...Important.... POLL.... Please have a look!

[phillipthorne]

Hi,

I’m a relatively new member on Irish Acts but I would like to offer a few suggestions and make some observations about what it being discussed here if I may.

I find this forum to be invaluable to anyone who has a highly complex Korg product and wants help, advice and guidance in all areas of it’s use and development and to my mind it’s the nicest and most friendly, not to mention well mannered, community I’ve ever come across. It has a really lovely “feel” to it where the only thing that seems to be missing is a huge welcome mat at the front door and a log fire blazing away in the parlour.

There isn’t an ounce of commerciality about the site and not a pop-up ad or a sponsors link to be seen anywhere. It’s just a great place to be and to hang out and chat about all things musical and electronic with other people of a like mind and spirit.

What’s being suggested now, in the interests of a very worthy cause, can have long term implications and affects which, in my view, should be considered carefully before any formal moves are made.

Firstly to ensure the continued success and assured future presence of the site it really should have financial support. The running costs, at the very least, should be covered so that no one has to put their hand in their pocket in order to keep the facility going.

The situation that Sharp is experiencing now has served to bring this issue to the fore and most everyone who uses this site, I’m sure, knows what it’s like to be concerned about how the next bill is going to get paid. It certainly focuses the concentration in a way no other situation can and the word prioritisation suddenly takes on a whole new meaning as never appreciated before when it happens.

Contributions and membership issues aside I would respectfully ask why this site isn’t sponsored as it brings such obvious benefits to a major manufacturer who enjoys free promotion and receives equally free and invaluable marketing data and ideas while others do the work.

Initially I would suggest that as there is such a positive feeling about the site then why not petition Korg to support the site on a formal basis. After all it’s largely for their benefit and what they save on their technical support and other staff being spared the time they would have to commit to answering all the questions on this site they could quite easily make a contribution to it’s upkeep and continued presence. This is to say nothing of the promotional value that they receive in all the ‘enhancement’ products that get developed by people who effectively add value to Korg’s offerings and thereby encourage sales. This is, after all a ‘dedicated’ site. It’s run for Korg’s customers and their benefit. I can’t believe they haven’t offered to support in some way yet.

This is a good deal for Korg and I would suggest that a few thousand emails from the members in support of some action by them would spur them into putting their hands into their less than shallow pockets and helping to keep running a very valuable asset to them.

This brings up a second point which is my main concern over the whole issue of what’s being proposed. Who administers all of this. Petitions, membership and other issues such as this means extra work for someone and right now that means more unpaid input and time. If a membership scheme is implemented then who runs it. Daz and Sharp look to be the two who do the bulk of the work and that’s faltering as other pressing priorities arise. There’s little mileage in adding to the current situation by creating more work to solve the problem.

Membership or the administrating of funds means that someone has to do it and any proposal of restrictions of access etc etc means policing – in the polite sense. Someone then has to make decisions about who gets and doesn’t get access and what happens to money and how it’s spent. Sending out reminders and accounting for cash plus a whole host of other things. It can become a minefield and a position of treasurer/administrator is created which is an arduous and thankless task.

Then there is the issue of who gets what and why. Who contributes effort and how it should be rewarded and so on, not to mention moving away from the whole ethos of forums which are viewed as being free access facilities by the internet using community at large.

Would it be feasible to consider another route to funding, outside of sponsorship from Korg which I consider will highly unlikely to happen. Instead of creating demarcation lines and prohibiting people from accessing this that and the other areas of the forum until they pay, why not create a new member status of ‘Contributing Member’.

This would indicate those who donate to the forum financially. A band of ‘angels’ who help keep things running by giving what they can when they can. This may not be in terms of simply money but could encompass services and goods as well. Even down to things that they no longer need and could be sold on the forum with a portion of the proceedings being donated to the upkeep of the facility.

Contributing Members would have no more privileges than anyone else but would have the satisfaction of knowing that they were actively involved in keeping a valuable community alive and being included in the community at more than simply a peripheral level. Contributing Members could maybe have a gold frame around their logo to indicate their special status with regards to their commitment and contribution to the site.

This will allow the site to remain free of any formal charge and so encourage others to join who would otherwise be put off by membership fees and probationary periods and restricted access and all the other things that people, especially musicians, hate.

The Irish Acts forum is an open and inviting place and long may it remain that way but time is money and effort should be rewarded wherever possible. Both Sharp and Daz could benefit from having a band of supporting angels which I’m sure would make their lives a little easier and would give all the members the assurance of their continued support which means the forum flourishes equally.

