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Hey guys,

So a couple of us have been scheming behind the scenes, and with all this talk about band promos and the state of affairs in SA Music, we thought it might be a good time to try and build something constructive to address the issues.

After brief discussions with Norio, we’ve decided to propose a new gig guide for the forum. Not being ‘web design literate’, I’m not sure whats technically possible, but ideally the following:

-A calendar style, day of the week setup (possibly just a plug-in)
-Genre listings without getting pedantic (no black or death or power, its all metal)
-Link listing to venue, so have small Bio for each venue (Might be a ball ache) - we foresee a kindoff setup where you see the event and venue on the calendar, can click a link and check out photos, reviews and other specs regarding venues.
-A 7day abbreviated guide on forum home page.
-Include fortnight guide in newsletter (spam inactive members (lurkers))
-Open for public viewing

The events section could then be used for arranging forum get togethers, discussing clinics and such.
Including myself there are 4 members who have already expressed interest in assisting with administration, as well as spreading the word and being the contact in their respective locations. (JHB, PTA, Welkom and surrounding, and Eastern Cape).

So whats the verdict?
Any suggestions?

It might take some time to build up and create all the connections, but with the help of forum members we should be able to put together a very useful resource in no time...
    I think it's a great idea.
      Good idea anything promoting live music and the venues that host live music
        Lekka! It's just that there is an events board and only Uncle Bob and the blues outfit in the southern colony use it most times. So will the okes with the gigs post conscientiously? I hope so, Another thing, if yiou are aware of a gig, not yours or your bands, would you be permitted to post it?
          Ray wrote: Lekka! It's just that there is an events board and only Uncle Bob and the blues outfit in the southern colony use it most times. So will the okes with the gigs post conscientiously? I hope so, Another thing, if yiou are aware of a gig, not yours or your bands, would you be permitted to post it?
          Ja the events section is a bit of a lame duck. Unless you constantly bump your gig it gets relegated to the back pages, because its a standard message board, probably why its ill used. But its been very useful for discussing the recent clinics. I think the "7day abbreviated guide on forum home page" would help keep things relevant to members. We have a lot of 'guests' lurking around, and that might become a feature to attract more guests.
            Its a great idea. It could turn out extremely successful if the forum members also participate in updating when they hear of any gigs.
              Isn't what's being proposed just the re-introduction of the calendar feature that was discontinued? That wasn't used much.

              It seems to me the problem is not the facilities. There are on-line gig guides already, some of them offering breakdowns by region or city.

              I think we're fixing the wrong problem.
                X-rated Bob wrote: Isn't what's being proposed just the re-introduction of the calendar feature that was discontinued? That wasn't used much.

                It seems to me the problem is not the facilities. There are on-line gig guides already, some of them offering breakdowns by region or city.

                I think we're fixing the wrong problem.
                Which would be?
                  Averatu wrote:
                  X-rated Bob wrote: Isn't what's being proposed just the re-introduction of the calendar feature that was discontinued? That wasn't used much.

                  It seems to me the problem is not the facilities. There are on-line gig guides already, some of them offering breakdowns by region or city.

                  I think we're fixing the wrong problem.
                  Which would be?
                  Bands being crap at telling others when they're playing somewhere.
                    X-rated Bob wrote: Isn't what's being proposed just the re-introduction of the calendar feature that was discontinued? That wasn't used much.

                    It seems to me the problem is not the facilities. There are on-line gig guides already, some of them offering breakdowns by region or city.

                    I think we're fixing the wrong problem.
                    I dont think I was around when that feature was active, or I just never saw it, but would it not make a difference if 3-4 people are actively updating it and taking responsibility for keeping it recent?

                    Could you possibly point us to some of these gig guides, then we can assess whether its worth pursuing this..


                      Gumtree has a gigs and events section. Facebook allows performing artists to set up notices for an event on a specific date (I see Hellfire Blues Club and the Hinds Brothers making good use of this). There's Songkick - see http://www.songkick.com/metro_areas/32800-south-africa-johannesburg and note that something or somebody named "7th Son" has some gigs coming up. Cosmopolitan (www.cosmopolitan.co.za) have a gigs and events sections and so do most newspapers. Take a look at http://samusiczone.co.za/. And really, there are plenty more. There's myspace, though I'm not sure that is as popular as it once was.

                      Any band that wants to tell the world (or the country or their city) that they have a gig has plenty of options already. The thing is that it's up to the bands to spread the word - the facilities are there.

                      Maybe too many of them - it would be a pain to have to update all of them each time you have a gig, so I suppose you identify a couple and stick with them. Same with the gig seeker - you can't check all the listings.

                      So, yes, such a feature could be implemented on GFSA (not my call, and I won't have to do the work) but I'm not convinced that it's going to solve some kind of problem for the local music industry.

                        Don't forget http://www.whatson.co.za/ and http://www.zajazz.net/

                        I think that more than getting the musos to update, you need to get the venues onboard - much more reliable and most have schedules set months in advance.

                        ...And to get the venues onboard, you'll have to make it worth their while to actively submit the info to you, which means you will need a dedicated site that markets the information to the wider general public, not to the people playing the gigs themselves.

                          Alan Ratcliffe wrote: Don't forget http://www.whatson.co.za/ and http://www.zajazz.net/

                          I think that more than getting the musos to update, you need to get the venues onboard - much more reliable and most have schedules set months in advance.

