From: owner-shindell-list-digest@smoe.org (shindell-list-digest) To: shindell-list-digest@smoe.org Subject: shindell-list-digest V5 #228 Reply-To: shindell-list@smoe.org Sender: owner-shindell-list-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-shindell-list-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk shindell-list-digest Wednesday, October 15 2003 Volume 05 : Number 228 Today's Subjects: ----------------- Re: [RS] Web Site Poll [Deb Woodell ] [RS] Harold & Maude and Cat Stevens [Elizabeth ] [RS] Re: web site ["Kristen Myshrall" ] [RS] web site [Janet Cinelli ] [RS] web site [Norman Johnson ] [RS] Web site [twoodburn@imagina.com] Re: [RS] web site ["Ronnie de Champs" ] Re: [RS] Web Site Poll [Jens Brokvist ] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 14 Oct 2003 15:38:28 -0700 (PDT) From: Deb Woodell Subject: Re: [RS] Web Site Poll Scott writes: > I've been thinking about Richard's web site and how > to make it more useful > and more interesting. I thought I'd begin by asking > you all -- his most > loyal fans -- what kinds of features, graphics, and > information you'd like > to see. - -- I'd like to see recommendations from Richard about what books he is reading, what records he is buying, etc. I also like reading journal entries from the road. And, for those folks (like me) who sometimes get to view Web sites from work, please go easy on us re: Flash and other bells and whistles. A lot of folks say that the software is "so easy to download," but not if it is the company computer. Deb ===== This I have learned: Because we can, we must try to change the world -- fully, wisely, restlessly. -- Rudy Nemser == Life is such a changing art. -- Dar Williams == __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? The New Yahoo! Shopping - with improved product search http://shopping.yahoo.com ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 14 Oct 2003 16:06:33 -0700 (PDT) From: Elizabeth Subject: [RS] Harold & Maude and Cat Stevens Norman wrote: > Harold and Maude is a cult movie from 1971, > about a relationship between a 79 year old > free-spirited woman (Maude) and a 20ish man > (Harold) who is obsessed with death. The > soundtrack is lots and lots of Cat! Yes, indeed! I didn't see the movie until the late 80's, but I think it's not to be missed for the wonderful dark humor and also Maude's philosophy. I was lucky enough to be able to see it on the big (rather small, actually) screen at Film Forum in New York in the early-ish 90's. > I'm old enough to remember Cat Stevens and had > many of > his records, but he made some anti-gay comments > in the > past so I choose not to listen to him anymore. Oh, yuck, that quote is horrible. I had no idea his politics were like that. To get this a little bit back on topic, it's nice to know that Richard Shindell's politics are not so, well, reprehensible. Elizabeth ===== Elizabeth ~~~ "Words are like a corridor; put enough of them in a line and who knows where they will take you." - Charles De Lint ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 14 Oct 2003 19:55:21 -0400 From: "Kristen Myshrall" Subject: [RS] Re: web site Definitely more pictures...and not just the press shots, I'd love to have some candids and some older pictures (like on Lucy's site where there are some of her when she was first performing and even younger). As others have mentioned, I'd also love to see some kind of online journal or update from Richard himself...nothing that he has to do every day or week but maybe a little note every few weeks or so about what is going on with touring/recording, what he's reading, etc. - -Kristen _________________________________________________________________ Enjoy MSN 8 patented spam control and more with MSN 8 Dial-up Internet Service. Try it FREE for one month! http://join.msn.com/?page=dept/dialup ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 14 Oct 2003 17:01:18 -0700 (PDT) From: Janet Cinelli Subject: [RS] web site I'd like to jump in with my 2 cents and say how about some more photos? Maybe we fans can somehow post pictures from various concerts/festivals? I can imagine his life must be pretty busy between gigs and commuting from Argentina that he wouldn't be able to be as involved as we might want! Maybe a heads up to when (or if) they will ever re-broadcast that show he was on,the name escapes me but of course the one time that I knew about, my tape failed me! I know it wasn't Austin City Limits, maybe Soundstage? Or something like that? Janet __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? The New Yahoo! Shopping - with improved product search http://shopping.yahoo.com ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 14 Oct 2003 19:37:31 -0400 From: Norman Johnson Subject: [RS] web site Richard's site used to have a section called "Ask Richard" where Richard would answer questions. That was, for me, one of the most interesting parts of the site. It would be great if it were brought back. Norman ------------------------------ Date: 15 Oct 2003 00:03:54 -0000 From: twoodburn@imagina.com Subject: [RS] Web site [demime could not interpret encoding binary - treating as plain text] I would love to hear unreleased songs, live rarities, video clips, reviews, music links, tips, history, interviews. Some artists are more eager than others to submit their own journals, thoughts and personal stamp on their website. I am guessing that Richard isn't one to do that. Some folks obviously have enough time to burn, others don't. I really do like to check in on my favorite artist sites, but there has to be a compelling reason to do so. After I return to a site time and again to see it unchanged in months, it is all the tougher getting me