Recording at a Client's Office: A Guide for Business Podcasters
Corporate podcast recording at a client's or guest's office is a common and convenient setup for
business-focused shows. It eliminates the need for the guest to travel, it allows the recording to
happen on their schedule, and for senior executives and very busy professionals, it's sometimes the
only format that's practical.The challenge is that you have no control over the environment until you arrive.
The Pre-visit Inquiry: Before arriving, ask the client a few specific questions: What room will we
be recording in? Is it a dedicated meeting room or an open-plan area? Is there heavy foot traffic near
the space? Can the HVAC be switched off or is it building-controlled?
These questions accomplish two things: they give you advance information to prepare for, and they
signal to the client that you're approaching this professionally and thinking about quality.
The Room Assessment on Arrival: When you arrive, spend five minutes assessing the space before
any gear comes out. Sit in the room and listen. Where is ambient noise coming from? Is the HVAC
loud? Are there glass walls through which sound from adjacent spaces carries? Is the room carpeted
or hard-floored?
Armed with this assessment, make adjustments before setup: request a different room if what you've
been given is clearly unsuitable, move the recording position to a quieter part of the space, or close
additional doors and turn off HVAC where possible.
Managing Unpredictable Corporate Environments: Office environments introduce interruptions
that studio environments don't: colleagues walking past glass walls, phones ringing in adjacent
spaces, building announcements, the sudden start of a meeting next door. For important recordings,
ask the client to brief reception about the recording and request that interruptions be minimized
during the session window.
Delivering Value Beyond the Recording: On-location corporate recording is also an opportunity for
the studio or production team to demonstrate its professional value. Arriving with proper gear,
setting up efficiently, being personable with the client's colleagues, and producing clean results
creates a positive impression that often leads to referrals and repeat bookings.