Longevity costs and Sharp’s present situation has served to highlight this fact. If the site has to depend on the financial input of just one or two people then it will inevitably fail unless they have limitless resources. People are simply human and there are peeks and troughs in all aspects of everyone’s lives. This situation seems to herald change and is an opportunity for growth. Growth is good and desirable but only if it’s in a positive direction.

Kind regards
Phillip

[cnegrad]

Two points: First, I agree that Korg should contribute. Secondly, I think Sharp's last message said it all. Occasionally, when needed, a donation link will be made available, accompanied by a brief announcment. If past history is an indicator, and if this site remians the friendly oasis that it is, there'll be no problem keeping this site sufficiently funded.

[Odinmoon]

Hi I'm not complaining. I think its a good idea for those that can afford it to send in money. And yes Sharp deserves it. He has helped many on this forum. I was only concerned that this might get out of hand with this charging thing. after all that's what this post was about..And then I read the other post. That's why I said that Sharp had a private post. And there is nothing wrong with saying thank you with a little cash. Or by buying his cd, or by hiring his services. The donation system seems a much better answer. And please don't make me out like the bad guy. I was concerned about discretion. Some of my friends actually like me.

PS. I knew I'd put my foot in it this time.

Regards Terry

[dreamaiden]

And please don't make me out like the bad guy.

Well.... ok.

Some of my friends actually like me.

No way!!

PS. I knew I'd put my foot in it this time.

LOL, welcome to the human race.

Sioux

[ronbo27]

Count me in whichever way it goes---well worth it!
Ron.

[popcorn]

What would be Irishacts without Sioux and what would be the world without all of you!!!

We will never forget how Sharp helped us to apply in one Irish fest!

Thank you!

My thoughts are now for the people living in countries like ours. Here 100$ is average month salary for specialists and with 20$ you could feel yourself rich man for 2-3 days...For example some student could never go into IA if he sees some taxes at the main page.Anyway there are no other people from Bulgaria,but they are not so mcuh from other Eastern countries as you see:(((

The credit card payments here are not so usual...also there is a big% of the population who don't know what is internet....

We are living in diferent realities:(

But thank God you are there and we could talk from time to time and share ideas and music.

AND FRIENDSHIP!!!!!

Donny

[niranjanjaveri]

Count me in - whether its a contribution, subscription or support.
Anything for IA site.
I understood one thing here that IA is a family and I'll feel great pride to join in.

Regards,
niranjan

[Stephen]

But thank God you are there and we could talk from time to time and share ideas and music.

AND FRIENDSHIP!!!!!

Donny

This speaks volumes!
IA, is how we've all come to be friends.
Well said Donny!
Stephen

[pilot352]

Hello,

I don’t post here very often, but I do read many posts. One thing to consider if you decide to charge for the site. At first, there might be many that will pay, but that will change. The more “private” you make it the site, the less people will come in. Even with a three-month grace period. You will loose membership. You will also loose a knowledge base of people who don’t want to pay and create a barrier between members and non-members. The less members and posting will also tend to turn off prospective new members.

The result will be the site will inevitably close.

By leaving it a “donation accepted / please donate” type forum, you will obviously have many members who wont pay, but you will also keep the site more accessible to new members who will pay. It’s my opinion that the site should remain free, but make sure it’s very easy to see that donations are preferred and put a note like: “Preferred Donations $20.00/yr” on the page – in large print.

-Pilot

[Timo]

I agree with a Donate button that appears at the top of the forum, or the like. Similar to the one used here (shown on the top, and to the right), for example: http://www.lemon64.com/

Timo

[Wings]

Well, all in all it's good.
For some reason I do not think that IA will dissapear in a looong time, and why?

Dedicated people discussing and sharing dedicated thoughts.

That's one of the grand things with the net; one can be whomever one want to be.
And right now, and for years to come; me wanna be an IA'er.

Hey Sharpster, is it possible to buy T-shirts or caps that carry your mag. logo?

[RiotNrrd]

Hey Sharpster, is it possible to buy T-shirts or caps that carry your mag. logo?

If not, it's easy enough to produce them. Cafe Press (http://www.cafepress.com/cp/info/) can produce that stuff on-demand, with no inventory required. So an IA "store", with logo imprinted caps, mugs, t-shirts, etc., can be set up instantly, at no cost. All Sharp (or, really, anyone) has to do is upload the artwork and set the prices.

For anyone who wants to produce CD's, this is also very good. The base price for a CD of your music, with your own artwork - no limitations on number of colors used - printed on both the CD and jewel case is $8.99 apiece. They make these things on demand and you can sell them in your own online store (provided for free by them), so you don't have to carry any inventory at all and possibly get stuck with unsold merchandise. Total cost to you: $0.00.