back there. One favorite artist I know is still advertising their "spring merchandise sale" on the main page of their site. Re: taping. I do know of tapers/traders out there with Richard Shindell shows. Scott, your simple answer to taping Richard was, "don't", which I certainly respect and abide by. Just wonder if you could flesh out that answer a bit. Artists have varied reasons for not wanting their shows taped. The vast majority don't seem to mind, especially if they receive a copy of the show from the taper. Others seem viscerally opposed to it. I guess, "don't" should be reason enough, but I say "don't" to my daughter and she wants more info than that. ;-) TW ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 15 Oct 2003 07:15:33 +0200 From: "Ronnie de Champs" Subject: Re: [RS] web site Jim wrote regarding the RS website: a Q&A section that is updated every so often. I am on the Richard Thompson list as well. Every now and then he answers a couple of questions (as many as he feels like to do) from listees. The questions are proposed to him through one of the list members who publishes his answers on the list as well. RT then usually published this on his own website. wouldn't that be a great way for richard to get into contact with his fans (eg us) Ronnie _________________________________________________________________ Add photos to your e-mail with MSN 8. Get 2 months FREE*. http://join.msn.com/?page=features/featuredemail ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 15 Oct 2003 10:47:35 +0300 From: Jens Brokvist Subject: Re: [RS] Web Site Poll Since I do some web design/content occasionally (if I'm really lucky, I even get paid for it), I feel I can say something here (and who's gonna stop me?). Pardon me if I get too long-winded and besserwisser-ish. Two things Richard's site needs is Content and Regular Updates. First off, if the content isn't compelling, it won't hold the viewers' attention. I'm not saying what's already there isn't compelling, but it's pretty standard stuff. A bio, a FAQ, the discography... it's decent enough, but it won't exactly set anyone's world on fire. Some of the suggestions people here have had are good, IMO. A regular entry from Richard would be nice, as would more audio-visual content be (images, maybe a monthly MP3...). Unless I'm blind, there are also no lyrics on the site, which has to be borderline criminal conduct for a lyricist of Richard's caliber. How about a listing of that complete discography I've seen here? In terms of content, less isn't more, more is more. Just keep it well-structured and easy to get to. Second, regular updates! This cannot be stressed enough. Sure, first-time visitors will find the site very interesting (especially if they're already into Richard and his music), but in order to hold those visitors and make them come back, there has to be some sort of incentive. Regularly updated news (hey, I didn't know Richard liked the double cheeseburgers!), a journal, monthly sound clip... stuff like that. There's been plenty of other suggestions already. And please don't make visitors leave the site to be able to get to Richard's itinerary. It's a bad idea to lead people off site without any chance of getting back (apart from clicking Back in the browser, and you'd be surprised how many don't even get that far). For the casual viewer, I dunno what the site offers. The song clips are nice, I suppose, but why only the first three from every album? Are those really always the best ones to put on display? Some subtle marketing might be in order. Not along the lines of "Hi, I'm Richard Shindell, and if you buy my albums, you'll not only get four hours of the best music there is, but also a pair of my old tennis socks! So buy now, and we'll toss in a worthless glass bead free!", but something to draw them in and make them pay attention to what's on offer. I dunno, marketing and copywriting was never my strong side, I'll confess. Technically speaking, the site is all right. The navigation is a bit unintuitive (why do I have to scroll to the bottom of a page to be able to click my way to the next one?) and there's no site identity, ie. a logo, something like that, to identify the site - this might sound silly, but sometimes you do lose track of where you are. The last thing I'd point out is what seems to be the hottest thing online right now: building an online community. Make the fans feel like they're part of the site. Have a section for reviews where fans can post their concert experiences, for instance. Message boards are all the rage now, but the mailing list deals with that aspect well, I'd say. Some of the best artist sites out there are invariably built with some kind of fan involvement. I hope I didn't offend anyone here who may or may not have been part of making the current site. Scott asked, and I hope I offered some constructive criticism. Cheers, ~Jens On Tue, 14 Oct 2003 13:50:24 -0400, scott shindell spake thusly: > Greetings, > > > I've been thinking about Richard's web site and how to make it more > useful and more interesting. I thought I'd begin by asking you all - > - his most loyal fans -- what kinds of features, graphics, and > information you'd like to see. > > Thanks in advance. > > > Scott > > > Scott Shindell > Red Square Communications > 8932 Griffin Way > Pikesville, MD 21208-1423 > sshindell@hotmail.com > > > _________________________________________________________________ > Concerned that messages may bounce because your Hotmail account has > exceeded its 2MB storage limit? Get Hotmail Extra Storage! > http://join.msn.com/?PAGE=features/es ------------------------------ End of shindell-list-digest V5 #228 ***********************************