Songcrafters.org

I've been doing a thing I call Blackout Bumping. You've probably seen it. Maybe you find it annoying. It doesn't mean that I'm bumping songs while blackout drunk. Rather, it's born out of a feeling that I've neglected and missed out on this community from time to time – not just the songs, but the community. Over the past 14 years, 7 months, and 29 days since I registered on this site, I've dropped off, several times, for months on end – one of my gaps was almost two years.

I did a spreadsheet, one row for every week within these long gaps. I sorted the rows randomly, and I find (at least) one song posted for each of these blackout weeks, and I bump the song – with some (hopefully) substantive comments.

I'm like a lost relative who drops in and wants to look at the photos on your wall and show you his tattoos – as though that makes up not being there for you.

Life happens. But nonetheless, I regret not being much more musically productive over these years, and not being a more supportive member of this special community. This is the only online community in my life that really feels like community to me. (I've still never met any of you in real life. I used to live in the same state as Satchwood, but that never happened.) And I've pretty much lost interest in posting my music anywhere else.

In spite of several long gaps, I have obliquely journaled many of my life events here – and nowhere else but here. A marriage. A divorce.  Deaths in my family. Life in Arizona. A new life in Madagascar. A second marriage.

I just turned 60 earlier this year. I still feel like I have a lot to say with music. I better start saying it.

Many times I've tried to come up with a formula for how to produce more music: Less perfectionism, limit the number of takes, limit the number of tracks, commit to a minimum time for music every day (or week). Nothing sticks. Now, I feel like I'm onto something this time. We'll see.

Me here with my 3000th post, and with my big gaps in activity, I wonder if I'm as obscure and unknown to the newer regulars as flyon90 is to me. (Nothing personal, flyon90, I picked you out of the Member List at random from among other lackluster community members. Your songs are great. Not that you'll ever read this post.)

Of the top 15 posters on this site (listed on the home page), only Oldrottenhead and 64Guitars have been here longer than I have. I see bruno on that list, and I think, "Ah, yeah, that new kid from 2012... Pfft." The internal dialog continues, "Your seniority don't mean shit! Bruno is relevant to this community. Are you?"



Flash Harry's post "one last message (https://songcrafters.org/forum/index.php?topic=28543)," is a long thread with many members saying what this site has meant to them. You should read it, if you haven't.

So anyway... I'm just very appreciative that this site is still here. Not monetized, not optimized, not commercialized, no advertisements, no "like" button. And I want you all – the members who consistently show up, comment, and post your music  – to know that I appreciate this community. A special mention to the admins – who do more than we know to keep the community in its special social, technical, and musical equilibrium.

When I started doing my Blackout Bumps, I noticed that my posts lingered on the top of the boards for days. That worried me. Am I one of the only people still here? And am I being a pest?


So I did another spreadsheet, analyzing all of the song posts since the site was launched (in the Bossbr.net days). These aren't "official" stats, but I'm pretty sure that the trends are accurate. This was another wake-up call, helping me realize how special this community is. Someone running this site for money would have shut it down in 2019, if not earlier.

But the trend is upward now. We will probably never hit the previous highs again, but I've resolved to listen, comment, and post like it's 2011. I mean it this time.

More music! Fewer spreadsheets!

Thank you!

---

EDIT: I did another analysis (God help me) and realized that my gaps weren't as long as I originally believed. It's true that I went almost two years once without posting a song, but the longest I ever went without posting a topic or a reply was about 200 days. Nonetheless, mining those big gaps between posting songs is proving to be really fun, and I'm getting to know some of the people on this site much better. I've decided to keep doing the blackout bumps until my 15-year anniversary on this site – even if I haven't visited every week of every blackout. It's coming up.

Crikey you are doing a lot of thinking and analysing. No one minds that you drop out for a bit and then come back when you want - life gets in the way - be gentle with yourself.

I love that this is a love letter to the site. I still miss loads of members music some non-active at present and some have sadly passed.

This is a precious oasis of special and I for one thank all the members for giving whatever they can whenever they can and yes, special thanks to the admin too for holding everything together.

