I have a complicated relationship with community-driven podcasting groups and events. On one hand, I've started plenty of successful community-driven, podcasting groups and events. Also, I've been plenty involved in the podcasting groups and events shared by others, either as a presenter or active participant.But I also deeply question their value, especially to established working podcasters. Because it doesn't take credentials to get your opinion heard in the podcasting world. It just takes longevity. When a few weeks of experience is the only thing separating someone asking a question from someone providing an answer, the result will be mediocre. And mediocre advice leads to mediocre shows, which leads to the mediocritization of podcasting overall. That’s not good.Groups and organizers do their best to bring in true professionals because they want to increase the quality of advice given to their members. But that’s really hard to do, especially when members or attendees have a huge range of abilities and understanding of the medium. If Serena Williams, the tennis pro, held an open group lesson where literally anyone who could hold a tennis racket could attend, would lower-level-but-still-pro tennis players or collegiate-level athletes get value when the vast majority of the attendees probably couldn’t return a single one of her serves? No, they wouldn’t. Instead, Serena would wind up lowering the level of her advice to appeal to the majority in attendance, resulting in a very mediocre lesson from someone at the top of their game. Solutions to this reality aren't easy, something I know first-hand. When I was asked to write Expert Podcasting Practices for Dummies back in 2007, I was excited! And not only because it was my 2nd book, so I knew I could command a higher advance! But my excitement quickly turned to dismay as I struggled with the problem made self-evident in the title: What the hell is an expert dummy? There’s a reason why Podcasting for Dummies is on its 4th edition yet you’ve never even heard of Expert Podcasting Practices for Dummies.Here are a couple of ideas for you if you don't want your podcast to get caught up in the mediocritization.1. Find—or create—a peer group of podcasters who have close, but not necessarily matching, skill levels. Having a smaller group of “podcasting friends” to turn to, some a level or two above you, and some a level or two below you, tends to lift all participants up to the higher level. 2. If you truly enjoy helping newbie podcasters, either in groups or at events, then you should absolutely keep doing that. If it charges your batteries helping up-skill those who need help, go for it!In order to keep podcasting a welcoming and open place, we need people like you! For me, I like talking to working podcasters, so that’s going to remain my focus. Some beginners will get value from my content, though it’s not specifically aimed at them. And I’m sure some pros will also find nuggets as well. But it’s those of us under the mid-section of the bell curve that I’m trying to serve with this show and other efforts. I hope you enjoy it.-----Read the full article and share with a friend: https://podcastpontifications.com/episode/are-helpful-podcasters-averaging-out-podcasting