Grim

[Shaun]

Does the forum get much use these days? I look in most days and rarely see any posts. The cost to run outweighs the use this place gets. Sadly I'm thinking it's maybe time to consider calling it a day.

[Excalibur]

The fact that this thread has had three views really says it all. :(:(:(

This place has been the most valuable resource I've ever found on the internet, and has introduced me to some wonderful friends. It's been clear for a long time that it's on borrowed time, and it's passing will leave a big hole in my life. :cry:


The irony is that the thing which has been the biggest factor in its demise, Facebook, seems to be populated largely by pondlife. :mad:

I will take this chance to thank two people immensely, Darren for having the desire to create something to help DJ's like myself to better themselves, and more recently, Shaun for all the unseen work he's been doing behind the scenes to keep it going as long as it has. Also, he has put up with me doing silly things, and asking silly questions. I think many of us owe Marc J a drink for his efforts here, too.

Enjoy it while it's still here. Ave Imperator*................................





* May have bent Rule 23 a bit there, but I think I got away with it. :o

[Imagine]

Make that 4 views (sorry - been out this morning).

I have to admit, it IS sadly getting quieter and it's demise will be a very sad day indeed :(
I've met some awesome friends on here (virtually AND in real life).

As Peter mentions, the Book of Feaces seems to have taken over, and is unfortunately inhabited in the main by complete pond life.
Maybe we can keep the MDD FB group going and use that instead?

[mattydj50]

Five.

I too have used MDD with much enjoymentand usefulness. How would I have otherwise met a very helpful Old Git who has become a valued friend and colleague and introduced me to several other DJs of similar mindset.

Indeed, only yesterday, we bumped into each other at Plaza, Leeds!

If there is a Facecloth MDD closed group, thenmayme it is time to slide gently across and allow the MDD that we know to pass away gracefully.

I've been a member of similar forums etc. in other lives and most of those have sunk without trace. A few just simply closed down without warning and ceased to exist.

[DJWilson]

Shame - but expected.

Found this forum very helpful over the years.

I'm a member of some DJ groups on FB and never post and very rarely comment due to a lot of members trying to be Alpha DJ with set-up's, opinions and anything in-between!

Is there not a free forum hosting service somewhere that can still show the helpful data/threads that are on here?

[Shaun]

Nothing has been decided or even discussed with the other owners of the forum. Just voicing my thoughts at this time. It'll be sad day if and when the place finally does close. So many have put a lot of time, blood, sweat and tears into it over the years.

[Excalibur]

Nothing has been decided or even discussed with the other owners of the forum. Just voicing my thoughts at this time. It'll be sad day if and when the place finally does close. So many have put a lot of time, blood, sweat and tears into it over the years.

As a wise old country singer said: " ya gotta know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em*".
We're not welcoming the end, Shaun, merely acknowledging the likelihood of its arrival. BTW, is there a closed MDD Facebook group that you lot haven't told me about?
:confused:



* Kenny Rogers- The Gambler.

[Shaun]

BTW, is there a closed MDD Facebook group that you lot haven't told me about?
:confused:




Yes! https://www.facebook.com/groups/62293539319/

[Pe7e]

Personally I would be really sad to see the forums demise, but with the best will in the world, it's looking increasingly inevitable. The one thing I've noticed, that doesn't appear to have been exploited, is the fact that Google seems to love it and has it extremely well indexed, Many times when I've made an industry related search, the MDD forum features prominently in the results, couldn't this be harnessed and monetised in some way to help fund the forum? It might even get more people on it.

[rth_discos]

Hang on... this thread has had a decent number of replies within a few hours!!

For me, it's the best quality debate and conversation I've found - and I quite like that it's a relatively small group. I know who I'm interacting with.

What are the costs of hosting? I can't see that this forum requires anything unrealistic in terms of hosting. I'm happy to look at providing hosting if it provides a lifeline to the forum...