Let's all party like it's 2011 😀

Glad you edited the post because of the granma. Songcrafters is special and Ted is the intergalactic superhero!

(This escalated fast, but did you really expect less from me? :D).

You/we come and go. That's the name of the show. Or should be. Like Hilary said - be gentle with yourself! (within limits).

Although i think Hilary should post more songs... And Ted yes... More songs!

It's almost impossible for me to pass by something like this and not say something.  I have said this in more than a few comments: this site is very important to me.  All I really wanted was to find a place to post a few songs where I could actually interact with people.  I had no idea how this site would radically change my music life a bit over 2 years ago when I found it randomly doing a search about the BR1600 hard drive problem I was having.
Its really cool to have actually collaborated with some great musicians, singers, recording enthusiasts from various places around the globe.  The thing here that works for me is that it is a small site.  I don't care about it being outdated or whatever that matters not to me.  Actually, I am kind of that way myself now!
I doubt many know how much I have learned by being on this site.  Mostly just how to improve musically and recording wise.  It is inspiring to be part of your songs.  It feels like an honor to get private hearings of some of the great songs of this planet that are produced by you. 
I have a special place in my heart for this site and all of you who take the time to interact with me.  It's special and I treasure it! 

bump away Ted.  I enjoy hearing many of them.  Oh, so many songs.... so little time...whats a person to do?

I might  add that lately the more I think about this site and what it is and all the great music it kind of makes me think about what I am posting..... as in is this good enough to add something to this site?  I try not to judge to much but really!

Quote from: StephenM on October 14, 2022, 05:15:04 AM...lately the more I think about this site and what it is and all the great music it kind of makes me think about what I am posting..... as in is this good enough to add something to this site?

I've become the opposite: I try to not think about "not good enough." I like that I can replace the song with an updated version later if I discover I'm unable to live with the original version being out there. It's kind of an underappreciated feature of this site. Imagine the stress of uploading a song, and the only way to replace it was to delete the entire topic? That would be so bad, it would be like YouTube.

(I'm actually planning on repairing one of my recent songs this weekend.)

