These are not comedy, theater or improvisation shows. Even less conferences. And yet, these events attract delirious crowds. The live podcast series are so popular that they are now being toured throughout Quebec.
This was confirmed to me by producers, broadcasters and headliners of these podcast shows which are normally presented in studios or in small rooms in front of a handful of spectators. But in recent months, the arrival of these podcast hosts and their special guests has triggered a rush at the box office.
“Indeed, there is real enthusiasm,” Mathieu Lacroix, artist agent at KOScène, told me. Mike Ward broke down the doors [il a offert Mike Ward sous écoute au Centre Bell en 2022 et au Centre Vidéotron en 2023], but there, requests come from everywhere. »
Podcast hosts now have tour dates that resemble those of a stand-up comedian.
Mathieu Lacroix, artist agent at KOScène
The Gatineau cultural center was one of the first broadcasters in Quebec to sense the potential of podcasts in front of large audiences. “This all started about two years ago,” Pascale Gougeon, director of programming for this room, told me. We first tried this in the front foyer of the Odyssey room (830 seats). The success is absolutely incredible. »
Lysandre Nadeau and Joanie Grenier (Oral sex), the Denis Drolet (Cream rinse) and Mike Ward (Mike Ward under surveillance) all galvanized the Outaouais public. In the summer, as part of the Gatineau Humor Festival, we will welcome Le Groulx Luxe with Patrick Groulx and his special guest Jean-Marc Parent.
The tandem Stéphanie Vandelac and Thomas Levac, from the podcast series Open couple, is a good example of this growing phenomenon. “We are returning to the Albert-Rousseau Hall (1,300 seats), in Quebec, as well as in Saguenay,” Stéphanie Vandelac told me. We went to Abitibi, Sherbrooke and Gatineau. We have reached around sixty dates. »
PHOTO VINCENT DESCÔTEAUX, PROVIDED BY PRODUCTION
Stéphanie Vandelac and Thomas Levac from the podcast series Open couple
The Concertium agency, which represents several podcast designers (Mike Ward Listening, Characters Podcast, Oral sex, Open couple, 5 to 7 podcast), jumped with both feet into the arena. “This phenomenon really took off after the pandemic,” says Jean-François Renaud, general manager of this company. There was a period of trial and error. But there is strong demand there. »
The wave of podcasts has led KOScène to invest more in the production of these happenings where we don’t take ourselves seriously at all. Two studios, one of which can accommodate an audience, have been created. Among the house stars, we find Sam Cyr and Marylène Gendron (Everyone hates each other). The duo performs in the studio and once a month at the Lion d’Or. KOScène also manages the podcasts of Jo Cormier, Alexandre Bisaillon and Charles-Antoine Des Granges which, for the moment, are playing in the studio.
What are spectators looking for who don’t hesitate to pay $30 or $45 to attend such an event? The answer lies in the uniqueness of the moment. What happens on stage will never happen the same way again. “People appreciate the spontaneous side of the podcast,” says Jean-François Renaud. It has nothing to do with a formula that is repeated night after night. »
Quebec podcast stars are much loved by an audience looking for unbridled talk. We appreciate their audacity, their humor. We like to identify with some of them.
“When they do their podcast in front of an indoor audience, they find their community,” says Pascale Gougeon. There’s a lot of interaction that happens. The bond is very strong and it’s in the theater that we notice it. »
And then there is the simple pleasure that comes from these encounters. “The people who come to see us want to party with us,” says Stéphanie Vandelac, from the podcast series Open couple. Added to that is the “I was there” factor. We see it a lot on social networks. »
Last September, the duo of Oral sex performed at the Trois-Rivières amphitheater in front of… 4000 people. Going from a small studio packed with around twenty people to an amphitheater obviously has an impact on the way podcasts are designed. “For us, it changes everything,” adds Stéphanie Vandelac. Our podcasts are intended to be humorous. Receiving laughter from a large room is enormously nourishing. »
Her partner Thomas Levac uses an interesting analogy to explain the difference between a podcast show that is produced in a studio and another that is in a theater. “It’s like sitcoms with or without an audience. The actors perform differently thanks to the interaction they have with the audience. The other day, we spoke for 30 minutes with spectators who were seated at the same table. »
Mathieu Lacroix, however, believes that the distinct character of podcasts must be preserved. “We presented Everyone hates each other at Zoofest in front of 1500 people. We had to dress the stage, add guests, put in video. The moment was unique in itself, but we realized that it distorted the original formula. We are more careful now. »
Unique moment, freedom of speech, spontaneity, this is what the podcast formula offers which are now going on tour. This says a lot about the current desires of spectators. Reinvent yourself, artists were told during the pandemic. This quip finds meaning today.