john

Hey Gang I was browsing music news today and I noticed that Martin Birch, the record producer for Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, Whitesnake, and Iron Maiden has just died at the age of 71. He also worked as an engineer on 5 Fleetwood Mac albums, and recordings for Deep Purple, Jeff Beck, Rainbow, Blue Öyster Cult and Gary Moore. https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/9431681/martin-birch-obit

I don’t know what you mean regarding engaging with staff, about what? Mentoring Regarding mentoring I posted my comment on chat and then spoke briefly to an interested member, that’s all. That said I intend to talk to staff about mentoring at our next meeting. I see mentoring as primarily an educational role where experienced members take others under their wing. That could relate to skills like songwriting or music marketing, but it can also relate to learning about our community, where things are, how things work, to ease integration. Moderation Everyone is not a moderator. A moderator is a specific role. Everyone can make something to eat. Not everyone is a chef or professional cook. Community members can certainly make a huge difference helping define community standards and help to encourage adherence to those standards. Members help keep a community on track, but their primary role is not that of a moderator. This has been done on Songstuff before regarding number of reviews performed before posting a work to be reviewed. In that regard members helped “correct” members who Ignored requirement to critique so many before posting, and the critiques performed to works posted ratio. All members are involved in informal moderation like that, but it doesn’t reduce the need for dedicated moderators. The same occurs in real world communities. Moderators also help to protect sites from the legal consequences of member actions. The world is now pushing increasingly towards sites policing themselves more using dedicated moderators, not less. Change Clarity is certainly something to strive for. Actuality lags intent and that we address using process to evolve in a direction. Change takes time and determination to implement. Evolution is constant.

Hey Gang To help members realise the interests and roles of members I thought badges might be a nice addition. We did use badges once before and they are great visual aids. In addition to badges the idea would be to add the ability of members to apply to be in groups, like songwriting, and if you are in several groups these would be displayed on your profile... at least that is the aim. This is in part to help support the mentor program we are working on just now. So I have been putting together some unique badges. The lyrics one is too light a background, I know... what do you think of them?

Hey Alex, welcome to Songstuff dude.

Hi Testimonials are a great way for current members to tell brand new members and people thinking about joining, how being a member of Songstuff has helped them, and what their overall experience of our community has been. It helps set an expectation in people thinking about joining what joining might mean to them. It helps them realise what they are expected to put into our community and what they can expect to gain from being an active member. After all, we don't just need members. We need active members. Members who are passionate about making music and willing to put some effort into making our community the community they really want to be a part of. Here at Songstuff we would love to use testimonials from our members to show to visitors who might be considering membership and let them know what being a member might bring them. If you would like to leave a testimonial about Songstuff and it's benefits simply reply to this topic with your comments. Many thanks! Cheers John PS In the near future we would really love to add video testimonials to our Songstuff Channel on YouTube. If you would be interested in providing a brief video testimonial, please drop me a PM

Welcome Stephanie. Thanks for registering. What are your daughter's influences? Who does she like? Is she a fan of specific genres? As an fyi, in case you are unaware... Firstly, signing up on your daughter's behalf is perfectly fine as we don't allow members under the age of 18. However we will need you to interact on our forums on your daughter's behalf. At least this way your daughter can get the helpful input she needs in a way that you can manage entirely. Should you have any concerns please contact a member of the site crew. Cheers John