WARNING: Looooong post + some info in this is relevant to questions raised in 'NiteFill 2015', in the songs thread. So, one of the most depressing pieces of news - music wise - that I've read in the last couple of years is that approx 20,000 songs a day are uploaded to Spotify and the like - this number is very likely to be out-of-date by now. Now I'm not criticising the people who can get infinite joy from the writing, arranging, playing and producing individual songs to upload - it's just the sheer volume that makes me shudder. I'll explain my misgivings. Before I found Songcrafters I was a member of a couple of music forums (Jeeze, and on one there was an endless debate about whether it should be Forums or Fora - and it turned out that not one of the people taking part in this pointless argument had ever attended a Latin lesson at school/college in their lives - make some music already!) Anyway, the point here is that on these music forums, literally every other post was along the lines of: Hear My Beats/Where Can I Sell My Beats/ Newbie Beat Maker Seeks Audience/Beats For Sale and on and on and on. Only once did I click on a 'Beats' post, and was subjected to the most turgid drivel imaginable  - which still gives me nightmares. Simply put: some half-wit has got hold of a drum machine and/or synth and recorded an 8 bar pattern for 4 minutes - they then want you to pay for it. Huh? It was like one of those Pyramid schemes - Yeah, you too can make a thou £/$  month selling 'Beats' - send me a 100 bucks and I'll tell you how. So, in the middle of this madness I acquired a BR900CD, and on searching the .www came across 64Gtrs Boss Recorders site (Apologies 64Gtrs I'm unsure of what it was actually called now), anyway that led to the Nirvana that is now Songcrafters, whose ethos from day one seemed to be: Encourage not Criticise. I don't know who formulated this policy, - was it just organic? - but it was the freshest air I'd ever taken on the Interweb. My first encounter on SC was with the Reverend48, who sadly passed away a couple of years ago, and he encouraged me to upload a noodle called 'One Minute Blues', that I'd recorded. With little me not knowing that The Rev was teaching people Online how to play Blues Guitar! He said he loved my blues noodling and to record and upload more. Jeeze, to paraphrase Alice Cooper, all I'd ever heard before was Turn that damned thing down!!
So at around this time I was burgled, actually for the umpteenth time, and was wiped out musically: Gtrs, Amps, Pedals etc all gone. Fortunately for me, on the night it happened I was elsewhere with my BR900CD recording a folk trio. I used to attend this Folk Club - a room above a local pub - and I asked the Committee - Beardy Bob with the check shirt - could I hone my very primitive production techniques by recording a few songs - the Committee said yes. Coincidently, one of trio was the grandson of Rob who used to run a Youth Club in the village in the 1960s, and it was he that introduced myself and other 14yrs old to Pete Seeger, Simon & Garfunkel, Euan McColl and others - he brought the LP Sounds of Silence in to play and my life was never the same again. Rob also played guitar and sang folk songs, and by the time he got to the last verse of 'The Bleacher Lassie o' Kelvinhaugh', he had a Youth Club full of kids with tears in their eyes.
And so it was that I had to start again, again. (Don't forget this was the 4th time I'd been burgled. The good news is that I moved from that gaff some time afterwards and have been happy and un-burgled since). All my musical instruments could now fit in one hand - the BR900CD. So by a couple of paydays later - prob 3months - I was having withdrawal symptoms and my Other Half had noticed that my fingertips were becoming soft (ahem!). Anyway, it was down to my local music shop and I purchased a Strat copy that was On Sale, down from £117 to £99 - which was stolen in the next burglary!! Though in between those two events I plugged the guitar in to the BR900 and recorded 'NiteFill'. As I stated over on the songs thread, apart from the drum loop all the sounds are from the one guitar, including Bass. Have to say that the effects on these machines are incredible, and a little while later I purchased the BR1200 which I still have and which still works, though since I've been noodling again through this first part of retirement, I've noticed that some of the buttons are becoming unreliable/sticky. But what of Songcrafters? I've checked, and apparently I've been a Member since June 2009, though I freely admit that I've done much more lurking than being involved. But in all that time I've not considered joining anywhere else to post music - I'm on Soundcloud but I don't think I've any songs uploaded there. Nope, Songcrafters does the deed for me, and one of the best pieces of news - music wise - that I've read recently was Ted's demolition of anyone thinking that SC is the pathway for ego-boosting yer crib on the 'Bumping' thread. Well done, sir. So that's it, quite simply I've never been involved with any music site where the generosity of spirit and encouragement are so prevailing from fellow Members - and not forgetting the Admin team who do so much that we never hear about. Yep, Ted et al, a Love Letter indeed to Songcrafters. Long may it last.

Songcrafters is, by my point of view, a sort of a miracle. A group of people who meet and share the meaning of words like *respect*, *encouragement*, *support*, without any other *parallel reason* ($$$). Nothing like SC in the Internet, as far as I know, if we talk about making music. Other places, even if no money is involved, are full of people who just  want to show to be *better than*, both in making music and in technical and critic knowledge. I've been here since 2010, and believe me, every visit here (almost daily...) is a pleasure, even if I do not comment so much...it's like a walk to the local pub, where I'm sure I'll meet again my good old friends. Very important.

I feel compelled to mention that I'm not wearing any underwear.

I stumbled upon this post this morning and this wonderful letter from Ted, and your responses

I was introduced in 2015 by Alfredo because I think we had a common interest in Band in a Box, I can never thank him enough

The Sogcrafters.org community (I say community) is in my opinion unique on the net

I regret that it is not more universal ... I think I'm currently the only active French-speaking member (in 2015 when I arrived, there was Daniel de Sete and Steelguitar, the oldest must remember. Unfortunately, like many members they are currently in desertion and it has something frustrating to lose the contact as held it with these people who are absent from SC, we do not know why, or how... are they in diffculty of health, family, professional, or suddenly disinterested?..we do not know

As you know, I only understand English with difficulty, I have to use a translator and the mistakes in translation, the false friends, the nonsense have certainly caused me problems of misunderstanding with some people.

My taste for music is above all musical, the lyrics of the songs come second, I'm unable to compose anything which explains why I don't go to the original song section as much.

