Suggestions for Volume 3

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Slackmaster2K

Slackmaster2K

Gone
Now that the submission process is over for most of you, I'd like to hear your comments regarding the submission process and pre-ordering.

Personally I think that this time things went very smoothly, but I do have a lot of ideas to make it easier next time.

I'd like to hear back from you guys who have actually been through these processes....were they ok? Comments for improvements?

Any general comments about the next CD will be welcome too. I'll fire up a thread just like this one after the release of the CD too.

Regarding one specific issue that will impact volume 3. This space thing is kind of becoming an issue...maybe. If we keep it 2 cd's or less, then I think we can have real CD's pressed every year (although the submission fee will rise to $25). We will have to impose limitations such as: submission size must be less than 40MB (approx. 4 minutes), members who have been here longer get first crack, members with high post counts get second crack, then a lottery to fill the rest of the CD with anybody else who wants in. Something *like* that anyhow.

If we allow as many CD's as it takes, then we'll have to duplicate CDR's, in which case I'd like to build a duplication machine and buy a printer, which would cost about the same as paying a duper to do it for us ONCE, and would certainly pay off in the long run. Any equipment would belong to the BBS thus if I retire from the project I'd give it to the next guy. Nice thing about this idea is I could do individual runs of older compilations without having to pay a duper some large fee.

So...just looking for brainstorming...

Slackmaster 2000
 
If it would make a difference and get us to the real CD process I think raising the cost a few bucks wouldn't hurt.
If we went from $22.50 to say $27.50 how big a difference would that be.

On the other hand the idea is to raise funds for the site so while we have suggestions, we should keep this as the primary focus.

I would also like to see the process be spread out a bit and relieve Slack somewhat. It's a ton of work putting this together and If people can help along the way, then it should be mandatory. Maybe if you help....then you pay $25.00 (or ?) and if you are too busy then kick down $30.00 (I would)
in the balance we could maybe offer them preorder at a cheaper price, and possibly sell more.

Just a thought.
 
Here's the deal with help....

I used to really want help....now I kind of don't. It is a lot of work, but it's not easily distributable. I'm not sure what tasks I could really have people do to help out without just confusing the whole system. I was a little disappointed with the artwork stuff, but my wife kicked in and got that taken care of.

All in all I think it probably requires 80-100 hours of work to produce the comp cd...but a lot of it is just taking submissions and entering them into the database...making sure submitted files are good...corresponding with people who messed up....updating the webpage....creating forms....answering questions....setting up CC payments....running to the bank....printing address labels & boxing up shipments, running to the post office....researching duplication/replication resources...getting quotes...explaining to people what a money order is, and arguing with them as to why it's required, then giving in and letting them send a check. That sort of crap.

Maybe I'm a little too protective....I want to make sure it all goes according to plan and turns out looking good. Ed doing the song order really helps a lot....and I know and trust ed.

I guess when it comes time to make the jackets and inserts I'll probably ask for some help. In the past when I've asked there hasn't been much response, but a few people did offer time & services and I really appreciate that.

This project is a lot of fun for me really...and I'm glad to see how many are intersted in it. I really thank everyone who's participating, and the BBS thanks them too! It's for a great cause!

Slackmaster 2000
 
If Comp 3 pays for the Duplication Machine and Printer, could future CD's come down in retail so that we could see a higher volume of orders, even if the bottom line stays the same?

it would be cool that way if we could do other Cd's such as special occasion ones (ie. Christmas) or Collaboration's.....

I would go with that idea to allow everyone that wants a chance to be in on it a spot.....and to allow those who are long winded (over 4 min) more rrom to breath, within reason......
 
Yep, that's exactly it gidge. We could sell comp cd's for half price some day and still have the same profit margin.

HOWEVER, we'd be stuck doing CDR's forever...and that just seems so...final and sad :) A nice silk-screened CD...I'd love to be on one...and I bet a lot of other homerec'ers would too!

But who knows....who knows....

If we fill a CD completely, we can pay to replicate it...the problem really comes when we just got a little bit over, like 2.25 CD's....that third cd needs paying for it and the funds aren't there.

Pre-orders have been SHITTY this time around. Last time it was mostly pre-orders that paid for the CD.