[mbp]

Personally, I think that compiling all the Good Gig, Bad Gig stories and comments would make a great book (ebook) that could be sold to contribute to the costs of running the site.

Over the years I have found them really entertaining (an informative)......

Just an idea...

[Imagine]

Personally, I think that compiling all the Good Gig, Bad Gig stories and comments would make a great book (ebook) that could be sold to contribute to the costs of running the site.

"Confessions of a Mobile DJ".

Do you think we can get Robin Askwith to take the lead role in the screenplay for it? :daft:


Over the years I have found them really entertaining (an informative)......

Just an idea...
Entertaining to read....some of them a :Censored: nightmare on the night though to those of use who authored some of them. There's some real horror stories in there!

[Nakatomi]

"Confessions of a Mobile DJ".

Do you think we can get Robin Askwith to take the lead role in the screenplay for it? :daft:


Entertaining to read....some of them a :Censored: nightmare on the night though to those of use who authored some of them. There's some real horror stories in there!

Not just a nightmare on the night either Wayne. Things can get very hairy indeed when information falls into the wrong hands, shall we say..

Better to keep said information to yourself.. at least until such time as no parties can be identified. Some would say a lot of things are best left unsaid completely. Be careful folks.

Anyway with regard to the forum - it's not just here that's in decline. Countless numbers of other forum based communities have already gone. Ones I know of which are still flourishing are very techy based like Linux or electronics. It'd be sad if this place went the way of the dodo. As Gavin said - surely the costs of upkeep can't be that bad..

Facebook - meh.. The network of mobile DJs who have their PLI with a certain company has moments where the signal to noise ratio is tolerably high but sadly that isn't very often. The willy waving, holier than thou folk - as far as I'm concerned that's not just a social media thing, it's been prevalent in the DJ world as long a I've been a part of it (since 1988). Other groups I'm a member of often descend into club DJs mocking mobiles & vice versa, but there's one very secret cabal I'm part of where everybody is a valuable contributor. None of us are elitists as such but we swap work, war stories & tips frequently there as well as have a good laugh.

[Shakermaker Promotions]

I look in everyday, but I have to say that the number of times I have clicked on 'New Posts' and there aren't any easily outweighs the days when there are a couple, or somebody has posted a new topic.

I am not a member of any DJ groups on the book of face and I'd rather stay that way (I don't count the DJ Equipment Buy & Sell group a 'DJ' discussion group as such, even though every now and then some 'chancer' will advertise their services and get pounced on by the bullies).

As has been said already, this forum has been of great help to me over the years. The tips and advice have been welcomed, but it is the networking opportunities and meeting people in the real world that has been the best thing.

As I said, I look in everyday (even though I haven't been active as a DJ now for just over a year), but it appears blatantly obvious that things have changed and social media has taken over everything (for the worse).

'Confessions of a DJ' - I actually started writing my DJ memoirs a few years ago and that was the title of it. All the up's and down's, the X rated moments etc etc...

If it is the end of the forum (I hope not, but it wouldn't surprise me), thanks to those that have entertained and helped me.

Cheers

[DJColsie]

Would miss it greatly.

it was a huge library of experience and knowledge as I was growing my business.

Somehow, and I don’t really know why, I don’t check in as often or refer to it as much as in the past.

[Retrodisco]

I pop in daily in the hope of a new Good Gig, Bad Gig story.

When getting reestablished 8 years ago I found this group amazing help.

[Vectis]

No! Don't go!

I still pop in daily (and pay my monthly quid!) but not having actively gigged for a few years don't seem to have much to contribute, but I do where I can. And I'm always wary of overstepping the mark in discussions relating to NaD etc. that pop up occasionally so tend to keep shush on those.

Facebook is the spawn of the devil for sure. It really does seem to be 80% bullies and idiots that actively participate, and unfortunately the kids coming into DJing at the younger end think that's the be all and end all because social media is all they know. I've pulled pretty much all business related pages and rarely use the platform personally - the occasional long distance family thing where it makes sense to use it for discussions / event planning but no more than that.