One of the particularities that I appreciate the most on SC is the possibility to collaborate with you, I'm very proud of my series "Containement Musical Workshop" in which I collaborated with 26 of you, I must forget some...)

It is the occasion to thank again and again the administrators of the site Oldrottenhead and 64Guitar

and as the quote I chose from Bilbo's speech in the Lord of the Rings says in my signature
I don't know half of you half as well as I should like, and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve.
;)

Quote from: Jean Pierre on October 15, 2022, 12:54:52 AMthe false friends

For those of you who don't speak French, JP doesn't mean "false friends" the way we mean it in English – a duplicitous person who pretends to be your friend. In French, faux amis (false friends) are "false cognates" – words or terms that are similar in both languages, but don't mean the same thing in both languages. These can lead to misunderstandings.

• compréhensif means "understanding" (and complet means "comprehensive")
  
• éventuellement means "possibility" (and finalement means "eventually")
  
• une location means "a rental: (and un lieu means "a location")
  
• sensible means "sensitive" (and raisonnable means "sensible")
  
• commander means "to order" (and ordonner means "to command")
  

It says a lot that JP is willing to make the extra effort to push through the language barrier in order to be part of this community. I speak French okay, but I don't participate in any francophone online communities. It would have to be a pretty damn good community before I would commit the additional cognitive load required to interact within it.

Quote from: SteveB on October 14, 2022, 11:37:28 AMquite simply I've never been involved with any music site where the generosity of spirit and encouragement are so prevailing from fellow Members

That summarizes a whole lot of words. Well said.

Quote from: Blooby on October 14, 2022, 08:20:14 PMI'm not wearing any underwear

As a matter of course, Commando Blooby.

Quote from: Blooby on October 14, 2022, 08:20:14 PMI feel compelled to mention that I'm not wearing any underwear.

We do believe! No need to send any photo, please!  ;D

Alfredo

QuoteFor those of you who don't speak French, JP doesn't mean "false friends" the way we mean it in English – a duplicitous person who pretends to be your friend. In French, faux amis (false friends) are "false cognates" – words or terms that are similar in both languages, but don't mean the same thing in both languages. These can lead to misunderstandings.

compréhensif means "understanding" (and complet means "comprehensive")
éventuellement means "possibility" (and finalement means "eventually")
une location means "a rental: (and un lieu means "a location")
sensible means "sensitive" (and raisonnable means "sensible")
commander means "to order" (and ordonner means "to command")

excellente rectification!, merci Ted

Where to start. Life is difficult, I think most of us can agree. All of us go through periods where life is good and also times when it's not so easy. The thing about Songcrafters is it's always there in the background, a place to check in whether feeling good or bad. But especially when life is throwing it's shit at you it has a special importance I think. You can be sure of finding that strong encouraging spirit. The lack of pretentious, glory seeking, me first, wannabe pop stars is gloriously absent. That in itself leads one to feel a little better. On top of that you get to hear some shit hot music from criminally underappreciated folk from around the world, and follow their musical journeys. Thank the Lord for Songcrafters.

Mike

What can I say I agree with you all, now it's about 10 years (i'm a kid lol) I'm here and there's nothing like this place over the internet. Full of friends and great songwriting, and a real communitiy. As a community, I lately tought, we together enjoy period of greatness and 'lowness', as the statistcs from ted show. We go away for a while or be less active, then we come back, and always there's a warm welcome - this I've learned, nothing to be ashamed of. In the end, some of the most amazing songs ever, I've listened here, from you, and I'm quite picky lol. In this place, we, together, experiment very a lot without any fear - that's cool and a rare find ! So I appreciate that Ted took a pen and wrote a love letter to just say what we all needed to be said. Thank you Ted ;-) . p.s. Hilary I miss you songs, what the heck write 'em down some lol!

