Four people, three cameras, two microphones and one soundboard. There wasn’t room for much else in Boothbay Region TV’s upstairs office as the crew filmed the third episode of its new program, “The Sound Booth,” showcasing original music from Maine performers. 

Styled after NPR’s intimate, stripped-down “Tiny Desk Concerts,” the show’s orchestrators were BRTV’s Robert Jordan and award-winning singer-songwriter John Schindler. Schindler explained that, while there are places artists can perform in town, they usually stick to crowd-pleasing cover songs, so "The Sound Booth" aims to be that avenue for original work.  

“(Audiences) don't realize that all those cover songs that they've listened to started the same way these songwriters write.” 

The morning of Sept. 23 was a double-filming day. First was recently retired Boothbay Region High School teacher Chip Schwehm. Schwehm described his style as a mix of country, blues, folk, and rock influences, but he doesn’t assign a strict label to it. With acoustic guitar in hand and brown Converse tapping away on an accompanying footboard, he played “Dead River Running,” “Going,” “Lord, I Pray I Never Find You" and “In or Out.”  

As for the songs’ meanings, Schwehm prefers to leave it up to listeners. Audiences can form their interpretations when Schwehm’s episode drops in November.  

 With a long list of performers who have already agreed to appear, the goal is to release a new episode monthly. Schindler hopes the program will be a stepping stone as artists explore performing and promoting their creations. Schindler has found such success, playing original concerts across the United States and recently in Dublin. But unlike live performances, "The Sound Booth" provides space to mess up, try again and get more comfortable.  

“It gives them the opportunity to give the best version of their song too, which is good.”  

The first episode, featuring Schindler, is out now.