Posting habits versus reviewing

[bruno]

Why don't you ask to be on the Admin Bruno - then you can try to affect change from within.

BTW if everyone commented 3 times a day, the boards would be in chaos and I actually think that by setting yourself an arbitrary target it actually devalues the comments you do make (people might think you are just commenting to get your quota up).

People drift off, that's life. People are out enjoying the summer, that's life. People come back if they want to, that's life too.

Was think 3 reviews for every song that you post - 3 a day is quite tough, and you soon find that you've listened to and commented on everything :-)

Being an another admin - assuming that they need one requires a level of effort which would be difficult for me at the moment. I would certainly offer my time if I wasn't working (but I am) - probably for technical stuff, I've been programming for more years that I'd care to admit - dealing with people is far, far harder :-) Plus I'm not sure that my views would align, you and I clearly differ in opinion about this site, but that's cool. Clearly the site has lasted for a long time without me poking my oar in :-) C'est la vie!
B

[Hook]

 Bruno, you and I are a lot alike, as we both know, and this place has become very important to us as artists, producers & music lovers. I think we both become very protective of this site. After all it has brought us together both musically and physically over 1000's of miles and huge oceans. For that alone (and there are so many other relationships/friendships I have developed here) I am grateful and protective of where my wife says I live my other life.
 In 2009 I was taking my entertainment career in a more musical direction and I posted 2 songs. I had been communicating with many members already through an old yahoo group for boss recorders and that had been extremely helpful in my learning how to produce music. 64 encouraged me to join songcrafters (still solely a boss oriented site) and I received excellent comments on my 2 songs but realized then I would have to reciprocate and that this was not a place to build a fan base or a career. I stopped posting and did not return until 2011, it just wasn't for me at the time. At some point over that time frame they changed the look of the site and opened it up to all home-recorders (stand alone & daw) and the flood gates opened. I imagine some of those core members might regret that decision but it did bring some fine musicians into our little fold.
 The problem is that most musicians are very self absorbed ( I am) and see this as an extension of social media, fan building, etc. That is not at all, nor was it ever the intention of songcrafters. This is a forum, not a website and a forum only thrives on involvement. I still do believe this is a much more active forum than many others. I have recently joined http://www.videoforums.co.uk/ which has been very helpful as I try my hand at video production. They are very quick to call out selfish, non-participatory posting (which I  like) & there activity is much much less than songcrafters. So I don't feel songcrafters is in any danger, there are slow times and busy times every year, we all have life that get's in our way.
 To me this is all a matter of "Do onto others as you would have done to yourself". No one here posts a song without the hopes of plays & comments. Some want honest feedback, some want encouragement & some want fans. Regardless, if you expect comments ( and our core group here love to comment) you should spend time listening and commenting on others. The approach of songcrafters has always been positivity ( not very common on the web) and that I believe is what makes this place special and quite valuable, to me at least, hence the protectiveness. 
 I'm not a fan of quotas but I do have my own, at least 2 comments on others songs for every song I post; but that's just me.

Hilary, your right ignoring is the best way to deal but it does not always work. There is absolutely nothing wrong with active members encouraging others to participate, without participation you don't have a forum, you have a website. Get your own website and facebook if your so self absorbed that you can't bother participating, songcrafters is not for you (not you Hilary, you have always been active and generous in your listening and posting!). It always makes me laugh (cynically) that a lot of the members that are clearly here for a "Fan Base" are very quick to log on and thank each and every comment that is left on their post (often with individual replies just saying "Thanks", "Cheers" or other nonsense. You can call it being kind but that is bull sh&*, your bumping yourself in hopes of other comments & trying to raise your view and play numbers. I'm very well aware of the importance of views & plays in the industry and that crap doesn't belong here! We share, listen, comment, encourage, teach and learn here. This is not a place to help you become famous but through participation you might just find you get better.

Why don't you ask to be on the Admin Bruno - then you can try to affect change from within.

BTW if everyone commented 3 times a day, the boards would be in chaos and I actually think that by setting yourself an arbitrary target it actually devalues the comments you do make (people might think you are just commenting to get your quota up).

People drift off, that's life. People are out enjoying the summer, that's life. People come back if they want to, that's life too.

We have an excellent team of admistrators that all have the same opinion that is mostly expressed in this thread, so no offense bruno but right now I don't see a need for another administrator but in the future should a spot open and need to be filled you have my vote.
As far as to many posts creating chaos (no offense intended) but that sounds absurd to me. This is a forum and needs involvement, not selfish apathy.

 I do apologies if I offend any other members but this isn't rocket science... it's a forum! 
Rock On!

[Blooby]

This is not a place to help you become famous

I have been sorely misled.  What of all the spandex we have collectively purchased for the inevitable Songcrafters tour?

Each time a (seemingly annual) post like this comes up, it's a good thing in that it makes us examine our own posting habits. You might find that the discussion proves to be a brief catalyst for increased activity.