I also agree with all the sentiments here, Songcrafters is the friendliest, most positive place on the internet. Being a part of this community for over a decade now has been quite important to me for those reasons. I've lurked a few other recording sites and they can just be shitty mean for no reason. Music is so many different things to everybody at every stage of life/development/skill level (etc.) and I have always loved how SC embraces everyone who records themselves and wants to participate. I have learned an amazing amount of knowledge concerning recording, producing, songwriting, playing & performing from my fellow members, who have so graciously shared their talents, skills and knowledge with me. I've gotten to collaborate w/ musicians all over the world, I have a song somewhere that has 6 different flags flying on it. I've made amazing friendships, mine and Bruno's families have spent much time together and I have spent time with Blooby & Lurker. Launched and I spent a weekend holed up in a cabin writing, recoding, drinking & laughing. A short time later he & I both would, literally, travel the globe to meet friends that 10 years ago I would have said I never would meet. Weirdly, we have chronicled each others journeys here and sadly we have lost a few friends. Personally, Facemask & Tommy's passing were both hard for me, I cared for them both & I often worry about some members that have disappeared. That also just shows the strength of the community we have here...I think.
My family used to give me alot of shit for all the time I spent here but even they have learned to appreciate what it's given me and surprisingly them too. I will never forget my family, Bruno's family, Blooby and Lurker all sitting around tables at Tampa Bay Brewing Company laughing. The four of us performing  songs Bruno & I wrote 1000's of miles apart, together at The Bunker for my family, bruno's family...good memories.
Thanks for the thread Ted.
Rock on!

Thanks for your post, I enjoyed reading it. This place sure is special, I agree! I do not use any other form of "social media" - I guess this is my one exception, sort of! I have of course noticed previously that you said you moved from Arizona to Madagascar. I have wondered, since that seems like an unusual move, if you have explained that in any other posts (that I may have missed)?  Is this a job related thing, like are you the VP of the Madagascar branch of Starbucks? ;D Or do you teach English at the University of Madagascar or something? ;D Or it is just an adventure?

Quote from: des0free on October 20, 2022, 08:04:27 PMI have wondered, since that seems like an unusual move, if you have explained that in any other posts (that I may have missed)?  Is this a job related thing, like are you the VP of the Madagascar branch of Starbucks? ;D Or do you teach English at the University of Madagascar or something? ;D Or it is just an adventure?

No, I never explicitly explained how and why I ended up in Madagascar. I "obliquely journaled" these changes – my songs and comments tell the story indirectly. I'm not trying to be mysterious, so here's the short version: I had experience working in international development and living in Africa a long time ago – and I really liked it. When my first marriage unraveled, I decided to return to Africa. I found an opportunity in Madagascar, and here I still am after eight years – and remarried.

What an excellent post

Out of this little site many friendships have formed.
It's a powerful place .
Many great songs have been posted.
Pedro created something special.

Quote from: Ted on October 20, 2022, 11:21:26 PM

Quote from: des0free on October 20, 2022, 08:04:27 PMI have wondered, since that seems like an unusual move, if you have explained that in any other posts (that I may have missed)?  Is this a job related thing, like are you the VP of the Madagascar branch of Starbucks? ;D Or do you teach English at the University of Madagascar or something? ;D Or it is just an adventure?

No, I never explicitly explained how and why I ended up in Madagascar. I "obliquely journaled" these changes – my songs and comments tell the story indirectly. I'm not trying to be mysterious, so here's the short version: I had experience working in international development and living in Africa a long time ago – and I really liked it. When my first marriage unraveled, I decided to return to Africa. I found an opportunity in Madagascar, and here I still am after eight years – and remarried.

You confirm what my father often told me, many, many years ago, about the "sickness of Africa": after you live for some time in Africa, you cannot do without it, there's a powerful wish to return. Common experience to many other people (friends, patients) too.

Alfredo

Yes, this site is Fantastic .. there are so many wonderful people on this site ..
I don't think that I would be playing/making music if this site did not exist.
It's wonderful to be able to listen to the great music/songs created here and be able to share our own songs also .. Keep up the great work ..

