How do we get more artist participation here?

[Dottonedan]

or....a sticky Non-Auto Art thread.

Sticky non auto ??    I'm lost on that one. Not sure what you mean.  Help a fella out.

[Frog]

or....a sticky Non-Auto Art thread.

Sticky non auto ??    I'm lost on that one. Not sure what you mean.  Help a fella out.

A sticky thread showcasing art not involving cars?

[Command-Z]

I hear you Dan. So I'm going to ramble like I did back then.

Nothing will ever be like the old TSPMB. I don't know what it was, the old format layout maybe, or just that it had a lot of industry buzz? Remember the spinoff that Beatty, Dennis and XLNT3D made? That's where we met Lemorris and others... it was the place to be for a while 'till it was hacked.

The events that took down the old boards has left a bad impression that ripples to this day. Some people aren't ever coming back to any boards.

So what was it that made it such a gathering place for everyone? I've had fulltime gigs where the art dept was where everyone came to chill out (to the displeasure of shop owners who saw it as un-productivity and made rules to prevent it, which, naturally, lowered productivity.) I think the freedom to discuss whatever came to mind was part of it and that old thread format, where you could reply directly to replies ad infinitum, went well with that, but there was also the art critique part of it. Critique is an important exercise for all levels of experience. Then there were non-artists asking questions. Having the best artists in the industry available to answer questions and give tips was a great asset and was a great way for artists to subtly promote themselves.

The tutorial thing came later... it was the "place to be" before we even knew how to post pictures, let alone videos.

Portfolios are good, but how will that encourage participation in any specific thread? It will attract artists wanting to self-promote, but what will it do for the discussions?

What are the most popular topics on this board? "What Have You Printed Lately?" seems to be one. People like seeing prints and cool art. But like someone mentioned,  it's mostly shop owners who post here... which should be incentive enough for freelance artists to post here. There's good opportunity for sharing expertise and gaining exposure. But most of the topics seem to revolve around presses and squeegees and screens... Important topics, but I don't have much input for those. I try to help with art-specific questions when I can, but honestly, I think most of the old gang are either too busy or too jaded about boards in general to even look.

Then there's Facebook. We didn't have that back then and when we went to the internets, we went to TSPMB first. Now we want to see what our actual friends and family are up to and while we're at it, check up on our own business fan pages.

So there you go. An old fashioned, stream of consciousness TSPMB artist board-style Command-Z ramble. This is the top industry board now. There's buzz. There are artists here, we just don't see a lot of opportunities for input. Asking questions like this thread are good, it got some of us going, but how to attract others? How do we make it a place for creatives to hang out? Nobody did anything at TSPMB, it just happened.

[Screened Gear]

You want to get more artist to participate. You could offer free weed, jk. You need to fire them up. Tell them art is dead. Tell them anyone can design on a computer. Tell them art adds no value. Tell them everything has been done before. Artists are strange little green trolls hiding in the dark under bridges just waiting for their opertunity to strike.

[Command-Z]

You want to get more artist to participate. You could offer free weed, jk. You need to fire them up. Tell them art is dead. Tell them anyone can design on a computer. Tell them art adds no value. Tell them everything has been done before. Artists are strange little green trolls hiding in the dark under bridges just waiting for their opertunity to strike.

You're actually right. Sometimes, controversial topics, trolling and thread baiting are actually good ways to get real dialog going and were common at the old board.

So do it.

[Frog]

I will attempt to ramble as well (shouldn't be too tough)

Command is onto something. A simple visit to the Facebook page that was created for the TSPMB refugees will show you that it mostly attracts the non-industry stuff (not a complaint, it is what it is). You may not get separation techniques, or much true critical input on your piece of art, but you'll know where the artists went for BBQ the night before, or their favorite beer.
(It's also interesting, that some there are even friends as well as "friends" with the very person who made them refugees)
 
Lest I seem hypoctitical, I am probably also known for "fluff stuff" on every board on which I have participated. I just also tend to facilitate the sharing of industry info as well.

I remember Lance's short-lived experiment with a hybrid Industry/Facie Spacie Forum, and I swear that I often felt that I was the only one there starting industry-related threads.


The TSPMB artist section was like the back table of the local tavern. Since then, chain bars on the virtual landscape have filled the void.


That said, here, we'll serve anything from  Manhattans, to Mango Martinis and Boilermakers, to micro brews, and wings if they ever do show up! For anything stronger, doctor's notes will be required.

[Dottonedan]

Haha.   All good points. Very true.


I have a feeling tho, that all it will take is us seasoned guys (now getting older) to start some good (time dedicated) art tutorials once a week and in a month or so, we will see some flowers sprouting. We need content in order to catch the artist eyes. The young'ns and the printers want to know, so we should feed them some soul food me thinks.

[Command-Z]

Haha.   All good points. Very true.


