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conn53victor Heavyweight Member
Joined: 18 Apr 2004 Posts: 1047 Location: Iowa City, IA
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Posted: Mon Jun 12, 2017 1:32 pm Post subject: Sharing Internal Band Information |
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Our big band players trend old- and that is from my perspective of 67 years young. Many in the band do not check email regularly. I want to start a site for internal band information. Then I can send and text link to the site directing bandmembers there for more complete information. Basically I will start a blog. My question is when I set up a Word Press blog it needs a title and name. Smith Studio Band Information = smithstudiobandinformation.wordpress.com suggests that the site is for the public. What is a short name that suggests that the site will have info like rehearsal times and what to wear at the next gig? The subject line of my emails always begins SSJ so the blog will be in the form ssjXXXX.wordpress.com.
I will offer people the option of receiving texts of the form: Black shirts Thursday. Gig details at ssjXXXX.wordpress.com. _________________ Jim Calkins
IA City
‎"Rooty toot bop pattern. Rooty toot blues lick. Rooty toot Miles quote. Rooty toot mistake- all my solos." -Dmitri Matheny
1963 Connstellation |
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kehaulani Heavyweight Member
Joined: 23 Mar 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: Hawai`i - Texas
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Posted: Mon Jun 12, 2017 2:08 pm Post subject: |
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What makes you think they will check this new site any more than they ignored the email?
Seems to me that either it is impressed on them enough the need to check their email religiously or you need to cut some of them loose and deal with a more reliable bunch.
For the record, I'm in my 70s and yet I know that I better check
my sights (multiple bands) regularly or I will be asked to leave. _________________ "If you don't live it, it won't come out of your horn." Bird
Yamaha 8310Z Bobby Shew trumpet
Benge 3X Trumpet
Benge 3X Cornet
Adams F-1 Flghn
Last edited by kehaulani on Mon Jun 12, 2017 5:15 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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conn53victor Heavyweight Member
Joined: 18 Apr 2004 Posts: 1047 Location: Iowa City, IA
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Posted: Mon Jun 12, 2017 2:38 pm Post subject: |
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kehaulani wrote: | What makes you think they will check this new site any more than they ignored the email? |
Thanks for you feedback. Many people of all ages prefer text over email. I write (necessarily) long emails that won't fit reasonably in a text, but my sample text above leads them to a fuller explanation. All I have to do is paste my email into the blog. It is actually a clear advantage to maintain the blog. The blog will include all previous info in one spot for those who email me asking me for a repeat of something I already sent.
-Jim _________________ Jim Calkins
IA City
‎"Rooty toot bop pattern. Rooty toot blues lick. Rooty toot Miles quote. Rooty toot mistake- all my solos." -Dmitri Matheny
1963 Connstellation |
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kehaulani Heavyweight Member
Joined: 23 Mar 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: Hawai`i - Texas
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Posted: Mon Jun 12, 2017 6:00 pm Post subject: |
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How about something obvious, like "info"?
ssjinfo.wordpress.com. _________________ "If you don't live it, it won't come out of your horn." Bird
Yamaha 8310Z Bobby Shew trumpet
Benge 3X Trumpet
Benge 3X Cornet
Adams F-1 Flghn |
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Brad361 Heavyweight Member
Joined: 16 Dec 2007 Posts: 7080 Location: Houston, TX.
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Posted: Wed Jun 14, 2017 4:32 am Post subject: |
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The band I'm in has a similar problem, but it's not limited to the older (like me, 62) guys. Honestly, our problem has more to do with people simply not being responsible than it does older, less computer literate people.
This REALLY makes me sound like an old "you kids get off my lawn" guy, but it seems like personal responsibility is becoming increasingly rare.
A reasonable response to this would be "fire the guys who aren't responsible", I agree, but the band leader really doesn't. And this is a pretty decent part time band that does about 50 gigs per year; you would think any guy who likes to work often would try to protect their spot....you would think.
All this is why I have no desire to be anything other than a sideman.
Brad _________________ When asked if he always sounds great:
"I always try, but not always, because the horn is merciless, unpredictable and traitorous." - Arturo Sandoval |
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dstdenis Heavyweight Member
Joined: 25 May 2013 Posts: 2123 Location: Atlanta GA
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Posted: Wed Jun 14, 2017 10:18 am Post subject: |
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Whether it's email, blogging, or texting, part of the difficulty is the timing of the communications.
Some people fetch their emails, text messages, Facebook posts and tweets within a few minutes after they arrive. Others might check only once a day, or even once every other day.
Because of this, effective communication requires some lead time. For example, send the message 3 days in advance, rather than the day of, or even the day before. From doing social media for our band, I've found that message retrieval peaks about 24 hours after its sent, and fades away after 3 days.
It also helps to make the messages as short as possible while still including all the necessary info. Using a consistent format helps too.
Once you're doing a good job with all that, then it's up to the band members to be responsible. I'd be inclined to let individuals fall on their face a few times rather than constantly trying to do more and more to compensate for their lack of attention. _________________ Bb Yamaha Xeno 8335IIS
Cornet Getzen Custom 3850S
Flugelhorn Courtois 155R
Piccolo Stomvi |
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VetPsychWars Heavyweight Member
Joined: 07 Nov 2006 Posts: 7196 Location: Greenfield WI
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Posted: Wed Jun 14, 2017 1:38 pm Post subject: |
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The Milwaukee American Legion band sends texts, primarily, and email for attachments.
