My Thoughts on Growth

[OverLord]

I was just over at another forum and a couple of things struck me about size and growth.
I logged in to find 3 pages of unread posts, pretty daunting to begin with. I noticed that I started doing triage in my mind and skipped a lot of posts. I only looked at those I had previously responded to or just had 0 to a few replies. Most of the threads were technical in nature and were answered in one or two posts and maybe a follow up or two.

I felt like it wasn't any fun this morning. I used to be able to read every post and get a sense of the personalities and lives behind them. Now it is big and impersonal. It was a place to share ideas and now it is a place for the most experienced to answer questions.

Is all the original flavor gone? No. It is still there. But you have to dig deeper to reach it's caramel filled center. (this is a metaphor)

No moral here. Just observation.

[CaTaPulT]

Hi Michael.
Agreed, some forums do turn like that, they get too busy and the people in the know often end up sacrificing what used to be more personal enjoyment to just answering questions cut and dry due to their time restrictions and how many questions there might be thus this becomes a job and looses it's appeal quickly.
This is where this Forum has a good chance of doing well, even if it gets bigger, it's setup in categories where each brand name equipment will have it's experienced users and, so Vdrum questions will be answered by the Vdrum users, Yamaha by the Yamaha crowd. The brand specific forums are great, but become very impersonal over time, as the old fun crowd slowly looses interest and disappear, they are often replaced by techies that just come on the forums, ask their questions, get answers, no thank yous, no nothing and then vanish till their next question.
Unfortunately for me, DTXperience is turning into that kind of forum, we had a great bunch on there a year and a half ago, still do in smaller numbers but the average new members are just there to pick the experienced people's brains and then leave, no sense of community, just grab and dash.
It's unfortunate, I help many people on the DTXperience forums, for many various modules, but when I can answer a question and the guy get's his equipment to work with my advise, and then has the courtesy to say thank you, that makes my day. I like helping people get the most out of their toys, not much fun having all this expensive eDrum stuff and you can't figure out to make it work.
I have days I just ignore the questions and just look for some fun stuff happening on the forums, but most of the time, I end up going back to respond to the questions as best I can.
It's unfortunate the big companies like Roland and Yamaha can have more of their reps online on a daily basis, the people that should know this stuff inside out and are paid to know this stuff out should be on the forums helping out.
I'll starting to ***** in my posts over at DTXperienced that these so called Quick Step Guides are taking a long time to come out due to the users manual being lacking in many respects. Time will tell when we get those quick Step Guide.
When a Forum gets too big, perfect example is Vrums.com, then the admins are run ragged, the lack of time needed to respond to 100's of messages a day is overwhelming and then the lack of interest starts setting in. I do hope eDrumForun never become that busy and that large, the time restraints on the people here just wouldn't be able to cut it.
Just my opinion on the subject.
Take Care

Regards: >>>> Jack <<<<

[TAKnipe]

I think part of alot of the reasons these things happen is more than just growth. You have to have a long term plan for growth and entertainment. When we began this little experiment I had alot of ideas in mind. I still have a few main goals and keeping those are my main objective. I also came to the realization that I needed a long term plan so that it doesnt get that too impersonal. I think I have a cure for that and also the personnel here to make sure that doesnt happen:

1) Contests - We are going to try to having ongoing contests, meaningful contests that offer neat prizes and fun activities that get everyone involved.

2) A VIP club - Eventually I would like to have a VIP club with special special priveleges. I am working on feature enhancements as well as special discount packages and a host of upgraded features that will make your head spin.

3) Special board features that will include video enhancements as well as posting features.

4) A store that will offer discounts on all things drum related including videos and books. Instructional as well as entertaining. This will have a tiered discount system .

5) A new and exciting look to the board that will enhance all the features that we allready enjoy. Light and friendly and customized for us.

6) Technical advisors and reps that are invited to share their knowledge and expertise.

7) The very best admin staff in the entire world - You guys make all the difference in the world and are always ready to help and offer ideas and suggestions.

8) A member driven e newsletter.

We have the ability to react and get better much quicker than other boards. I think the above items alone make us the forum of choice for edrummers.

Each idea takes some time to impliment but we are on the verge of getting better and on our way to not just growth but more like growing our family. Just my 2 cents of what growth should be like, T

[OverLord]

Great thoughts guys. I look forward to the future.

[dschrammie]

I had a growth once, but the doctor said to leave it alone and it would eventually go away. :o ;D
ba-dum-bum!

Yeah...okay....so anyway...

I think there's a certainly amount of 'impersonality' that is inevitable when a community exhibits significant growth. Look at any social aspect in our world and it happens...governments, religions, etc. The good thing is that it's been pointed out and vocalized, so it's something that we can all watch out for and at least do our best to keep the fun energy flowing.
Speaking of fun energy, I'll try to throw some in here (non subject and non edrum related joke):

A guy sits down at a bar and orders a drink. He notices an old oil lamp behind the bar and asks the bartender "Hey what's with the old lamp?" The bartender replies "That's a magic lamp. You rub it and make a wish." The man is intrigued. "Oh really...well, does it work?" The bartender bends down to get something from below the bar. He comes back up with a miniature grand piano, just large enough to take up the space on the bar in front of the man. He goes down again and comes back up with a matching bench. He goes down a third time and he comes up with a tiny man in a tuxedo. The tiny man sits at the bench and begins playing the piano. It's some of the most beautiful playing the man has ever heard. Chopin, Beethoven, Mozart. The man exclaims "That's incredible! Can I try the lamp?!" To that the bartender hands the lamp to the man. He rubs the lamp and says "I wish I had a million bucks!" Suddenly the doors of the bar burst open and a million ducks go flying through the bar. The man turns to the bartender and yells "HEY! This thing is broken!" The bartender replies "Well of course it's broken. You didn't think I wished for a 12" pianist, did you?!"
:D

[fignewton]

I have noticed that other forums go through ..err..i dont know..user cycles.
You can watch someones path they research kits, purchase kit, ask/make a handful of posts, then said kit shows up on the classified adds. ;D

I really think the chat feature here, but i always seem to miss people. Doh!

Keep up the good work.

[TAKnipe]

Hey Fignewton,
I agree with you about the chat feature. I think that the chat feature brings a new level of familiarity among members you may never have the option of meeting never mind getting to know. I have the honor of chatting with my new friends on the phone on occasion and you get the sense that this is a real community.

I hope we dont keep missing you, I will tell you in the evenings seem to be the best for chat. Also there are more of us that chat but we are in the middle of converting the site to our new home and it has been hectic. I hope to see you in the chat room soon, Tom ;D

[fignewton]

Yeah its no biggy
I usually catch someone on there every once in a while when i should be working. :P

[dschrammie]

Yeah its no biggy
I usually catch someone on there every once in a while when i should be working. :P

Hehehe...like NOW?! :D
that's me as well...I have more time to jump on while I'm at work than while at home...kind of ironic!
I'll probably get caught soon though! :o

[evil1rox]

2) A VIP club -

...I don't think I can be a part of that...last time in the VIP ... My nose is still glowing red and all the "DANCERS" trashed my hotel room then stole my wallet. :P


-that's why we are a community...humor...being able to riff on each other..etc. PLUS talk drums and interact...that's why we have the advantage..we can be people and not posts (or post whores.)

E (Ryan)

[TAKnipe]

Walmart has wallets on sale for 99 cents ;D

[BobbyMck2]

Did I hear someone mention a room for naked dancing girls :D

[evil1rox]

Walmart Dancing girls and the 99 cent wallet...

-Sounds like one of those 70's B movies that college kids make up drinking games to.

Ryan