Ptarmigan - Posted - 02/06/2010:  10:34:49

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Do you need a dedicated Irish Tenor Banjo forum?

What do you think, is there a place for a site dedicated solely to the Irish Tenor Banjo?

I'm in the process right now, of setting up a new networking site, especially for all players
of Irish Music on the Tenor Banjo.

So if you play your Irish Music on Tenor Banjo, why not check it out?

'The Irish Tenor Banjo':
http://theirishtenorbanjo.ning.com/

Players at all levels of ability are very welcome to join & with your help, it could become
a great wee place for Tenor Banjo enthusiasts to chat, learn & teach, without any of that
old sniping that we often get from non Banjo players, who are sadly just not tuned in to
the wonders of the Banjo! ;-)
That's not to say that Banjo Jokes won't be allowed ... of course they will, but only good
ones! :-D

It is very much a work in progress, so please check it out, join up & give me some ideas
on how the basic framework that's in place just now, can be improved upon.

You will notice that the whole site can be explored, but you will not be able to set up your
own Profile Page or post anything, until you have signed up.

The Session will always be the first port of call for anyone interested in Irish Music, just as
the Banjo Hangout is for all Banjo players. I suppose the Irish Tenor Banjo falls between
those two stools & at the very least, members profile pages can be used as a home website,
for members wishing to promote their Banjo talents to prospective customers.

I look forward to hearing all forms of criticism but mostly I'm looking for good advice! ;-)

I know you folks shoot from the hip, so if there really is no need for this site .................
........... I KNOW you will soon tell me! ;-)

Cheers
Dick

mikeyes - Posted - 02/06/2010:  12:15:15

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Dick,

When BHO started out they had an Irish tenor banjo forum, but it was sparsely attended. There is one at the mandolincafe but it only gets a hit once a week or so. This forum is probably the best place because not only are there Irish players here, but others as well. There is a lot of crossover that occurs here and there is a wealth of technical and historical knowledge on the four string forum that is not available in the other venues. I think we benefit from hearing from those others who play tenor and plectrum banjo.

One problem is that a lot of Irish tenor players are unaware of this venue. Thesession's format is such that an interesting discussion will quickly be relegated to the back pages due to the volume of chatter from other topics. This forum brings current topics to the front of the line and there can be a lot of cross referencing to the other forums such as the collectors or builders forums.

Right now there are only a few members who play ITM and a lot who like ITM including a fair number of jazz players and five string players. If you go to the forum right below this one you will read a lot from five string players who play ITM. They have a different technique and style but the music is the same. When a critical mass of Irish tenor players shows up I am sure we can ask for a separate forum.

In the meantime, check out www.mandolincafe.net and look at the "Celtic" forum, Song of the week social group, and the tenor banjo social group.

Mike

Rob MacKillop - Posted - 02/06/2010:  13:56:38

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It looks a good site, Dick, and I wish you well with it. I think there is room for both. I belong to other ning sites, and they can be fun places, but it doesn't stop me from coming here, although I understand Mike's point of view as well. Give it a trial period, and see what happens.

mikeyes - Posted - 02/06/2010:  14:43:44

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I looked at your site, and it is very nice!

I didn't mean to discourage you about setting up a separate site. I think that there is enough interest in banjo these days to support a well done site like yours. I'll join right now.

MIke

Ptarmigan - Posted - 02/06/2010:  18:01:38

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Hi Mike, Rob,

Thanks guys, it is surely worth a try.
If it works great, if not, well at least we gave it our best shot.
One things for sure, I'd hate to end up in my old rocking chair at 99 wishing I'd tried a few more things.
What do they say ...... better to have tried & lost, than never to have at least made the effort.

I think there may just be a place for it & I'm sure it won't take anyone away from here or The Session site either.
In fact, it may just help to increase their numbers a little, as Banjo players blunder onto it & then are led to those other two major sites.

Cheers
Dick

yellowdog - Posted - 02/06/2010:  19:44:04

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Nice website, Dick. I particularly liked the videos and the way that you arranged them. I'm learning a lot from the videos. Thanks for creating the site and good luck with it.

Frank

Poisoned Dwarf - Posted - 02/07/2010:  04:26:44

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I signed up

Ptarmigan - Posted - 02/07/2010:  13:29:06

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Hi Dog & Dwarf, glad to have you fellas on board.
Cheers
Dick

Paul Roberts - Posted - 02/10/2010:  23:33:09

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Yes, I think it's a good idea, Dick. I'm glad you're getting it going; I do think there's a need, both for those who are already Irish tenor banjo players and those yet be inspired to take it up. I'd love to be a participant. Thanks for linking to my interviews with Gordon Johnston and Mike Keyes.

PauL
http://www.banjocrazy.com/ for all Gold Tone Instruments

Ptarmigan - Posted - 02/11/2010:  00:50:07

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Hi Paul,
Thanks, & welcome on board.
I think it is taking shape very nicely now & I'm really looking forward to see how it develops.
Cheers
Dick

chrisblack - Posted - 02/11/2010:  05:17:12

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Just had a look at the site - there's going to be a lot on it... my critical comment would be that there is just too much on the frontpage to take in.