Slackmaster 2000
 
ok im confused.......so i payed to be ON the c.d......do i have to pay to RECIEVE a c.d. as well??????...is this the "pre-order" your talking about????



j
 
Yeah you get one.

Pre-orders are people who buy the CD before it comes out, but didn't submit material (or submitted but ordered extra copies).

They give me money, but take up no resources...hence their money counts a lot more than the submitter's money! It really helps get the CD going!

Slackmaster 2000
 
Regarding one specific issue that will impact volume 3. This space thing is kind of becoming an issue...maybe. If we keep it 2 cd's or less, then I think we can have real CD's pressed every year (although the submission fee will rise to $25). We will have to impose limitations such as: submission size must be less than 40MB (approx. 4 minutes), members who have been here longer get first crack, members with high post counts get second crack, then a lottery to fill the rest of the CD with anybody else who wants in. Something *like* that anyhow.
Click to expand...

With respect, should we limit someone to submit only once ? I mean a member who has submited for vol 2 won't be allowed to submit on vol 3. So everyone gets fair chances to be on the cd. Just a thought.

;)
Jaymz
 
The submission process was easy enough. Acrobat fill-in forms are straightforward, and the ones you made were clear. I have a feeling if I didn't mix, mix, mix, mix, mix the song for so long I would have had more time to pay carefull attention to the forms and either figure out or ask about things I didn't understand in the 5 seconds I gave it.

And I now know where to get money orders in town! Can't beat that handy bit of knowledge. :D I wonder why that feels like such a big deal? It is an easy process, but for some reason feels like a pain in the butt. Not a big deal.

As for CD 3, I'm waiting to see how CD 2 shakes out. I really like the idea of having an anual-ish comp CD, but, as jcmm mentioned, the focus should remain on raising money for the board. If it gets too complex or expensive it won't be sustainable.

I also like the idea of spreading out the tasks a bit- at least entertaining the idea. If there are a few people who commit to taking on similar tasks for each CD, the process would be more sustainable. Slack already has an idea of what tasks CAN be distributed, so we could look at distributing them as a regular process.

For example, I work at a small publishing company. I have most design software packages here and it would be NO sweat to print jackets and such, as long as I reimburse the office for ink and paper. We have the same consumer photo inkjets that everyone else has in their offices, but with good paper they look sharp. As long as I am here, I can print Comp CD jackets.

I make regular trips to UPS and Fed Ex offices, as well. I could stuff CD cases and ship as an add on to my normal routine. Got printable labels and everything to make such a process fairly simple.

If they complain that I am using their $80 printers, I'll start charging rent for my $8000 studio... :D They won't complain, though. Its a vision driven place and they understand the importance of home grown places like this. We're a homegrown place, too.

Take care,
Chris
 
Good thoughts Chris...

What I'm most concerned about right at this moment is just breaking even and being able to produce the CD. My gut tells me that if we get it out there, people will buy it and money for the site will definately be raised. I'm going to sell out Volume 1 which was a huge failure on my part (took too long to produce) which was 75 sets. If we just sell twice that this time around, which we should, then we've done REALLY WELL for the BBS.

Right now I have enough money to send 2 CD's to be replicated....and that's it. If we get just a couple hundred dollars in pre-orders then we can have a shippable product. That would happen somewhere around a sales number of only 50 (including submitters!!!). I am confident that we will raise plenty of money for Dragon by christmas.

Printing printing printing....

I might take you up on your offer, if you offered! Volume 1 was printed on a cheap inkjet and IMO looked decent for what it was. I used an HP920 and HP Glossy Brochure paper. I cut them out by hand with scissors and a crappy paper cutter. It worked well except lining up front & back was awkward...this one will be on a white background so it might be less of an issue.

I would send you supplies (paper & ink or money for ink) and want you to send me back folded jackets and unfolded tray liners, plus all receipts and any change. I can send artwork in any format.

As far as shipping........well, we might be able to spread that process out but it's hard. Firstly I take all the orders, so I'd have to send off addresses to shippers. Those people would print labels and ship the product....and we'd need some kind of controls to make sure that none were forgotten or lost. Plus keeping track of money would be weird because it's like $1.29 to ship in the US, and 4.80 to ship internationally...then boxes are around 0.20-0.29 each....oh and I'm going to use this shrink wrap stuff this time which is another few pennies.....it would be hard to keep track of maybe. Really I don't mind shipping so much, it's one of the more mundane and easy tasks.

