Simple as this:

How could we try to get more active, consistent members on this forum? This forum is inhabited by the same 15 members with a newbie posting either their introduction thread or a rogue posting from a random newbie from the past once or twice. 

Is it a problem with the look of the forum and main site to interest people in coming back? The subject were devoted to? The members? The topics?

How could we try to make this forum more appealing for others to come and stay. A fresh batch of lovely members are desperately needed imo. 

Seriously, it is a rather small circle, but I quite enjoy the comradery.  Also, the knowledge of music in general, and prog music in particular, is absolutely top-shelf in this crowd....I come back so often because I learn a great deal.  

Now, to get more members...I don't know, recruit more babes?  

 

"signed photos of Dean" puuu-ha, that part saved my azz, thought you were serious for a second or two 

http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=53655&PN=20" rel="nofollow - http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=53655&PN=20

Nah, some people would just post rubbish all day for the sake of it.

The thing is, PA has a pretty set rate visitor-wise. We have some 50000 members, of which there are a lot of double accounts, spammers, jokers, hustlers and rating abusers.....and then you got all those folks who don't visit anymore. 

BUT on a day to day basis, we're about the same amount of visitors that we've always been - at least while I've been frequenting. New faces pop in - old ones disappear and so it goes for better or worse.

Maybe if prog rock was to be the new thang and get monster attention from tv and radio - and this huge comeback emerges from the ashes like a rising phoenix of extended solos and unfathomable time signatures, - maybe then we'll see some new faces. 

I just don't think prog is on the verge of making it big....again.....at least not anytime soon, and speaking from a collaborator's pov, then I could see this turning PA into a HUUUUUUUGE place, where we'd have to have teams for every part of the forum. Oh and can you imagine how many new threads we'd see, where people with their panties in a twist would scold us for not having Flaming Lips, Animal Collective and XTC up in this mother Sounds like a wee thing, but then again we've never had to explain ourselves to thousands of different people. 

The way I see it, PA is what it is on account of it's relatively small size. Folks know each other and remember things from threads they posted in. If you pour some 1000s of new people in the boat, I'm afraid the intimacy of this place will disappear. I'm not saying I don't want new blood and new people to talk to - heck, I'm just about the most outgoing maniac around here - but I would hate to see PA transform into this big machine, where intimacy would be reserved for those few of us who frequent the dark side of the loon aka Collaborator Zone.

Maybe I'm "painting the devil on the door" as we say in Denmark, but I love this place for it's people.

Maybe we could start catering to a small few then? Bicyclists, gymnasts, Armenian truckers, Ugandan bisexuals and other such relatively small groups of people.

There's always the titty factor though..........or perhaps the lack thereof Some things always manage to pull people in.

Fantastic news then! I guess if the Huffington post says so, then it surely must be true. I can't wait!

Say Dean - any chance you'll take on your old job if we're about to be flooded with new prog rock fans who all have read the paper?

I would, though, say that the reviewing side is probably better regarded than the forum.

What if we actually payed attention to bands that posted in the Welcome Artists section? And/or had forum members with special New Artist Reviewer titles.

I know a lot of collaborators on PA who juggle team work, new suggestions and reviewing, and then when they've finally got a little time to themselves, they chill out in the forums talking to friends. Personally I'd feel it would be a bit of a chore to have to sift through new artists to boot. 

But the casual Joe on here should have more than enough time to take a listen methinks.

As for a title stating "New Artist Reviewer" - I don't think so. We have a wide variety of reviewers on PA who do fantastic work, but I'd hate to narrow down anyone's freedom to review whatever they feel like. Sure it'd be wonderful if more writers would support the new acts - especially all of those new artists that keep getting thrown our way yet hardly EVER receive any form of attention, but making a distinct job to do so is not the solution imo.

 

This was fun !

 (not 'drum and bass' solos, young friend, but *shudder* 'drum solos' and 'bass solos')

 

Well, the fact that PA is much older than JMA or MMA is maybe part of the explanation, but when PA was 2 or three years old, it had reached a very important potential that I doubt JMA and MMA will probably never reach ... different eras as well, I suppose...

If I'm not surprised that the JMA forum did not take off (knowing the average jazz fan), I must say that I'm a bit surprised MMA never took off... Maybe there is too much competition from other Metal forums...

 

I'd say that the black background of both MMA and JMA is probably not very inviting ...

 

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As for PA's forums, I'd say that may of the old guard grew tired of writing the same thing over and over (I certainly did) , and indeed are concentrating on non-music topics..; there is also a natural erosion effect... it happens to every movement or item...

 

Part of the problem (I think) is that there are many topics buried deep in theforum's archives that can't be relivened because they're locked, for reasons of space/bandwidth (whatever the technical reasons, I can't remember exactly, but it was discussed here a few years ago).

 

Maybe I'm dreaming, but... 

 

I have maybe a solution (if it's feasible , of course), but it will need a few volunteers not afraid to spend much time.

 

In order to reopen access to these old but interesting threads (such as the Mellotron thread), why not eliminate (delete permanently) all the junk threads and the unsuccesful ones those that didn't manage more than a few answers) that take up so much space

I'm sure deleting the Mariah Carey and the Velvet Room threads will free up much space, which would allow maybe to reopen essential older threads that are inaccessible for new comments, unless askinfg admins to reliven it

 

Of course, this will require a certain quality of judgment as as to what to keep and what to discard... a little housekeeping of sorts, right??

 

 

 

 

This is a matter of perception rather than reality.

  

P.A. needs more members this is a fact! To date it is still one of the most prestigious sites for bands be added and rated also in terms where they stand in terms of Progressive moozik.

 

The beauty of this site is that it is made be none professional music critics, however unfortunately we do no effort as in to entice newcomers to join us. Honestly the name progressive music considering what it entitles is a very appealing brand of people wanting to be exclusive above others, this can be sold and people will be more than willing to accept it too and become hooked to it, after some time listening to prog I promise they will find anything else gawd awful boring the brain once hearing better options will not accept any less but for this we need to become more welcome of newcomers some who might not know i.e. Genesis nor that Phil Collins was an incredible drummer and that Gabriel was the lead singer, this would interest new listeners so much because once we get them and make them feel welcome their excitement and own discoveries will benefit us all, it would make me so happy really.    

I actually do believe the mellotron/novatron is an interesting topic to me, The Beatles started with it and so is much influenced in King Crimson moozik even in the moody blues, depending on the topic and how one might express it, I cannot get enough of the mellotron topic because it is interesting and nice to me  hugs to you my fav grumpy Dean