Quote from: Hook on October 16, 2022, 07:10:52 AMI also agree with all the sentiments here, Songcrafters is the friendliest, most positive place on the internet. Being a part of this community for over a decade now has been quite important to me for those reasons. I've lurked a few other recording sites and they can just be shitty mean for no reason. Music is so many different things to everybody at every stage of life/development/skill level (etc.) and I have always loved how SC embraces everyone who records themselves and wants to participate. I have learned an amazing amount of knowledge concerning recording, producing, songwriting, playing & performing from my fellow members, who have so graciously shared their talents, skills and knowledge with me. I've gotten to collaborate w/ musicians all over the world, I have a song somewhere that has 6 different flags flying on it. I've made amazing friendships, mine and Bruno's families have spent much time together and I have spent time with Blooby & Lurker. Launched and I spent a weekend holed up in a cabin writing, recoding, drinking & laughing. A short time later he & I both would, literally, travel the globe to meet friends that 10 years ago I would have said I never would meet. Weirdly, we have chronicled each others journeys here and sadly we have lost a few friends. Personally, Facemask & Tommy's passing were both hard for me, I cared for them both & I often worry about some members that have disappeared. That also just shows the strength of the community we have here...I think.
My family used to give me alot of shit for all the time I spent here but even they have learned to appreciate what it's given me and surprisingly them too. I will never forget my family, Bruno's family, Blooby and Lurker all sitting around tables at Tampa Bay Brewing Company laughing. The four of us performing  songs Bruno & I wrote 1000's of miles apart, together at The Bunker for my family, bruno's family...good memories.
Thanks for the thread Ted.
Rock on!

That's the truth brother. Playing in the car park in a warm summer evening in YBor city with you, Blooby and Lurker is one of 'those' moments in life - that is one of those memories that wont be forgot. Meeting Hook for the first time felt natural and like we'd known each other for years. The families are great friends and it is a connection that is simply magical. I thank SC for those experiences. There will be arguments and hissy-fits every now and then, but the connections run deep. We all take a break now and then - but home is where the heart is!
B

This is something I'm glad I didn't miss, thanks Ted. Three Mets and even had some of them streamed on video for me. I was the one that got the "Mariah Fookin' Cary" personally, and that was a moment so priceless I'm not sure I'll get another one like it. A few men that I am very fond of holed up in a cabin making music brought out awesome personality! I think Something Silent (One of the most covered and awesome tunes here) was in that session.

And then tumbleweeds... People just go their separate ways. It's weird how it happens but nice to know you can just pick it back up when you can. I hope everyone knows that. We are all friends here.

And yes, George W. Bush gave me a noogie Ted.

Quote from: launched on December 30, 2022, 10:34:24 AMAnd yes, George W. Bush gave me a noogie Ted.

When is the book (https://songcrafters.org/forum/index.php?msg=25491) coming out?

(Thanks for the blast from the past.)

"I've never been to Manhattan", maybe that should be the title now. Yes, I've driven through the Bronx like all New Englanders do but never dipped in there. See Times Square and watch the ball drop, go to Katz's deli. Aimlessly walk down the sidewalks with a 100% chance of knowing I'll get mugged. Buy Yankees tickets from a scalper, I don't know. What else can you do in Manhattan. I've been everywhere else except LA but that place does not enchant me one bit.

And then the noogie, it would get fit in somewhere.

A coauthor would be necessary I think though.

Quote from: Hook on October 16, 2022, 07:10:52 AMI also agree with all the sentiments here, Songcrafters is the friendliest, most positive place on the internet. Being a part of this community for over a decade now has been quite important to me for those reasons. I've lurked a few other recording sites and they can just be shitty mean for no reason. Music is so many different things to everybody at every stage of life/development/skill level (etc.) and I have always loved how SC embraces everyone who records themselves and wants to participate. I have learned an amazing amount of knowledge concerning recording, producing, songwriting, playing & performing from my fellow members, who have so graciously shared their talents, skills and knowledge with me. I've gotten to collaborate w/ musicians all over the world, I have a song somewhere that has 6 different flags flying on it. I've made amazing friendships, mine and Bruno's families have spent much time together and I have spent time with Blooby & Lurker. Launched and I spent a weekend holed up in a cabin writing, recoding, drinking & laughing. A short time later he & I both would, literally, travel the globe to meet friends that 10 years ago I would have said I never would meet. Weirdly, we have chronicled each others journeys here and sadly we have lost a few friends. Personally, Facemask & Tommy's passing were both hard for me, I cared for them both & I often worry about some members that have disappeared. That also just shows the strength of the community we have here...I think.
My family used to give me alot of shit for all the time I spent here but even they have learned to appreciate what it's given me and surprisingly them too. I will never forget my family, Bruno's family, Blooby and Lurker all sitting around tables at Tampa Bay Brewing Company laughing. The four of us performing  songs Bruno & I wrote 1000's of miles apart, together at The Bunker for my family, bruno's family...good memories.
Thanks for the thread Ted.
Rock on!