Tom _________________ 1950 Buescher Lightweight 400 Trumpet
1949 Buescher 400 Trumpet
1939 Buescher 400 Cornet
GR65M, GR65 Cor #1 |
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homebilly Heavyweight Member
Joined: 24 Dec 2010 Posts: 2199 Location: Venice, CA & Paris, France
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Posted: Wed Jun 14, 2017 2:26 pm Post subject: |
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there comes a point when you have to stop chasing a moving target.
meaning like starting tomorrow all communication will be via xxxxx
kinda like when the govt says that a stamp will now cost xxx¢ starting on
this day and only a forever stamp will retain its value.........
you get the picture.
technology isn't always better or more efficient.
sometimes too many choices become problematic
email is the way. KISS
it's like telling the always late guy that the gig starts a half an hour
earlier than it really does just to get him there on time......
just get a guy that gets there on time and give yourself some peace.
they either get on board or get left behind _________________ ron meza (deadbeat jazz musician) & (TH 5 post ghost neighborhood watch ringleader)
waiting for Fed-Ex to deliver a $50 trumpet to my door. shipping was prepaid by seller of course!
http://ronmeza.com
http://highdefinitionbigband.com
Last edited by homebilly on Wed Jun 14, 2017 11:29 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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kehaulani Heavyweight Member
Joined: 23 Mar 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: Hawai`i - Texas
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Posted: Wed Jun 14, 2017 4:34 pm Post subject: |
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There was a saying in the Air Force - "If you're on time, you're late." _________________ "If you don't live it, it won't come out of your horn." Bird
Yamaha 8310Z Bobby Shew trumpet
Benge 3X Trumpet
Benge 3X Cornet
Adams F-1 Flghn |
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conn53victor Heavyweight Member
Joined: 18 Apr 2004 Posts: 1047 Location: Iowa City, IA
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Posted: Thu Jun 15, 2017 5:08 pm Post subject: |
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homebilly wrote: | email is the way. KISS... they either get on board or get left behind |
We have a gifted trombone player (oxymoron?) who blows beautiful solos. He barely has a phone, an old clamshell Nokia. Email? Nope. Should we write him off? ? Or take a minute or two to copy something from an email to another format. We are not the military. We have been together for eight years and are getting paying gigs. Tough love could eliminate 1/3 of the band. _________________ Jim Calkins
IA City
‎"Rooty toot bop pattern. Rooty toot blues lick. Rooty toot Miles quote. Rooty toot mistake- all my solos." -Dmitri Matheny
1963 Connstellation |
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RandyTX Heavyweight Member
Joined: 25 Mar 2010 Posts: 5299 Location: Central Texas
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Posted: Fri Jun 16, 2017 12:07 pm Post subject: |
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There's always another option.
"If you want to be in this band, you will keep up to date on what is happening by reading <whatever you decide on>."
If they refuse, replace them. Too many adults walking around in need of diapers lately. _________________ "Music is like candy, you throw the (w)rappers away." |
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kehaulani Heavyweight Member
Joined: 23 Mar 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: Hawai`i - Texas
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Posted: Fri Jun 16, 2017 12:33 pm Post subject: |
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conn53victor wrote: |
We have a gifted trombone player (oxymoron?) who blows beautiful solos. He barely has a phone, an old clamshell Nokia. Email? Nope. Should we write him off? ? Or take a minute or two to copy something from an email to another format. |
Then it sounds like you want to accommodate them. That being the case, then I guess text him. Unless you're also willing to shadow him, in which case you can telephone him (if he turns his phone on) multiple times until you get him.
Your call. Should you take up your time and effort doing his work? Who's the one calling the shots here? If you feel it's worth it, then do it. _________________ "If you don't live it, it won't come out of your horn." Bird
Yamaha 8310Z Bobby Shew trumpet
Benge 3X Trumpet
Benge 3X Cornet
Adams F-1 Flghn |
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homebilly Heavyweight Member
Joined: 24 Dec 2010 Posts: 2199 Location: Venice, CA & Paris, France
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Posted: Fri Jun 16, 2017 12:38 pm Post subject: |
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chances are he won't check his clamshell texts either.......
then what? he won't be looking at your blog as you need a computer
or smartphone for that. if he has a computer then he can check email
I'm cool with old school but
I guess it just depends on how much work YOU want to do _________________ ron meza (deadbeat jazz musician) & (TH 5 post ghost neighborhood watch ringleader)
waiting for Fed-Ex to deliver a $50 trumpet to my door. shipping was prepaid by seller of course!
http://ronmeza.com
http://highdefinitionbigband.com |
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conn53victor Heavyweight Member
Joined: 18 Apr 2004 Posts: 1047 Location: Iowa City, IA
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Posted: Fri Jun 16, 2017 1:46 pm Post subject: |
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homebilly wrote: | chances are he won't check his clamshell texts either.......
then what? he won't be looking at your blog as you need a computer
or smartphone for that. if he has a computer then he can check email
I'm cool with old school but
I guess it just depends on how much work YOU want to do |
Bix Beiderbecke and Chet Baker were both kicked out of bands for failing to check their emails; I guess there is a precedent for removing players.
As for the hassle, it takes awhile to compose the email a week before a performance- setlist, what to wear/bring, carpooling, arrival time- but one composed, cut and pasting takes moments. I thought about handwriting each message, but then I would have to ask this forum about cursive or print. _________________ Jim Calkins
IA City
‎"Rooty toot bop pattern. Rooty toot blues lick. Rooty toot Miles quote. Rooty toot mistake- all my solos." -Dmitri Matheny
1963 Connstellation |
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