AlanRatcliffe
I beginning to think we need a member showcase - a place on the forum where we can show off our members music and recordings. Sure, we already have "Clips for review", but as the name implies, that is more for critical review than it is just plain showing off and strutting your stuff. Sometimes you just want to get the music out there for the world to hear, when feedback isn't really helpful any more as you don't have the luxury of going back and re-recording, remixing or remastering a CD that has already been duplicated, printed, packaged and is up for sale everywhere.
I think this will be nice for a site visitor to browse our members work without the usual forum "chatter" - a reference of sorts. Obviously there is a strong promotional aspect too - a showcase "gallery" could be used as a kind of "press office" to market a member's CDs, track downloads or the band/artists themselves and their live shows. Events posts could link to the relevant member's thread for examples of performance, etc. If warranted, I can occasionally focus a newsletter editorial on a track, CD or member and have a page to link to with more info.
As I see it, there are a few ways to approach it:
1. As a usual "forum-free-for-all" - pretty much like any other board on the forum, a member wanting to post something simply starts a new thread with the details, links to videos or sound clips and/or links to buy. Other members can post to the thread, which bumps it to the top again. The downside is this can be pretty chaotic and older items can be bumped by any member, even years after initial posting.
2. A variation on the above, where only the thread originator or mods can post to the thread. This will keep threads in strict date order, allowing members or visitors to browse entries in rough date order from newest to oldest and originators to add further news that pertains to the track or CD (playlisting on a Radio or TV station, stock availability, interview and/or tour dates). Obviously other members can create threads for open discussion on the track or album elsewhere on the forum too, but in the "Showcase" things will be kept tightly on-topic.
3. A moderated post board, where interested parties PM me the info and I post it. The tightest option and allowing me to keep a similar format for all and to prevent abuse, but obviously with a slower response time (and making more work for me).
I'm leaning to option 2 at the moment - but as always - welcome any and all comments, thoughts and ideas. Hit me...
Manfred-Klose
well you could do this.......
have a separate section, "Music Showcase" or something
where members can submit the links and info, almost like placing an ad, you choose a Genre, and it is sorted in alphabetical order.
so you would have a
Member Profile, giving history and info, and maby a nice Big image as well when you click on it.
Genre
Links of work (be it soundcloud, links to download or buy albums)
so then you dont have to bump up anything, it will always be on an alphabetical or genre list ?
if i will brain storm some ideas this weekend
Keira-WitherKay
Great idea ,...... As you know us muso's need a place to showcase our art ,
and yes , find a way to keep it genre specific listings .... As many of us would love to hear others work but as a jazz fan i'd like to find all the showcases i would listen to in one place/list , this would also save time as very few of us have the time to open and listen to every showcase to find music in a genre we support
but fabulous idea
