Guest Information
Thank you for being a guest on Pour Decisions! We are thrilled to have you on the show. Below is everything you need to make your appearance easy and enjoyable.
If you are joining us in person, read the “All Guests” and “In Studio” sections. If you are joining us remotely, read “All Guests” and “Remote via Microsoft Teams.”
All Guests
Attire. Dress comfortably — this is not a formal show. That said, there is a video element, so be prepared to be recorded. Tight stripes, small checks, and very bright colors don’t tend to work well on camera. Solid mid-tone colors look best. But most importantly: be comfortable.
Speak clearly. One of the biggest gripes about podcasts is audio quality. We use modern mics and good sound gear, but we can only do so much. Come in with the mindset that you need to speak loud enough for someone to hear you from a few feet away.
About our audience. We cater to industry professionals and to folks who want to learn more about craft beverages and the culture behind their creation. We are totally into technical talk and insider jargon. Brian will make sure anything highly technical gets defined for listeners who need it — so don’t dumb it down on our account.
Language. The show is rated explicit. You are welcome to use colorful language if it helps make your point. Keep in mind that many industry peers — and potential employers — may be in the audience.
Transcription. We use AI to transcribe every show into text, which is published in the show notes. We do not generally review these transcriptions for accuracy.
Prep. Depending on the topic, we may send you a short topic outline a few days ahead. There is no script and no rehearsal — the outline just keeps us pointed in a useful direction.
In Studio
Location. Check in at the main Fenn Valley Tasting Room, 6130 122nd Ave, Fennville, MI 49408. Please arrive at least 30 minutes before your scheduled recording time. If you’d like, we’ll give you a brief tour of the Fenn Valley facility before heading to the studio, which sits adjacent to the crush/press building.
Microphones. We provide high quality studio microphones for every guest. If you have a preferred studio microphone you’d rather use, you are welcome to bring it — just make sure it connects via XLR. Our board supplies phantom power if your mic needs it.
Headphones. We provide headphones, and we recommend wearing them. They’re genuinely necessary if your episode includes a remote guest, since that’s the only way you’ll hear them. If you’d rather bring your own, make sure they use a 3.5mm (mini) plug.
Beverages. Please bring your craft beverage to sample, already at the right serving temperature. We’ll provide glassware, dump buckets, and a corkscrew. You may also want to bring water or a soda to drink while recording.
Remote via Microsoft Teams
We record remote guests over Microsoft Teams. You do not need a Teams account or a paid subscription — we’ll email you a link that works in a browser or in the free Teams app. You’ll get that link with your calendar invitation.
The one rule that matters most
Wear wired headphones or earbuds. Any pair will do. If you use your computer’s speakers, Teams will detect the sound of our voices coming back through your microphone and will automatically duck and mute your audio to stop the echo. That damage cannot be repaired in editing, and it is the single most common reason a remote interview sounds bad. Wired is better than Bluetooth, because Bluetooth headsets often switch your mic into a low-quality mode.
Your setup
Microphone. Whatever you already use for video calls will work. A USB podcast mic or a headset mic will sound better than your laptop’s built-in mic, but any of them beat speakerphone. If you have something nicer sitting in a drawer, this is the day to use it.
Camera. Any built-in webcam is fine. Put the camera at roughly eye level — a stack of books under a laptop works great — and look at the camera rather than the screen when you can.
Lighting. Face a window or a lamp. Avoid having a bright window behind you, which will turn you into a silhouette.
Room. Pick somewhere without much going on. We run a casual show, but a barking dog or a screaming child will pull the episode off course. Smaller rooms with soft furniture, rugs, and things on the walls sound much better than big empty ones with hard floors.
Connection. A wired ethernet connection is ideal. If you’re on Wi-Fi, sit close to the router. Please close other applications — especially anything syncing files or streaming — and turn off notifications so we don’t record your email chime.
One Teams setting worth changing. In Teams, open Settings → Devices → Noise suppression and set it to Low or Off. The default setting is aggressive and can clip the beginning of your words or swallow the sound of a pour.
Beverages
Please ship or drop off the beverage you’d like to sample before the show, so we can taste along with you:
Pour Decisions / Fenn Valley Vineyards 6130 122nd Ave Fennville, MI 49408
It works best if you also have the same beverage on your end, so we’re all tasting through it together. Water or a soda to sip while recording is a good idea too.
How the session runs
A few days before: Depending on your technical comfort level and previous podcast experience we may schedule an optional 15-minute tech check. It takes almost no time and it catches the problems that would otherwise eat the first twenty minutes of your recording day. We strongly recommend it if you are not confident.
Day of: join the Teams link about 10 minutes early. We’ll spend the first few minutes checking your audio levels, your camera framing, and your headphones.
At the top of the recording: Brian will clap once. That’s just for us — it lets us line up the studio cameras and audio in editing. Nothing is required on your end.
During: if your connection hiccups, don’t worry about it — just pause, and we’ll pick up the thread. We edit. Nothing is live.
Quick Checklist for Remote Guests
- Wired headphones or earbuds — plugged in
- Beverage shipped ahead, and a bottle open on your end
- Teams noise suppression set to Low or Off
- Camera at eye level, light in front of you
- Notifications off, other apps closed
- Water within reach
- Join 10 minutes early
Questions about any of this? Reach out before the show and we’ll be happy to run a test — we’d much rather sort it out in advance than on the day.
