The dialogue between characters in this book made the recording of a podcast a no-brainer. BUT – I have spent many hours in expensive studios, recording dozens of radio commercials, and over 100 radio dramas, so I am aware of the impossibly high cost of studio time. My son Will solved the problem with his unique approach to single voice recording. He assured me that the two of us could squeeze into my walk in closet, and pack the closet shelves with pillows, thereby creating a sound proof booth. So we set up amongst jackets, dresses, and shirts, and recorded Episode One. Hearing the playback, I literally could not believe my ears. His tiny $1000.00 microphone, attached to his phone (looking ridiculous mounted on a standard mic stand), was delivering studio quality sound! Two days later, we came out of the closet with these 14 episodes.
!! VOTED INDIE SHOW TO WATCH FOR BY RADIO PUBLIC !!
For the Podcast:
Producer and Director- Will Bowes
Voice – The Contractor Geoff Bowes – formerly known as the union actor Geoffrey Bowes
Music composer – Geoff Bowes
Guitar- Andrew Dawson
All Things Technical – Tim Reilly
Episode One – Coming Out
My first attempt at home reno was when I decided to install a bathtub all by myself. I had no tools and less experience, just an inexplicable drive to do the work myself. The installation was a disaster, but I learned a lot about plumbing – and about myself. [powerpress]
Episode Two – Stiffed
My skills and my tool collection grew until I was known in the neighbourhood as ‘handy’. When the neighbourhood crazy lady offered to pay me to build her a fence, I jumped at the chance. Of course I should have known better … she didn’t pay me. Down the rabbit hole and into Small Claims Court! [powerpress]
Episode Three – The New World
I got my first real job as a construction worker, joining a real construction crew building a recording studio complex. New tools, new people, and a new sense of belonging. [powerpress]
Episode Four – Homework
My mentor, Stan, hired me to work with him gutting a three storey house and putting it back together again. He told me about his alcoholic parents, and I told him about being abandoned at birth. [powerpress]
Episode Five – A Poor Choice
Stan teamed me up to frame a house with Ken, an illiterate genius carpenter with serious anger management issues. The work was high up and dangerous, and we were not prepared for the heat wave and the heat stroke that drove us off the roof. [powerpress]
Episode Six – Finding Purpose
My learning curve was curving nicely, and I took on clients of my own. Some were easy, some were high maintenance, and at Christmas time – they were frantic. [powerpress]
Episode Seven – The Addition of Death
I worked with Stan on a second storey addition right out of the old testament – flood, fire, swarming bees, betrayal, rivalry, rage, death defying accidents. Nothing went right on this one. [powerpress]
Episode Eight – The Help
I was taking on bigger jobs so the time has come to find a crew of my own. Trial and error, hiring and firing the most astonishing collection of characters … and getting nowhere fast. [powerpress]
Episode Nine – The Entitled
Dealing with the impossible demands of millennials forced me into unnecessary confrontation, and made me rethink my attitude towards this new group of inexperienced homeowners. [powerpress]
Episode Ten – The Addition of Life
Another second storey addition with Stan. Only floods this time … and cops. Nothing we couldn’t handle. Except for the dirty talking women. [powerpress]
Episode Eleven – The Addition of Discovery
A big ground floor addition. My first time running the whole show. My excellent crew were decades younger than me, and on this fast paced build, it became clear to me that my age had become a liability. [powerpress]
Episode Twelve – Missing the Turn
Now that I had a great crew, I had to keep them working, or they would leave me. But with this particular client, keeping us together at all costs was too expensive. I ignored the warning voices in my head, and now it was either get gone, or get sued. [powerpress]
Episode Thirteen – Bloody Hell
Suddenly I saw blood spurting over the table saw, and then I felt the pain. Everybody at the hospital kept saying, ‘a man your age’. My best before date had arrived. [powerpress]
Episode Fourteen – Going South
This episode gets poetic, then it gets funny, and then it’s all over. Thanks for listening everybody. I know that you were entertained, and I hope that you have gained insight into life in the trades. I suppose that is why I took the time to write this book / podcast … but I’ll never be sure. Peace Out. [powerpress]