CD Update & The Next CD - 12/20/00

[Slackmaster2K]

Ok, the following people are naughty:

David
dmcsilva
jitteringjim
Jon X
Layth
sonusman

Still no contracts.

Still no contact with Dragon.

Ed, I still need copies of the audio.



Now, on to the more interesting shit:

The next CD...sounds stupid to talk about it, yes, but we should. It takes about a year for one of these to come into being. I'm opening the floor to suggestions.

If I run the next CD then there will be no fluff. Contracts will go out immediately and not at the end. There will be no recording at the last minute. Newbies will not be allowed (sorry, but people with a few hundred posts tend to stick around). There will be no enhanced information. I will not be responsible for all the artwork (note: thanks again to Todd Arnold for the current cover). We will not wait for people to meet deadlines.

I figure that should speed up production by twofold at least.

I'm open to idears. If you want me to step down I will no problem. Please don't respond to this thread with "I want to be on the next CD!!!" because that's not what I'm after. Just comments in general. Was there anything about this particular CD that was a pain in the ass for you? Obviously people had a hard time 1) submitting on schedule 2) creating/submitting artwork & writeups 3) returning contracts. What could I have done to help?

Slackmaster 2000

[David]

I cant come up with an excuse slack...and belive me I've been sitting here trying. (health issues) has had me all bummed out a couple months now, it's not an excuse but its the truth. I'll try hard to scramble them up real soon and get them to ya..promise.

[Cooperman]

One way to prevent some of the delay would be just to simply say... I need your song, artwork, copyright forms or whatever else all by the same set date... those who can't meet the deadline miss out... give the date out maybe 3 months in advance or something to give people some time to get organised... if they can't meet the deadline then tough shit. If you put out a compilation annually then that gives you plenty of time (9 months) to get it out and have some time off in between.

[Slackmaster2K]

David, thanks man!

Coop,

I was thinking about the deadline thing while I was writing my initial post....it's funny to think about actually...if I had said, "ok, you missed the deadline so you're out" to everyone who missed a deadline, there would be about 4 songs on the CD. No kidding! But you're right, something has to be done.

I think that a rearrangement of the way we did things might help. For instance, right now I have all the songs and all the enhanced shit that I'm going to get. But the contract deadline has long since passed, and I'm not going to kick anyone off at this point because that means we have to redo the songlist, redo the cover artwork, etc. So it's like things have to be done just right.

Maybe if we had a list of things that a person was required to come up with right from the start and said, "ok, get us this shit by such and such a date, or you're not on the CD." That way there wouldn't be multiple deadlines, there would be ONE deadline.

So I might say something like:

- You can be on the CD if by October 1st, 2001 you have a minimum of 300 posts on the BBS.
- On or before October 1st, 2001, you must send to me a) your song b) your contracts c) whatever else. Anything postmarked after the 1st will be discarded.

Anyone qualified member who gets me their shit before that date is on the CD.

The drawback is that we won't know who's going to be on the CD until around that date. The benefit is that we'll know who's on it AND have all the necessary information at the same time...no screwing around.

What do you think about something like that?

Thanks for the input man.

Slackmaster 2000

[rj]

I know how a first run is at ANYTHING and you did GREAT, but I must say, I say the painting into the corner when the artwork was in before the contracts.
I remember being one of the total drugged out flakes who would not submit, and THEN had my cd eaten by ed's dog!(Good boy!)
anyway, Here I am safe of the naughty list and I have a suggestion...

If you think I'm lost was ok... (it is exactly that... just 'OK') you don't even wanna know what 'whole lotta whiskey and a little bit of coke' is about! This song rocks out with its coke out! RJ has a cocky attitude problem and I must say, maybe the next cd should just be a single...
Have I sold you yet? How about signing me up for a contract, or better yet, post the darn thing (or email) so you dont have to pay postage. Let us do it. Also, maybe you could post the song order and let the best artwork/cover be chosen from ANY recieved from the artists. It may suck, but it'll lighten your load and I'm willing to paste a black and white punk looking cover together for the team.
Quit yer yappin and finnish my cd!

[Cooperman]

Slack... that's what I was trying to say, maybe I didn't get my point across too well... have one date for everything. I think it's the most effective way to do it... then really all that has to be done is the artwork which didn't really take that long to between S8-N and yourself when this whole thing was first proposed, Ed doing the master and then physically getting CD's cut. It's a much simpler and less time consuming process... those that can't meet the one deadline miss out... it's very simple and easy to follow - plus 3 months after the deadline and there is still no CD out we really do know who to blame

You've done great though Slack...

