Audio Gameshows: Hardest Thing Ever

In my old life, using the word "casting" when discussing show guests would be totally inappropriate. Hell it might still be? (all my public media people feel free to chime in). In podcasting, especially when it comes to certain formats, it is absolutely key. When it comes to gameshows, it's what makes or breaks it. Guesting needs to be as carefully considered as hosting and music choice. What does this mean? It's not enough if people are quirky. It's not enough if they are interesting. They need to actually fit into the show and be excited to be a fit. They have to want to play. I asked our producer Andrea Asuaje about her casting experience on Queen of Hearts, a recent Rococo Punch co-production with Wondery .

Queen of Hearts is a blind dating gameshow that helps singletons find their "love...for now." It's hosted by Jujubee and it's definitely NSFW. We rely on voices, audio cues, music, host banter, and storytelling to keep people engaged. Video assets are available but we can never assume people can see anything.

Casting this show was about finding playful, interesting voices who were always willing to go there. I mean these people had to fill out a "Bone Zone" sex quiz to get to phase two. Andrea worked alongside stellar producer Meredith Honig and associate producer Kaitlin Goldin (who uses TikTok like a casting boss) to put together what is probably the hardest podcast to ever cast. I will go the mat on that one.

1. This was your first game show and reality show.? What surprised you the most about this project?

Not in a million years could I have predicted what it would be like to make this show! We all technically had the skills to make it, but it was using those skills we have as producers in a way that was unlike anything we’d ever done before. I think what surprised me the most was casting. I’d never done that before on a mass scale. Sure, I’ve booked multiple guests for segments, but this is a very particular kind of casting for a unique show, so finding the right people was much harder than I thought.

1. What do you wish you had known before casting your first guest?

This is a tough question! There’s so much that I wish I’d known before I started casting people for “Queen of Hearts.” Here are a few questions I asked myself throughout the process: “How do I get people to tell me their deepest, darkest, sexiest secrets in a 15-minute call when they don’t know me at all?” Answer: By the time we started casting season 2, I had figured this one out, but it was a much more involved process in terms of approaching an interview than I’d ever had before. “How do I gauge if this guest is the right guest for our show?” Answer: Trust your gut. If this person is animated and excited, chatty and full of stories, and isn’t afraid to laugh at themselves, yes, this is a good fit. But if they’re trying to put on a persona that seems inauthentic, this may not work. I believe that an audience can spot BS a mile away, and that kind of vibe is a buzzkill. Last thing: Heterosexual cis men were, by far, our toughest demographic to cast. I wish I’d known that I needed to reach out to three or four times the amount of straight guys than anyone else! They were also the most likely to clam up and put on a cool, aloof persona, which, like I said, can kill the mood. They were also the most likely to ghost me so single straight cis men – get it together.

1. What did you learn about casting and guesting through this experience?

Honestly, I now have even more respect for people who cast for reality shows! Finding the right voices for our show was always a challenge, but to also find the right people who are willing to share their entire lives with you – audio and visual! – and who fit the bill of who you’re looking for takes an enormous amount of skill, time, research and optimism.

1. What do you say to producers who have a casting-heavy project? What are some things they should keep in mind?

The net you’re casting is never too big. Always cast the biggest net you can with your specific needs/wants/parameters, because you never know who will be interested and who will be an amazing addition to your show. Look everywhere – friends, friends of friends, social media, casting websites, meetup groups, organizations, networking groups, etc. There are interesting people everywhere. Also, casting for a show takes a lot of time and a lot of effort, so start working on that part of the project as early as possible. “Normal” people – people who aren’t journalists, pundits, politicians, celebrities, etc. – have very full lives and can be forgetful, so part of the job is also following up again and again and again. And of course, you have to be brave and reach out to total strangers who may be annoyed or may ghost you; don’t take it personally. Just keep going, and you will get it done.

1. What is something producers should avoid?

My biggest red flag is people who are flakey or unreliable. If you have a guest who’s always a little late but always shows up, I usually give that a pass. People have lives; it happens. But someone who stops answering texts or calls but then gets back to you at a later date saying they’re still interested but then misses a scheduled call or interview? Red flag. I can guarantee you that there’s someone just as exciting who’s consistent and reliable out there!

For more wisdom on producing, check out Andrea's other FAQ from our Fresh Produce series!