I obviously have to quote this personally. Absolutely in your musical debt Hook.

Ted,
thanks for sharing more about how you made it to Africa.  You are an adventurous person and I am glad to hear how you got to start your life over again there.  I enjoy reading about any of your exploits that you have shared... I think it takes quite a bit of courage to just drop the world you know and go across the globe to stay.  My oldest son lived in Dubai with his wife and kids for 5 years. 

Songcrafters as a site is a balm to my soul.  I also have read enough posts from current time to all the way back to the start of this site to know that it has been an oasis for many  through the years.  In a way it's like a radio station where artists can drop their music off and get the station to play it for them.  That is quite nice.  I also think of it as a really nice small town with quite a few houses and folks who scurry here and there.  I suppose in a way  it is like any other town.  Some move in and some move out.  etc.. but it's a nice town.

I'll not be able to conjure up the feels of the OP (and many of the comments) but I did want to chime in and add a thank you. I've been missing in action more than most but I do check in from time to time. Typically I spend a few weeks posting and sharing and then I'll be gone again on some new adventure. I'm happy to say that I still write a ton of songs and that's in part to the encouragement I received here doing my a song a week self challenge in 2010. I purposely don't post a lot of songs here because I don't spend the required time to comment on all the cool songs that deserve it so I feel it isn't fair. And I promise to give more song comments than I receive. After a discussion from years ago, I figure that's the least I can do when y'all welcome me back with open arms whenever I happen to come back around.

I wasn't going to mention it but might as well share, I'm a college student (again.) After a couple of decades away I'm finishing my Bachelor of Arts in English (with an emphasis in poetry) and will graduate this May. I also have several albums planned to release in the next year or so (but that'll depend on how busy I am with classes while working my normal 40+ a week.) So I'm trying to do some commenting in the winter break as I will definitely be AWOL (again) soon. This community is quite literally one of the few bastions of encouragement and kindness on the internet. Thank you for being you. (And a special thank you to all the moderators for taking over the site and making it the best.)

Oh hi, I'm back after just such a little gap.

I have a bucket of song ideas rattling around in my head, and a notebook full of lyrics.

Finger paints out, let's make a mess!

[Warren]

I tell ya! The Blackout Bumping Business ain't as easy as it looks.

Because my method is to choose a random week from the past when I was AWOL, it's no surprise that certain members come up more often than others. The more prolific and consistent a member is, the more often they come up. So I end up skipping over Oldrottenhead, The Gobi Desert Canoe Club, Hook, and ODH to try and get to know some of our less prolific members. And I usually skip over members who are long gone, giving preference to people who are still active – because, you know, community. Sometimes I say fuck it and go to the next random week. And sometimes I have to try two or three random weeks until I find a song to bump. It's not an exact science.


You might say, Then stop for God's sake!

NO!

It's worth it! (he cries, a bit unhinged). I'm getting to know some members I've neglected over the last 14 years, 10 months, 23 days.

I'm also learning that some members I think I know well aren't as prolific as I imagined they are. Such as Geir. What a slacker.

Only 38 days until my 15-year anniversary on this site.

What a great job...respect

Quote from: Ted on January 20, 2023, 12:51:21 AMI tell ya! The Blackout Bumping Business ain't as easy as it looks.

Because my method is to choose a random week from the past when I was AWOL, it's no surprise that certain members come up more often than others. The more prolific and consistent a member is, the more often they come up. So I end up skipping over Oldrottenhead, The Gobi Desert Canoe Club, Hook, and ODH to try and get to know some of our less prolific members. And I usually skip over members who are long gone, giving preference to people who are still active – because, you know, community. Sometimes I say fuck it and go to the next random week. And sometimes I have to try two or three random weeks until I find a song to bump. It's not an exact science.

