon.

[haughtney1]

Dave, I too am an avid listener, for me its a real taste of home when I'm sat in a hotel room somewhere on the planet, and I can click on the link and listen to my pick of shows. Don't be disheartened, for me the content and format are fine. If I could offer one tiny bit of feedback, and that would be to make it a little more intuitive to find the links…I know its bleedingly obvious when you know where to look, but there have been times I've felt like I had to hunt a bit.
Apologies if that sounds nit picky….not my intention, just a thought based on my experience. Keep them coming, its truly a living record, and its important.

[Dave Homewood]

Not nit picky at all, but I always post the links direct to the show here on the forum and on the Facebook page (primarily to the WONZ Show's own page, but also to my own personal page usually, and to any other Facebook pages that the subject might be relevant to the followers of, such as NZ Warbirds, Plane Crazy Down Under, Warbirds Radio, RNZAF, RNZAF Museum, RAAF, etc).

Plus all shows upload automatically to iTune for those who don't follow the Facebook page or the forum regularly.

Is there anything else I can do that makes it easier to see a new show is online? I know what you mean, I have to go hunting for new shows in some other series that I follow too, and it can be hit and miss. Any suggestions?

[corsair5517]

I, too, apologise, Dave; I appreciate the time and effort you and your subjects have put into this series but I don't download podcasts simply because I prefer to listen to music!

[Dave Homewood]

That's ok Corsair5517, it's not compulsory