Politics of it all aside, and purely as a historic journey, yes, due to the highland clearances... an example of ethnic cleansing conducted by the British government over a long period of time. Before the Jacobite rebellions as a way to enforce conformance and hog-tie the Scots and post Jacobite rebellion, bagpipes, tartan, weapons and even speaking Gaelic were banned and punishment ensued. The highlands were emptied of people who were sent to the colonies as indentured slaves, making way for sheep farms. Entire villages were slaughtered by an English general claiming “God will know his own”. At the time poverty was rife. Potatoes made up 98% of the Scot’s diet. 99% of the Irish diet. When the potato famine came thousands died. Crimes like stealing a loaf of bread were punished with either serving in the British army as canon fodder or sent to the colonies as a prisoner (slave labour) for 20 year sentences. The repercussions of the depopulation still resonate today. Mostly the clearances sent Scots to America, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Famine and poverty also saw a load of Irish going to America for a better life. Ironically it is why There were so many Scots and Irish in America and why so many sparked and then fuelled the American revolution. Also why Scots help draft and sign the American Declaration of Independence which I understand was influenced by the Scot’s Declaration of Arbroath, 1320, where Scotland asserted it’s independence from England after the English King’s betrayal and greed saw England try to annex Scotland only to be ejected in the Scottish wars of independence with William Wallace (Braveheart) and finally Robert The Bruce. You might find this Wikipedia entry interesting: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scottish_Americans Scottish influence on America is significant. Everything from the congregation model of churches, the Scot’s moral philosophy, the influence of that philosophy and social thinking of Robert Burns on early presidents including Abe Lincoln, through to the Davidson brothers from Harley Davidson lol it’s an interesting connection.

Hey Noel, a big welcome to Songstuff Do you have any goals for your music or as a musician? How can you see Songstuff helping you?

Some questions that really make a difference... What scenarios are you intending to do: home recording & production mobile recording & production live performance (Beat creation in a live scenario) Are you intending: creating finished songs/beats for release? creating back tracks for others? What sort of budget do you realistically have to work with? (we all prefer free lol) Can you give a list of what gear you currently have (if any)? Have you had any experience at all?

What Patchez said

Hey Shrimptastic, welcome to Songstuff! You sound very like me! Lol

Yup, totally

Hi I was talking to Cody about family history. My grandfather joined the Cameron Highlanders at 14, in 1911, the fought through ww1. Here is a before (1914) and after (1918) of the Cameron Highlanders:

Hey Gang We all have our own idea about what an online community is. I thought it would be useful to discuss what community means to you as an writer/artist/musician. To get started, please answer the poll questions. If you think an answer needs more detail, please add a reply. Your opinion really matters. Cheers John

Hey Gang Who are your favorite artists by decade? Can you post up one song (YouTube link) of an artist, 1 artist - 1 song, per decade from 1950’s on? 1950’s 1960’s 1970’s 1980’s 1990’s 2000’s 2010’s

Hi gang Who are the producers who influence or have been big influences on you? Who would you recommend members check out and why? As producers, what makes them stand out for you? Why them? Cheers John

It's a good version of the song Mahesh. My only crit, is that I would like to see you making covers more uniquely "you", making your versions more fundamentally different from the original. That you can do perfectly good performances is fantastic, but more originality helps your version stand out, helps them to be more memorable.

hi and welcome to Songstuff Do you write songs or play an instrument?

It's good to have a broad range of interests. It's maybe a little harder to stay focused, but ultimately, as a writer, you end up with a diverse sourse of influence and that shows in the creative diversity of your songs. You start combining techniques, elements, sounds, language from a broad range of influences. When you do hit a road block, you tend to find that the range of options for a way ahead is very different... that thinking outside the box help us to sound unique. That's one of the benefits of offering critique to others. Even when not working with other writing oartners it still expands your songwriting vocabulary, exposing you to new techniques and perspectives. As for getting critique of your own work, it can certainly give you a fresh perspective from someone not invested in your song... among other things! Working with others has a broad range of benefits, absolutely. It is also worthwhile forging ahead on solo projects because of the focus you can have. You might have issues with motivation and in that case I would suggest making solo projects small, if not immediate. Sometimes it can be good to force yourself to work within your own limitations. At least as a starting point. It forces you to come up with creative ways forward in order to overcome the restriction of the limitation and sometimes you can come up with pretty unique solutions... especially if you have been exposed to other solutions by working with others. That experience lets you peek at other ways of reaching beyond limitations. While new solutions may not be entirely as good as the alternatives available when working with others, they will improve with practice and importantly they have pushed back that limitation. Awesome. Sounds like you have something special worth nurturing there

I hear you! How are your projects going?

Do you play an instrument or write songs Tomas?

Hi and welcome to Songstuff Elreago

Hi and welcome Motis! Any particular interests musically?

I will just send you a PM