                          ...And to get the venues onboard, you'll have to make it worth their while to actively submit the info to you, which means you will need a dedicated site that markets the information to the wider general public, not to the people playing the gigs themselves.

                          So I Google "gig guide", and on page one we have:
                          -SA gig guide has a listing of 7 venues for bands, no gigs listed that iI can see, unless its hiding(?).
                          -www.nationalgigguide.co.za/ is for sale.
                          -http://www.gigcentral.co.za/ has a whopping 3 gigs listed, looks like club parties.
                          -http://www.samusic.co.za/ is pretty jacked, which is weird. When I went there a few months ago it was quite tragic.
                          -The IOL gig guide has a lot of listings, but the format is frustrating. Who's going to read 50 listings to find one that interests them.
                          -http://www.gigguide.co.za/ has 14 gigs listed in total.
                          -www.Overtone.co.za has some random listings, mostly redundant.
                          -No self respecting man will go to the Cosmo website!! Its like admitting you do aerobics damnet.

                          As the original post says:
                          "Including myself there are 4 members who have already expressed interest in assisting with administration, as well as spreading the word and being the contact in their respective locations."
                          I've also expressed interest in helping out. The idea discussed between us has been to systematically approach venues and agents as the opportunity arises. As I point out above, the site could potentially see a lot more guest action. All the books on internet mumbo jumbo points out a site that's frequently updated ranks higher on a search engine's than one which is occasionally updated.

                            The reason I've entertained this idea is because the members who have expressed interest in running this have committed to keeping the gig guide updated. That would help a lot but, of course, an internet commitment is worth about as much as the paper it's written on, so we'll have to see what actually happens.

                            Alan and I have discussed this and, he's right, for this to work we need to market it to the general public which means it's own site.

                            Personally, I think it's a good idea and I'm happy to help with it and have, in return, something like "Powered by GuitarForum.co.za."

                            But yes, those members interested in running this will need to commit to a few things:
                            • Updating it daily, weekly at worst.
                            • Contacting venues for gig info
                            • Promoting this on Gumtree, Junkmail, other forums, on their own sites, etc
                            • And possibly more stuff
                            The technical stuff is not a problem. Getting accurate info (and lots of it) on the site as well as getting people to go to the site is. I'm in if you guys will do your part.
                              I don't think doing the admin ourselves is the way for this to work. The community should be able to post the stuff themselves, that means the clubs / bands / artists should do it themselves. It is going to help THEM afterall. Making more work for yourself in order to try and help the entire live music industry who won't do it themselves is a waste of time.
                                Norio wrote: The reason I've entertained this idea is because the members who have expressed interest in running this have committed to keeping the gig guide updated. That would help a lot but, of course, an internet commitment is worth about as much as the paper it's written on, so we'll have to see what actually happens.

                                Alan and I have discussed this and, he's right, for this to work we need to market it to the general public which means it's own site.

                                Personally, I think it's a good idea and I'm happy to help with it and have, in return, something like "Powered by GuitarForum.co.za."

                                But yes, those members interested in running this will need to commit to a few things:
                                • Updating it daily, weekly at worst.
                                • Contacting venues for gig info
                                • Promoting this on Gumtree, Junkmail, other forums, on their own sites, etc
                                • And possibly more stuff
                                The technical stuff is not a problem. Getting accurate info (and lots of it) on the site as well as getting people to go to the site is. I'm in if you guys will do your part.
                                I'm good to go!!!
                                  ez wrote: I don't think doing the admin ourselves is the way for this to work. The community should be able to post the stuff themselves, that means the clubs / bands / artists should do it themselves. It is going to help THEM afterall. Making more work for yourself in order to try and help the entire live music industry who won't do it themselves is a waste of time.
                                  I agree, I think the forum members should work together to help make this work. In the end it's going to be beneficial for all of us!
                                    I think it's all nice and fluffy to talk about "shoulds" but, speaking from experience, not much of what should happen does. I'm all for making it possible for people to post their own gigs, and the same goes for venues, but in order for a gig-site to work, it needs to be full of, well, gigs. And that's not going to happen by itself in the beginning.
                                      3 months later
                                      Joe Moore wrote: Most gig guides in Jhb on the net and even most bands websites are not up to date , And , I'm not on Facebook , so in my case here's what I do .

                                      There are only about 12 venues that have bands playing in the JHB area ne' , ......So I just phone a few venues to see whos playing on a Friday or Saturday night and reserve my table for the the up coming gig I fancy , for me and the missus and some friends.....Thats it. Works for me . 8)

                                      Case in point :

                                      http://www.theradium.co.za/giglineup/....empty page. lol. ☹

                                      Meantime:.....

                                      On every Wednesday @ Radium is Mike Rowe on acoustic and Wayne Coughlan on electric and slide. ....they kill !!
                                      On 4rd Feb is Alter- Irvin band @ Radium... u need to book soon for this one ...if u plan to go .

                                      ....just sayin' . lol . :-[

                                      GFSA could offer places like the Radium a "sticky" thread in the EVENTS section here , for a fee , to post their up-coming gigs .....even the bands themselves.

                                      The GFSA owners could easily come up with an amicable attractive offer for the venues and the bands to participate in this idea methinks.


                                      So who is playing where this evening ? You dont he phoning yet? ?
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