[CMiller]

I like the idea of one date. It's hard to believe that so many people flaked out on this. Slack (and Ed) did everything but write and perform the songs for everyone. If you can sign your name and lick a stamp (although I use the self sticking stamps) you could've been on this disc. I'm not ragging on anyone, but I should be. C'mon people, get your shit together.

It's interesting to note that in the time it took me to write this post I could've done all the work necessary to be on the disc.

Mark

[Slackmaster2K]

rj,

I'm not really sure what you're saying there at the end... but anyway, we DID call for artwork last january. I got a cover from S8-N and that's it...nobody else submitted anything. So it's not like we weren't trying.

Good idea about posting the contracts. I'm going to do that next time. The reason that I mailed the contracts is so that I wanted the submitters to see my signature before signing...I dunno why....just felt right. In the future you will download a contract for sure!

Coop,

Agreed. However, the artwork takes a stupidly long time. Consider that for this CD we have two cd labels, 6 pages of insert art, two U-Cards, two covers, and the enhanced html documents which consist of 100% homeade graphics (I think you guy's will like it, it's pretty nifty so far).

I'd say that all-in-all between the artwork and the contracts I've put roughly 100-150 hours into this project and have probably 20-30 hours left on it. In fact I worked on it just last night for about 4 hours. The problem is that I'm not an artist and I'm not into graphic design...so when it comes to creating something like this from scratch it takes me forever. I take full responsibility for it however....and I might sound 'mad' when I'm calling for people to get their shit in, but in a way it's kind of a relief

There were some people who offered artwork at the beginning, but they disappeard. What ever happened to crazy horse?

I suppose we need some kind of "team" that will take equal responsibility for the artwork and shit. If we split the above between just two or three people it would make all the difference in the world.

CMiller,

I think we started out with about 40 submitters...and that dwindled down to about 25...then several dropped out in the middle...and we added Brad because W.G.O.M.M just HAD to be on the comp Anyway, I see now that cooper's suggestion would solve most of this dilema.

It was just that for this first CD everyone was kind of nervous. Plus it's a special deal so we had to make sure that everyone who could be on it would be....next time we'll wear suits and start crackin the whip

Slackmaster 2000

[Emeric]

Definetely solid deadlines. If someone doesn't make the deadline(s), tough shit. As for the 300+ post qualification. That's a tricky one, almost makes it too elite. Next will be a 'review' panel for quality control.. I don't know. Then again, we don't want 200 mp3.com stars signing up instantly either. This site probably has twice the membership it did when the last compilation was started. It has to tie into the mp3 mixing clinic somehow- I think that is the key.

No matter how you approach it, it's always gonna be an 'as we go' affair. You've done a great job keeping this one together, and I'm sure much has been learned on all sides to make the next one smoother for all involved.

[gibs]

everything Emeric said...well, sorta everything...the 300 post thing I don't think would be considered too elite, because it would indeed weed out the mp3.com spammer types that show up once in the hopes of a good review and some hits......

Let's face it, my "contribution" to the cd is the worst recording and song on the whole thing, but I would hate like hell if somebody like FT got a spot on a future one...and he'll never reach 300 posts, no matter what name he's using, because he always does something stupid enough to get temporarily kicked off...but if he wrote a cool song that sounded great and didn't spam for 300 posts, yeah, even he could be on, no problem.....(never happen)....

and yeah, thanks Slack for working on this thing...I'm sure it's been a headache.....by the way, have you noticed that paper towels are shrinking, sheet count-wise, and have been for two years, and now in some places you can only buy the jumbos, which are almost the count of the originals a few years back...oops, wrong rant, wrong place...pay no attention......gibs

[Slackmaster2K]

I didn't really mean anything by the 300 post thing...I just threw the number out because I was guessing at the "senior member" number.

I think we definately need a minimum post requirement that is reasonable. After all, this is a homerecording compilation that represents the members of the BBS. People who continue to post tend to stick around.

I agree, Emeric, that we don't want to be elitists....but we do have to avoid the people who are looking for free publicity and have no intentions of hanging around the BBS. I'll have to start paying attention more to post counts...I know that there are a few vocal members with low counts...maybe a 50 or 100 post minimum would be more reasonable.

As far as Father Time goes, I say kill em with kindness. He's part of us whether we like it or not

What do you two think about the one do or die deadline that was discussed above? Too harsh?

Slackmaster 2000

[gibs]

I like the strict deadline....I can even fill out a ballot in an election, and could even show up for work on time when I worked for somebody else....gibs

[Emeric]

Deadline for sure. Not possible to coordinate otherwise. Except for the current comp.. but that's the exception!