I have a feeling tho, that all it will take is us seasoned guys (now getting older) to start some good (time dedicated) art tutorials once a week and in a month or so, we will see some flowers sprouting. We need content in order to catch the artist eyes. The young'ns and the printers want to know, so we should feed them some soul food me thinks.

I think that's a good idea, Dan. Value-added user experiences. But you and I both know what will really get art discussions going. They worked then, they'll work now.

Two things:

Mac vs PC
Adobe vs Corel

[Screened Gear]

Start talking about how to run a freelance design firm and you will have everyone's ears. I did that for 8 years I am full of info on that.

[Frog]

Haha.   All good points. Very true.


I have a feeling tho, that all it will take is us seasoned guys (now getting older) to start some good (time dedicated) art tutorials once a week and in a month or so, we will see some flowers sprouting. We need content in order to catch the artist eyes. The young'ns and the printers want to know, so we should feed them some soul food me thinks.

I think that's a good idea, Dan. Value-added user experiences. But you and I both know what will really get art discussions going. They worked then, they'll work now.

Two things:

Mac vs PC
Adobe vs Corel

It was much broader, as I seem to remember often right vs left, and blind faith vs. atheism, leading to  Evolution vs. Intelligent  (or at least fairly thoughtful for the most part with some exceptions, as after all, even the most fiery fundamentalist Christian has seen pictures of the duck-billed platypus) Design 

Like I said before, it was "Come for the fights, stay for the art discussions"

[Frog]

Start talking about how to run a freelance design firm and you will have everyone's ears. I did that for 8 years I am full of info on that.

Some say that you are certainly full of something. 

[lemorris]

Zeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!

[lemorris]

Tutorials are great.  Use them all the time.  It'll bring lurkers...lookey loos.....not much more than that. 

In looking at the "What have you printed lately" thread...maybe we just need some thread title changes.

How bought instead of "Stuff you've done already! - show it off"   How bout "What have you created lately?"

Maybe "Art Pricing" can become "The Business of Art"  and we can discuss marketing, SEO, bidding...etc.

Maybe we need a "Rants for Rants Sake"  thread.  Wanna go off?  wanna prove once and for all that PC users are waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay better??   That's your place.

Not a place to get nasty mind you, but maybe we can peel this industry lid up just a tad and get back to being people a little bit.....just sayin.

[Dottonedan]

Tutorials are great.  Use them all the time.  It'll bring lurkers...lookey loos.....not much more than that. 

In looking at the "What have you printed lately" thread...maybe we just need some thread title changes.

How bought instead of "Stuff you've done already! - show it off"   How bout "What have you created lately?"

Maybe "Art Pricing" can become "The Business of Art"  and we can discuss marketing, SEO, bidding...etc.

Maybe we need a "Rants for Rants Sake"  thread.  Wanna go off?  wanna prove once and for all that PC users are waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay better??   That's your place.

Not a place to get nasty mind you, but maybe we can peel this industry lid up just a tad and get back to being people a little bit.....just sayin.

Again, so true and more great ideas. Good discussion.  We have tried the "Build it and they will come" idea and it's not worked thus far and we all know there are plenty of artist out there going somewhere.  We will always have Facebook, but thats still yet another vehicle for artist to do what they do....but here would be more focused on hanging with of like minded or at least (semi) like minded peeps. LOL.


The thing you can't do as easily in Facebook is to include Vids and graphics (that stay listed). They stay on your timeline, but not in front of people longer like you might have here.  I've said it before, A post can be seen by literally thousands of people down the road over the years. When someone post something really good/education/hot topic it can be bookmarked, searched (not great, but it can) and then brought back up "bumped" for regurgitation.  You can't get that on facebook.

[lemorris]

True but man...FB gives you sales.  I kill it over there.  There's a billion people...literally a billion people on that thing!  LOL

All that being said forums still play a major role.  There's a certain amount of ummm... intimacy you get here.  I don't mean that in a dirty way....(unless you like it. "wink")  ) I mean that in a slower pace more focused sense.  FB is kinda like "Change my pitch up...smack my ___ch up"  where forums are more like "I don't see nothin wrong...with a little bump and grind."  Right?

anyway, the focus of the forum shouldn't be to compete with social media...you'll lose.  It's more to compliment.  Maybe the pitch is "For a more focused learning and community based experience, visit our forum."  dig?

Note:  My cat is sitting on my digital tablet and insisting I scratch her head...hold on...brb....









.... K


She's silly


anyway....


Forums can also answer a question answer format on a focused topic much eaiser.  Example:  Here's a piece DTD has posted.  For the next 3 days you can ask detailed no strings questions.  DTD will shoot you straight.  Grab a beer and join us.  Note:  Silly is welcomed.

You know...like I said....lift the lid a little....let some air escape.  It'll be nice.