[djtrev]

Well this is a first for years.I am on here all day and every day but I admit to never contributing.I would definitely miss it just as I will miss all the others that have or seem likely to fold but unlike most of you I actually would miss Facebook more.It is my goto daily routine for keeping in contact with just about everything.

[ppentertainments]

I wish more would use forums like this as opposed to the book of face, they might actually learn something instead of just 'thinking' they know it all.

I look in every few days (still pay my £1) BUT I think you are right, it really isn't used enough to make it viable.

Stories etc are interesting but it is far from it's heyday where it was a fantastic source of learning and great for troubleshooting. I still remember the days when you had time off you could refresh your webpage and there be something new to read on here.

You can't blame the like of MDJN for what they have done, they have grown huge and as a business have done really well. However the FB group, which I left years ago, is a complete joke.

I would love to see this forum grow - can I see it happening ? Unfortunately not :mad:

[DJ Jules]

I'm on here checking occasionally, but I struggle to find topics to post about. I've found a number of local communities have sprung up between Facebook and WhatsApp that tend to be quicker/easier for getting responses to queries (especially where they're related to local venues or events) and broader groups on Facebook fill the gap where I need wider knowledge. I do tend to find though that any harder questions on the MDJN group are met with silence so I've since resorted to msg'ing specific people who I suspect might know the answer to avoid the chance of getting 90 dumb and unhelpful replies.

Sadly, part of the reason why I don't tend to read/post on here as much is that the forum is not great on a mobile. But I do get that it's probably not worth the investment of time/effort to make it usable on mobile...

Julian

[Shaun]

Well, upon checking, our hosting is paid up until August. So we've at least got until then to enjoy the forum, and hopefully think of ways to attract and get more engagement on here prior to that.

The offers of hosting etc are gratefully appreciated. For me, it's not just a cost factor - we're breaking even (currently) and able to pay the costs from the monthly subscriptions we get from you lovely folk, but the steady decline and lack of use may come to a point where it's in the red. The main factor here is the lack of use by the members, it's just soul destroying, especially knowing how much people (staff and members alike) have devoted to place. I'd hate to see this place just get to the stage where it's a complete ghost town. Hence my thinking best just to call it a day while we have fond memories of the place.

As said though, we're good up until August, so no decisions have to be made yet. As always, your thoughts and input are appreciated.

[ppentertainments]

Any thoughts on how we can encourage people to start reusing the forum ? Any campaign we can do ?

One thing with the forum is while there is great banter, it is also the place you are most likely to get honest answers to any queries. I would hate to see it go, but as it is at the moment it doesn't really have any use.

[Vectis]

Any thoughts on how we can encourage people to start reusing the forum ?

How about monitoring FB groups for questions that we know already have answers on MDD and simply posting 'Already answered at MDD...' with a link to the relevant article?

If enough of us do it often enough then maybe enough people will follow the links and like what they see?

Or maybe even working in pairs to post questions that we KNOW are already answered on MDD in order to do the same?



How about when posting a Good Gig Bad Gig story, you also teasingly post the first paragraph or so onto your favourite FB group then a link 'The rest of this tale is on MDD...' with a link?

[Jim - Scotland's Party DJ]

I'd be sad to see this place go.

It really is a great forum and there's ner a bell-end in sight unlike Facebook.

Being objective, I probably come across as one of the big willy wavers on the Scottish Amp group and I've been banned a time or two, I'd like to think the reason I've never even had a 'heated debate' on here never mind a banning level argument is the fact people here are actually pretty cool and helpful.

Same with a guitar forum I'm on. I used to be on a massive forum and it was toxic. I moved over to a smaller one about 10 years ago and it's great - I use it just about every day even though my guitaring is now all done in the house and I've bought 2 actual bits of gear over the past 7 or so years.