[drstawl]

It's a good idea to have some sort of post count just to weed out the total spammers: but face it. Some spammers are so persistent that they'll satisfy the requirement just to spite themselves and everyone else. I'd have no problem with FT submitting stuff on the next compilation. You won't get a boycott from me. It'd just make my stuff sound that much more professional by comparison. And don't wimp out on the deadline issue. Judging from the number of submissions in the clinic we'll have no problem getting plenty of great stuff to fill up the next one. And if there are too many: so what! Just use their submission date as a cut-off and place the latecomers on the NEXT one. An embarassment of riches.
A single CD would be so much more manageable anyway.

[houdini]

Well, I understand the "minimum post" idea but, personally don't like it because, although I've been a member here for a year and a half or two years, I rarely post. Now, I could obviously change that fact but, I would prefer to only post when I have something helpful, or entertaining, to say. In my opinion, there are already more than enough people to post useless messages. I would rather limit my input to something constructive.

I would certainly like to be on future cd's (I do have a tune on the debut); but, if it means that I'll have to assault the board with 250 worthless posts just to get my "seniority" in, then I probably won't be.

I understand the desire to keep "hit-and-run" posters from abusing the privilege of being on the cd, but perhaps length of membership should be considered, not just number of posts.

I'm done now...you won't hear from me again for another 6 months. But, I'm watching you ...

[Shailat]

Short question.

Does the material on the CD have to be a original song written by the sender himself.
For example -can I send a mix done for somebody else ? Or can I send work I've played on/arranged etc... for a different artist singing.

[Slackmaster2K]

houdini and doc -

Good points about using the regestration date instead of post count. Perhapst that would be better.

We do need a certain rule, however, because I do not like to turn people down on my own terms...which I had to do a couple times. There were a couple people who were like, "hi, i found the bbs today, can I be on the comp cd?"

Shailat -

The CD is for "recorders", so to speak, so you can certainly submit songs written and performed by others, as long as you recorded it. Several people are doing that on this CD in fact...you'll need written permission from the copyright owners of the material though (I have forms you can use).

Slackmaster 2000

[Gidge]

Just adding a worthless post for insurance...I have to be on the next CD.....

[LI Slim]

Slack, what we could do is have a minimum of, say, 300 posts and at least nine months membership (to keep out rapid spammers), but if someone has been a member for, say, at least two years the minimum number of posts is reduced to 100. Something like that.

A firm and simple deadline with clearly stated expectations will work. (It might work too well; this could end up a three-CD set; what the hell.)

You should demand more help on the artwork (or make it simpler). In fact, at the appropriate time do a post or posts asking for help in any area...

[MISTERQCUE]

May I add my name also as I just hired a new guitarist,some
horny-horns and keyboardist to assist me in recording a coupla' my songs and have them posted on some MP.#'s

[Kelly Holdridge]

I found this crazy chipmunk by the name of Alvin, he's got these two weird brothers and they do this trio thing. He says they've recorded professionally before (although I doubt it, you oughtta HEAR the shit these guys sing), and I sure need the dough, so I might submit some of their stuff soon.

[bball jones]

I agree with all that is said up to this point, especially gettin' paperwork and all other misc. b.s. done before makin' the cd. Deadlines are a must for sure, with all due respect, one must be sincere and serious about one's commitment - if someone doesn't make it this time, maybe they will have their act together for the next one.

Slackmaster, you are to be commended for the job you have done on the current project, exhibiting poise and patience
- above and beyond the call of duty. I couldn't think of a better man for your job than you.

[Layth]

Finally got John cornered long enough to get it signed!

[westermane]

The CD compilation sounds like a cool thing and I'd like to hear it when it comes out. Maybe it would be a cool move if this site opened up an area where all the posters could have a few Mp3s up. That way everyone could share their music and discuss it. But maybe that's getting away from the goals of the site...I don't know. Just an idea...

[Brad]

Hi westermane,
Good idea, but that is kind of how the comp CD was born. While there isn't a designated area on this website for posting mp3's, there is a forum called "Mp3 Mixing Clinic" where people can post links to their music and others can comment and critique.

Check it out. Some good stuff up there. Once you've browsed around there a bit, you'll realize who the members of this BBS are that post stuff up for critique (usually the recording kind, but some people do comment on song structure, etc.) and who the passers-by are who are just looking to get hits on their website.

Brad

P.S. Slack, I know you'll read this, since it is in your forum - I changed my avatar back! Please love me again!
Polly needs Cotton.