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The Bear Case For Clubhouse I understand why people love CH, but when you dig into what I believe are its two main purposes, you find two inadequate solutions.
CH might be successful, but it won't bc they're the best at solving their customers' problems...
thread
First, I want to acknowledge that betting on startups to fail, doesnât make you smart. Obviously really smart people think they're going to be successful enough to give them a $1 billion valuation. I'm just not convinced their product is actually good...
Clubhouse, in reality, seems to serve two purposes:
1. providing a tool enabling a 21st-century public party line,
2. providing a platform for modern-day radio shows.
The problem is, Clubhouse doesnât have the best solution for either of those purposesâŠ
1. providing a tool enabling a 21st-century public party line,
2. providing a platform for modern-day radio shows.
The problem is, Clubhouse doesnât have the best solution for either of those purposesâŠ
In the party-line arena, Twitter Spaces is hot on the Clubhouseâs heels.
I tried it out the other day, and it was AWESOME.
Here's why:
- reduced friction bc it's already in an app you use
- ability to react via emoji
- captioning in the works
- WAY BETTER AUDIO QUALITY!!!!!!!
I tried it out the other day, and it was AWESOME.
Here's why:
- reduced friction bc it's already in an app you use
- ability to react via emoji
- captioning in the works
- WAY BETTER AUDIO QUALITY!!!!!!!
When it comes to radio show platform functionality, I believe @capiche going to steal Clubhouseâs lunch.
Capiche FM describes itself as: âa radio show + live-streamed audio + instant podcasts + real time updates from your favorite broadcasters, all in one,â and it's not lying.
Capiche FM describes itself as: âa radio show + live-streamed audio + instant podcasts + real time updates from your favorite broadcasters, all in one,â and it's not lying.
Capiche offers so many features to its users that it actually operates as a full-service internet radio platform.
Clubhouse just isn't designed for that.
Hosts like @sriramk & @aarthir would be much better off making the switch to Capiche.
Here's why
Clubhouse just isn't designed for that.
Hosts like @sriramk & @aarthir would be much better off making the switch to Capiche.
Here's why
Advantage #1:
Capiche understands that people can only listen to one person speak at a time. They enable traditional 2-3 person shows, instead of the 12-people-on-stage messes that Clubhouse enables.
Clubhouse creates in-crowd vs out-crowd dynamics.
Capiche enables radio shows.
Capiche understands that people can only listen to one person speak at a time. They enable traditional 2-3 person shows, instead of the 12-people-on-stage messes that Clubhouse enables.
Clubhouse creates in-crowd vs out-crowd dynamics.
Capiche enables radio shows.
Advantage #2:
Clubhouse is seemingly trying to hinder listenersâ ability to interact with speakers.
Capiche FM, on the other hand, encourages orderly audience participation.
To ask a question you shouldn't have to "take the mic." Capiche enables text-based question submission.
Clubhouse is seemingly trying to hinder listenersâ ability to interact with speakers.
Capiche FM, on the other hand, encourages orderly audience participation.
To ask a question you shouldn't have to "take the mic." Capiche enables text-based question submission.
Advantage #3:
CH could help safely provide listeners a voice, but instead, itâs created an easily abused, high-risk, low-reward system. Instead of enabling safe communication between listeners and speakers, CH has virtually killed it by making the barrier to entry too high.
CH could help safely provide listeners a voice, but instead, itâs created an easily abused, high-risk, low-reward system. Instead of enabling safe communication between listeners and speakers, CH has virtually killed it by making the barrier to entry too high.
Advantage #4:
Clubhouse conversations are not âon the record.â And when online things are not âon the record,â people tend to act differently than they otherwise would.
Capiche FM shows can be recorded and turned into podcast episodes, helping curb bad behavior.
Clubhouse conversations are not âon the record.â And when online things are not âon the record,â people tend to act differently than they otherwise would.
Capiche FM shows can be recorded and turned into podcast episodes, helping curb bad behavior.
Advantage #5:
Prolific content creators understand the wasteful nature of single-use content. Soon they will tire of spending an hour on CH sharing their learnings with 200 people, only to have to do the same thing the next night to reach 200 more people.
Prolific content creators understand the wasteful nature of single-use content. Soon they will tire of spending an hour on CH sharing their learnings with 200 people, only to have to do the same thing the next night to reach 200 more people.
The Verdict:
CH just doesnât solve its users' problems well.
Will it still probably be hugely successful?
Sure, but it will not be because it provided the best public party line and radio show platform.
Instead, it will be because CH did an incredible job building hype.
CH just doesnât solve its users' problems well.
Will it still probably be hugely successful?
Sure, but it will not be because it provided the best public party line and radio show platform.
Instead, it will be because CH did an incredible job building hype.
Still, I remain hopeful that CH's problems and Capiche FM and Twitter Spacesâ corresponding advantages will eventually become clear enough that CH users will see the light and make their way over to platforms designed to provide high-quality solutions to their problems.
Ultimately, Clubhouse encumbers creators, while Capiche FM empowers them.
I'm a huge fan of what @awwstn and co are doing, and I'm actually starting a show on Capiche!
Subscribe here and get a text when we go live https://capiche.fm/startupsalad/
I'm a huge fan of what @awwstn and co are doing, and I'm actually starting a show on Capiche!
Subscribe here and get a text when we go live https://capiche.fm/startupsalad/
Finally, if you liked this, please check out my full essay on my substack Startup Salad 
. https://startupsalad.substack.com/p/-the-bear-case-for-clubhouse-
. https://startupsalad.substack.com/p/-the-bear-case-for-clubhouse-
I also record an audio version so you can listen while you walk, work, drive, etc.
https://open.spotify.com/episode/6USrn3vgbWpd2gRYQszaFF?si=ivx6M0SvSe6zzvegmT3Efg
https://open.spotify.com/episode/6USrn3vgbWpd2gRYQszaFF?si=ivx6M0SvSe6zzvegmT3Efg
If you want to team up on writing something, slide in my DM's. Let's chat