Chris

Ptarmigan - Posted - 02/11/2010:  10:51:08

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Hi Chris,
Ooooops, sorry Chris ... am I making it tooo interesting!
But seriously, I know it is rather busy I suppose, but with that site's format, it all has to go on the front page.
So I guess all I can say to folks is, don't rush, or as we say in Scotland:
"Dinna fash yersel, just tak yer time"
or as they say in Germany .... Langsam! :-)
Anyway, I think folks will just concentrate on the areas that they are most interested in.
Cheers
Dick

chrisblack - Posted - 02/11/2010:  11:15:51

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Hi Dick -

I just felt bombarded with information - and the colour scheme (the green and pale grey text on grey) is bad on my old eyes after staring at a laptop screen for half a day... but then again I'm only one... i like the idea of the site and will be using it, you've certainly put a lot into it... good luck..

Chris

Rob MacKillop - Posted - 02/11/2010:  11:23:57

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I like the colour scheme. In fact I think it is the best organised ning site I've seen. I thought of asking Dick to move the Latest Updates box to just below the welcome sign, but now I've got used to where it is. And I think both that site and BHO can only strengthen each other in promoting the Irish tenor banjo. 'Carry On Dick!'

Ptarmigan - Posted - 02/11/2010:  12:41:21

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Hi Chris,

I've changed the colours around a bit.
Please check it out, when you get a minute & let me know if the new scheme is easier on the eye & easier to read?

Rob, thanks for the kind words.
See what you think of the new colours.
Better to try & get the colours right, sooner rather than later.
Perhaps it's a little too bright now?
Anyway, I'll give a couple of days & see if I get any negative feedback from the members.

Cheers
Dick

Rob MacKillop - Posted - 02/11/2010:  13:21:12

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Too bright, and it reminds me of custard! Liked it better before, but...Remember, Dick, the FIRST RULE of performance: You can only please some of the people, some of the time...

:-)

chrisblack - Posted - 02/11/2010:  14:09:36

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Hey Dick - as Rob says "you can only please some of the people..."

However the site is much better on the eye now IMHO... That lighter background makes everything so much easier to read... but as I said in the posting above, colours are not going to stop me using the site, so go with what you like.

Chris

Ptarmigan - Posted - 02/12/2010:  00:59:17

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I must admit, I quite like the new colour scheme.
It is nice & bright, more kind of friendly & cheery perhaps, although that probably doesn't really suit the menacing qualities of the Banjo!
Anyway, I'll just wait & see if we get any feedback.
Cheers
Dick

chrisblack - Posted - 02/12/2010:  01:28:18

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Hey Dick....

I just spotted that if I click on the "customize you page" button at the top, it give the user the option of a variety of colourschemes. However I can't use this function. Have you got it so only admin can alter the scheme??? I presume if i do "customise" it, then it will only change for me and not other users????

Chris

Banjowen - Posted - 02/12/2010:  01:59:37

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Good luck with the site, I had a tenor banjo a long time ago before I bought my 5-string....I must get another, I love hearing a good tenor banjo player in a session, I used to know a guy named John Murphy from the UK now living "somewhere" in Ireland, although he plays the Uilleann Pipes mostly now, he was very good on the tenor banjo, he was (or still is) a member of an Irish band called Garva.

link:- http://www.garva.co.uk/

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Edited by - Banjowen on 02/12/2010 03:32:38

Ptarmigan - Posted - 02/12/2010:  04:39:04

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quote:

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Originally posted by chrisblack

Hey Dick....
I just spotted that if I click on the "customize you page" button at the top, it give the user the option of a variety of colourschemes. However I can't use this function. Have you got it so only admin can alter the scheme??? I presume if i do "customise" it, then it will only change for me and not other users????
Chris

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Hi Chris,
Yes, you should all be able to customise your own page.
For me, that's all part of the fun of this set up.
I have a Button for: Allow members to adjust their My Page layout & I can assure you it IS set for ON!
I have a couple of other Ning sites & a lot of the members there, have changed their colour schemes ... quite drastically in some cases!
Must ask on the site if anyone else is in the same boat.
I haven't seen anyone alter their colours yet, so maybe there's a problem.
Cheers
Dick

Ptarmigan - Posted - 02/14/2010:  01:33:19

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Member 100 just joined our new Banjo site ... not bad eh, for our first week!

Mind you, all the little hairs on the back of my neck are now twitching, could it be that ALL other ITM players are just waiting until we are ALL on board & then they'll float us on out to sea!

Cheers
Dick

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Edited by - Ptarmigan on 02/14/2010 01:33:43

chrisblack - Posted - 02/15/2010:  09:18:51

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Ever had a sense of deja vu....

I need to get coordinated - I seem to be entering into the same dicussions on here and your site Dick...

Chris

mainejohn - Posted - 02/15/2010:  16:19:31

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I just signed up...looks like a good place for a beginner like me to get some direction.

...and what does ITM stand for?

Rob MacKillop - Posted - 02/15/2010:  23:23:19

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ITM - Irish Traditional Music. But we could probably come up with more interesting variations, such as Idiotic Tenor Monkey...

Ptarmigan - Posted - 02/20/2010:  08:07:52

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HEY! ... Rob, what I want to know is:

Who exactly were you looking at Rob, when you said ~ Idiotic Tenor Monkey?

blugraz - Posted - 02/20/2010:  16:24:51

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Hi Dick,
Best luck with yer site.fm Co. Meath
Sean.