Shameless Self-Promotion?!?! Is that all ya got?
Come on people! Our friend Eric has worked very hard to build, promote, and maintain LiveBluesWorld.com. The site has an excellent set-up for DISCUSSIONS and spammers are removed swiftly and effectively (thanks Eric). I noticed that posts in the "Shameless Self-Promotion" category outnumbered other topics nearly 4 to 1. No wonder people resort to wearing "Keep The Blues Alive" T shirts. Are we just panhandlers?
The Blues is alive and well but the fanbase looks a little LAME. We have an OPPORTUNITY here. Get involved. Make statements. ASK QUESTIONS. You ain't the first hotshot to pick up a Stratocaster and play "Red House". We've all got lessons to teach and more importantly to LEARN.
(yawn) Dave, Sue, don't you agree? X-P
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Sue Rarick on -
I totally agree Chad. I left this site for a while because I was 'pissed' that all I saw were posts of people promoting themselves. Then I cooled off and realised that there were at least a few people here that used the site as more than just another place to hustle themselves and they were people worth knowing.
It does seem like the number of people that contribute to the site is small and I would hope that at least some of the other members are at least reading them. What is sad is that there are so many great musicians here that could lend their great skills and could help so many other musicians. Maybe they have forgotten that life is a two way street and those that live it like a one way street eventually come to a dead end and at that point there is no place to turn around and they are on their own.
Magazines like Guitar Player used to have regular editorial articles such as tunings, harmony, guitar 101, recording etc. I don't know if something like that here would peek interests. Sadly I doubt it, but hope springs eternal.
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Permalink Reply by Chad Nordhoff on -
I know Toby Walker has posted a handful of youtube videos showing how to play a some licks. I've been playing over 20 years and I have still learned from those. Others, at times have posted vids on tunings for guitar and other stringed instruments. I'm not sure how many people take advantage of them.
The "next great guitar hero" post stayed at the top of the page for about a year. Maybe that's what blues is now, just an excuse for blazing guitar virtuosididdling.
If you look to your right you'll see a stream of blog posts that let you know what's going on with active LBW members. That's a great set up. This info is on every page no matter what you click on.
I know that out of my 4,468 myspace friends, a small handfull of meaningful contacts have made all the difference. 4,448 of them would probably never know or care if I released a CD, went on tour, or spontaneously combusted on live television.. Accepting a friend request is simply to say "sure, you can post your music widget as a comment on my page. Why not set it to play automatically while you're at it." When I moved my activities over to facebook, I kept it simple. I know, have met, or have at least had actual interaction with all but a few. Some are fans of me or I of them.
The internet has changed promotion (and may have changed people's behavior) but it has not changed human nature. I don't think I've ever had anyone come to my show just because I messaged them about it. I have had people from across the globe go out of their way to see me play because I spent actual time with them.
It's essential to maintain a presence online. It's more important to actually be there to back it up.
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Permalink Reply by kevin barry "bluesglass" on -
If a person is promoting himself or herself, more power to 'em. These are my kind of people. This site provides usewrs with the names of REAL PEOPLE and contact info. Kep the shameless self-promotion coming, and do everything in your power to increase it.
How else can we watch the future of the blues from the ground up?
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Permalink Reply by Chad Nordhoff on
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Don't worry. It will keep on coming. And it too will be bumped right off the page for the next round. My point is that, though I haven't purchased anything (yet) I AM familiar with "bluesglass" because you have taken the time to post something other than just "HEY, BUY MY STUFF".
"How else can we watch the future of the blues from the ground up?" Nobody's watching anyway. Everyone's too busy trying to take rather than contribute. That's kinda what all the above typing was about.
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Permalink Reply by kevin barry "bluesglass" on
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you sound a little depressed or something. I've been there.
Everybody is not trying to "take".
Really, it's just you, and this is only temporary.
Instead of leaving the guitar home tonight, leave
the tip jar home.
Listen as much as you play. Try to find a new way to look at the
blues and forget the site for awhile.
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Permalink Reply by Chad Nordhoff on
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Kevin, your suggestion is absolutely right. Trust me. I do that every day, fairly successfully. First, I'm thrilled to do what I love. Second, others enoy it. Third, I'm rewarded fo it.
My frustration with this site involves this site and not necessarily everything else. At the root of it all is the fact that I have met Eric Ashman, the designer/webmaster of LiveBluesWorld.com. He has worked to keep the site free of spam and google ads (which are a potential source of revenue). He's done so to help nurture the CULTURE within the blues, not just to give us free adspace.
If you're interested in how I "look at the blues" there are pages upon pages posted on the subject.
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Permalink Reply by kevin barry "bluesglass" on
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No doubt about it. Nothing negative intended.
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Permalink Reply by Chad Nordhoff on
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I think tonight, I'll skip the whole playing music thing. It's a waste of time carrying a guitar and amp. I'm just gonna bring the tip jar and walk around singing ba da ba ba baaaa, I'm lovin' it. I guess that's what blues fans want.
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Permalink Reply by Chad Nordhoff on
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If ya can't beat 'em, sell 'em somethin'.
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Permalink Reply by Chad Nordhoff on
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Sure Dave, it works. If you send me your bank account number I'll pass it on to my billionaire "friend" in Nigeria. He'll deposit a few million just for helping him out.
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Permalink Reply by CHC Network on -
No, problem, bro.
The check is in the mail.
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Permalink Reply by Matt Marshall on -
Well said, Chad. I fully agree.
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