Songcrafters_Song_Posts_-_Analysis_-_Blackout_Bumps_-_Google_Sheets.jpg
Blackout Bumps by Member Snapshot Jan 20, 2023

You might say, Then stop for God's sake!

NO!

It's worth it! (he cries, a bit unhinged). I'm getting to know some members I've neglected over the last 14 years, 10 months, 23 days.

I'm also learning that some members I think I know well aren't as prolific as I imagined they are. Such as Geir. What a slacker.

Only 38 days until my 15-year anniversary on this site.

you are making me laugh Ted... you have a geek inside you.  I like that...
plus the fact that community matters! 
I think your bumps do get people more involved, sometimes even ones that haven't been active in a long time.  I notice!

Quote from: WarpCanada on January 17, 2023, 08:51:11 PMOh hi, I'm back after just such a little gap.

I have a bucket of song ideas rattling around in my head, and a notebook full of lyrics.

Finger paints out, let's make a mess!

[Warren]

Can't wait to hear some of them Warren.  You write and record some amazing songs plus your recordings have made some incredible strides technically. 

Since this is a love letter I will pile on...

sending out love and peace to all SC!  Everywhere you are!  Right now I am listening to the great list that exists today, the latest jukebox... and to hear the great music that flows here is so inspiring and so beautiful...
thank you from the bottom of my heart to all of you here on SC!  I love you all! 
Stephen

Today is my 15-year anniversary on Songcrafters. If this were a marriage, I'd get a gift made of crystal. Instead, I think I'll have a shot of Malagasy moonshine, inspired by my 155th Blackout Bump (https://songcrafters.org/forum/index.php?topic=14936.0).


Blackout Bumping got complicated.

It started out as a simple algorithm: I would pick a "blackout week" at random, then look at the songs posted during that week, and then listen to a gem or two that I had missed out on over the past 15 years.

But then it turned into, "Damn it! Not you again, The Gobi Desert Canoe Club! Don't get me wrong, you're wonderful, but I'm trying to get to know more of the members." or "Aaagh! The dreaded No MP3 Error Message!" or "Nope. That user hasn't been active for five years," or "That user hasn't been active for two years, so I'll send them a message." or "I would want to bump the song,  but they don't seem to be a fan of blackout bumps, so I won't risk annoying them."

Then life and work got much busier in recent weeks, and I skipped a day or two. All of my available time for playing music has been consumed in learning cover songs for the band I'm in. And then I found I had stopped listening to the newly posted songs; stopped saying Happy Birthday. The self-imposed priority to blackout bump became a new kind of blackout – a different kind of neglecting the community.

It was a worthwhile exercise. If nothing else, I really learned to game the SMF search function. That'll look good on my resumé. Seriously, I got to know the styles and vibe of some of my fellow members who I had previously not given a fair hearing. I think some people got to know me better.

If anyone is interested, I blackout bumped 155 songs in 161 days. There were 192 "blackout weeks" I did not visit.

So what now? I'm going to get a bit caught up on the Latest Song jukebox, then I'll try to hit the On This Day jukebox a few times per week – as we all should do. There is still a wealth of music on this site to be discovered.

Gotta make some new music too.

Happy anniversary Ted!

Quote from: Ted on February 27, 2023, 01:29:07 AMSo what now: I'm going to get a bit caught up on the Latest Song jukebox, then I'll try to hit the On This Day jukebox a few times per week – as we all should do. There is still a wealth of music on this site to be discovered.

Gotta make some new music too.

thank you for your dedicated service on this blackout bump campaign ...it brought up some great music for consideration from the depths of this community ......I like the sound of your new mission here.........there has been some dynamite songs posted in recent weeks waiting for your snappy and heartfelt feedback.........

Happy Anniversary Tedly - May you have many more years here!

Quote from: launched on February 27, 2023, 08:51:31 AMHappy Anniversary Tedly - May you have many more years here!

;D