Slackmaster 2000
 
I think part of the appeal of the comp CD for many homerecordists is that chance to actually be on a silkscreened, pro-duped CD. I can understand the bottom-line aspect of CD-R's though.
Giving preference to old-times might end up in core set of guys that always submit, and discourage new-comers. I think limiting songs to 4 minutes would be appropriate though.
The best thing to do might be to set up the submission process, let everyone know the space limitations, and then just take the first 40 songs that are submitted properly and meet all the requirements. That way people understand that they need to have their ducks in a row and get their song in early. That would take some of the load off you, too.
Just some thoughts.

Aaron
http://www.voodoovibe.com
 
Random thoughts to improve Volume III....

1) Make submission webpage a "choose your own adventure" type deal where the submitter answers questions and is "forced" to download and submit the correct material.

2) *IF* Dragon ever wakes up and gives me mysql rights on the server, I can also automate much of the data collection process. Contracts will still have to be mailed, as will CDR's. Online retrieval of submitted information would be available as well, such that you could update your submission after-the-fact (until a certain date).

3) Instructions for burning data cd's with popular software...including how to "finalize" a CD.

4) Pay per minute scheme for submission fees. Have fixed number of slots on a first come-first serve basis.

5) Need better way to advertise and inform members about the project. Must get more control from Dragon...or have him become more involved.

6) Consider becoming "legit." HomeRecording.Comp as a legal entity. Pros: ability to take credit cards without paypal and enjoy benefits of business bank accounts. Cons: taxes. More work. Possible infringement on Dragon's HR name. Project becomes too "me" oriented (like it's not already, ugh).

7) Fixed pricing goals at the start of the CD. This wasn't possible this time around because the "real CD" idea didn't seem possible until the last minute.

8) Plan on making more copies and attempting to sell them creatively. Bring more members to the BBS.

9) Find out real numbers from Dragon on what it costs to maintain the site so that we can have a target to shoot for.

Slackmaster 2000
 
Slackmaster2K said:
4) Pay per minute scheme for submission fees. Have fixed number of slots on a first come-first serve basis.
Click to expand...

Very reasonable. And $10 per minute isn't reaching either, and then you would have $1600 by now. :) And $50 from me. :) (sorry about submitting such a long song, but that really is the best one I have...)

By having a fixed time limit, not everybody could join, of course, but letting people that wasn't on the volume II have precedence over the ones that did it wouldn't really matter, I think.
 
I actually want to see people on the CD each year...it's cool to see how they change and evolve.

When I say fixed slots, I basically mean that we need X minutes filled per CD. Thus if we only have 5 minutes worth of material on a CD, it can't be manufactured. This problem might totally disappear if we raise enough funds from this project to have a good $500-1000 to start the next project with.

The quantity we move this time will set the price per minute. If 300 units is a good target, then $7 per minute should cover manufacturing AND jewels & inserts. If we go to 500 units, that might bump up to $10....although I don't want to make it too high and wind up with 5 submissions :)

Slackmaster 2000
 
Slackmaster2K said:
I was a little disappointed with the artwork stuff, but my wife kicked in and got that taken care of.
Click to expand...


Lick my ass, you art snob! I tried...
 
Whoever said I'm not using your artwork? You artwork snob snob!

Slackmaster 2000
 
Thanks abyyss!



Mrs. Slack's design did kick my sorry artwork's ass, I admit. But man, if you knew how many Friday night masturbation sessions I gave up to work on those designs...

Um, I mean, Friday night dates with my lady. Yeah, that's what I meant.:rolleyes:





:eek:
 
AaaaaaAAhhhh HhHHaaaa hha HHHAAAAHhhhh!

ROTFLMAO.

I know the feeling, Brad.

Spent many a friday night buggin' the eyes out on creative stuff that flopped the next day...

-C
 
Slack, sweetie pie, you know I was joking, right?

Your wife's artwork is freaking awesome!


I was just being a bitch, because I know you like it when I get all sassy.


At least you used to like me sassy, before you got all married an' shit.
 
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