Unfortunately, Songcrafters is easy to take for granted. I have been busking for comments and commenting here for over seven years, and when I click on the link tomorrow, I expect Songcrafters to be here. But several us were around the day the creator of the site announced its closing. Were it not for the efforts of our current motivated and brilliant administrators, you would not be reading this now. Simply put, there would be a void in my life if Songcrafters closed. Although I haven't clinked glasses with any of you (including Lurker...he's not much of a glass-clinker), I would call several of the relationships garnered here friendships (and you're all invited to help me paint my house in a few months!). I am super excited to be meeting you and Hook within the next few weeks.

I suspect your post, Bruno, comes from a similar sentiment. Songcrafters is a special place. I am so dismayed at the amount of trolling out there on the Internet that I have developed a form of web agoraphobia, and this place is my home away from home (even if my activity ebbs and flows).

Perhaps we should be putting our heads together to increase membership (a double-edged sword) and/or motivation/participation/collaboration.

Blooby

[Oldrottenhead]

yup blooby is correct, this topic comes up every so often.

this site pretty much moderates itself.

people come here for varying reasons.

a few of them like myself, become songcrafter addicts.

so for those addicts, songcrafters becomes their therapy.

you can't make every new member an addict but it is a joy to watch when it happens.

[Hilary]

yup blooby is correct, this topic comes up every so often.

this site pretty much moderates itself.

people come here for varying reasons.

a few of them like myself, become songcrafter addicts.

so for those addicts, songcrafters becomes their therapy.

you can't make every new member an addict but it is a joy to watch when it happens.

Well said ORH. My comments were in no way a criticism of our current Admin Team - they do a fabulous job!

[The Gobi Desert Canoe Club]

Hi all, as a few of you may have noticed I've been absent for a couple of months. Firstly I broke my equipment down to redecorate the studio (the spare bedroom) which has taken a lot longer than expected, just needs the carpet laid now. Should be done by the middle of August. Secondly I had a motoring accident which although not physically hurt left me with panic attacks for which I now take medication that leaves me tired most of the time. I hope to be off them soon, they have certainly blunted my song writing ability (precious small to start with) and in fact I really have to drive myself to be interested in music in any way shape or form. Oh yeah, and we went to Sicily for a short holiday.
As far as collabs are concerned, I don't really have the confidence as a musician or vocalist to volunteer to join another forum member in a project, hopefully that will change one day.
Finally, this doesn't really reply to Bruno's post but puts forward some reasons why I for one have been missing for a while.
Willie

[Mike_S]

Wille, you have my sympathy. I have experience of panic attacks and they can come out of the blue and in the most normal situations where you would not expect to panic. One thing i can say tho, you will be surprised at the power of music. Even in the darkest moments, music will creep back in to your thoughts and will remain with you, it can act as a great healer too.

On the topic of responding/posting, the only thing i would say is I think its best not to over think who is posting / not posting as you can sometimes get upset and even come up with incorrect conclusions. I have seen it before on other sites. I also think while i agree with not having a quota, i think it should be bleeding obvious IMHO that if you post songs to this site that it is only good manners to listen and comment to other folks songs too, and the music here is often great and unique too so it would hopefully end up something you want to do, rather than just fulfilling an obligation.

I think this site is pretty busy, but i have only been on here maybe 2 years so maybe its quieter than it used to be, but i think it is just a quiet period, don't forget folks can be juggling alot right now , with work, families , summer holidays etc.

Everything is gonna be ok!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cheers

Mike

[Redler]

Hopefully you're back very soon, Willie! I wish a quick recovery!

Good thoughts about posting my friends. As we all know the site doesn't work if posting is "one way traffic"=posting own songs without commenting to the others. I know, the folks have different occasions to be not so active sometimes. Lack of time, etc. But, when posting a new song, it would be nice and polite to comment on a few songs from the other members. And when you'll get responses on your song, it would be good to have a glance at "My Latest Song Posts" of the commentator who has commented your song. Hmm...I said "You", I didn't mean the members which have involved on this thread or other SC addicts either .

I remember a member who listened to and commented at least 10 ten songs before posting his newest one! That was a good habit!

[fenderbender]

Just to bring a little light relief into the topic
What about an old guy like me who never was into a lot of the music of the past eras
Say for instance -cos it's topical at the moment -The Smiths-
Not knowing much about them -kinda puts me at a disadvantage
So I will more or less be commenting on the recording-the vocals -instruments-
Which might be a good thing in a way-
So while all you youngsters are talking about what's his name 
I will not be going yeh man cool etc
cos I would be only spoofing
but I know good music -I think 

Just a bit of light banter 

Tommy

[chapperz66]

I think that this site is about as close to fame as I'm ever likely to get. 

All I need to do is think of a way to transform it into money, narcotics and groupies.  Sadly, I'm not convinced I would know how to handle any of those things, so perhaps it's just as well I haven't come up with a cunning plan.

On a slightly more serious note, I quite like listening to music so I don't find it at all onerous to throw a comment in when I have listened. In fact - I quite enjoy it.

Paul