isaacullah
2720 posts
Apr 29, 2014
8:10 AM
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Okay. As many of you may know, there has been a semi-official MBH facebook group for several years now. I'm the one who initially set it up, and I continue to loosely "administrate" it today. As far as I can remember (and what my google-fu and facebook history tell me), I started the group back in December of 2009 (here's the earliest MBH thread that I can find that mentions the existence of the group). I originally started the group simply as a way for us MBH'ers to connect, and to keep in touch. It was initially very successful at doing this, and I still maintain active facebook relationships with many of you from that era to this very day. Eventually, usage of the group page fell off, and it languished for a while...
Now, a little over a year ago, the group page transformed with the advent of the "new" facebook format. What I mean is that one day I got a request from FB to turn the old style page (called "The Joyous Disciples of the Blues Harmonica") into the new style group. Somehow, this made the group take off again, despite (or because of?) now having to "request" membership in the group. As of today, there are 1076 members of the group, and I approved pretty much every member request that I got (with the exception of the the very obvious spam bots). The MBH facebook group is not the largest harmonica-related facebook group (that honor falls to "harmonica jams"), but it comes up third in the list when one searches "harmonica group" in the facebook searchbar. I get from between 5 to 10 new member requests everyday.
This all to say that the group has become an all together very different beast that what I had originally envisioned back in December 2009. I've tried my best to guide the nature of the group while still maintaining a "light touch" so as to allow for maximal freedom (you can read the group description for my "vision" of the group). But despite my efforts to keep it from just becoming a "digital billboard" for harp stuff, it really seems to me that that's all it is. Every time I log on to check it out, all I see is ads for bands and gear. Okay, so there is certainly quite a bit of video posting, and the occasional interesting discussion or question posed, but it's really not doing what I originally intended for the group.
But really, it's not about me. The group has become it's own thing, and that's okay. But I really just don't want to be the one steering it any more. So, I guess my options are just two: 1) fold the group, and walk away, or 2) pass the reins to someone who is more interested than I. I really don't want to do option 1, because there is clearly a niche for this group, and it's also clear that people find it useful and helpful (why else would I be getting so many new member requests every day?). I don't even mind that perhaps the most useful aspect of the group is for bands to promote themselves (they need a space for that!), or for gearheads to sell their products (they too, need a space for that). It's mainly just that that's not at all what my main interests are, and I really am getting tired of devoting my time and energy to maintaining a group that doesn't really forward my main interests in the harmonica community.
So, that brings me to option 2: passing the reins. Obviously, the first (and fully trumping) dibs would go to Adam. Adam, if you want it, it really does belong to you! But barring that, I'd be willing to pass the reins along to pretty much any MBH'er who's been around long enough for me to know them well enough to know they won't abandon the group or take it in a totally weird direction. Mainly, I'd want to pass it off to someone who is as dedicated to the harmonica community as I am, but who may be more interested in maintaining a space for bands and boutique makers/sellers to promote.
So, any takers? Other thoughts?
*EDITED for typos.
Last Edited by isaacullah on May 01, 2014 5:52 AM
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isaacullah
2721 posts
Apr 29, 2014
8:10 AM
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PS. The other half of my concern is that my profession as an archaeologist precludes me from maintaining an active online profile during the summer months, when I'm typically away doing field work. Not only will there soon be a backlog of member requests that I won't have time to approve of, I wonder what would become of the group with out my even admittedly 'light' moderation for a period of some months?
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Last Edited by isaacullah on Apr 29, 2014 8:11 AM
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isaacullah
2722 posts
Apr 29, 2014
11:30 AM
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Now that I'm thinking about it, I suppose a third option would be to remove the requirement for moderator approval, and release the group "into the wild". Not sure if that's better than killing it off, tho.
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mr_so&so
818 posts
Apr 29, 2014
2:34 PM
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I hear crickets .... I'm a member of the Facebook group, but rarely look at it. I thank you, Isaac for taking the time to set it up and moderate it. I will understand if you want to let it go, and think that since it is associated with this fine forum, it might be better to remove it if someone from the forum doesn't step in to take it over. I cannot put my name forward for that job, unfortunately.
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isaacullah
2723 posts
Apr 30, 2014
10:23 AM
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Thanks for your thoughts Mr_so&so... That's basically what I'm thinking too. I was hoping one of the more "business minded" MBH'ers might be willing to take it over (with the word "business" construed widely). I will let this topic sit here on the board for a few days (with the occasional bump if it doesn't garner much active discussion), before making any decision about it. I may also post a topic to the FB group itself to see if there are strong opinions from folks who may be more actively using the thing...
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shadoe42
294 posts
Apr 30, 2014
1:34 PM
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I have seen most musician groups on Facebook that are not highly moderated all just turn into ad posts for bands and gear. Which really doesn't help since the only people seeing it are other musicians... so unless you are looking for a musicians the post doesn't reach your audience heh.
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My Electronic Music World
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isaacullah
2724 posts
Apr 30, 2014
3:39 PM
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I agree shadoe42... But I'm just not the one to do that level of moderating. :) That's why I'm trying to pass the reins to someone else more interested in putting in the time it would take to make the group useful. To put it another way: What I'm essentially offering is an established group that provides a straight line into the facebook "inboxes" of 1076 harmonica enthusiasts (actually now 1088). And all that "free of charge". I was thinking it would be easier to pass this off than it apparently seems to be.
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Last Edited by isaacullah on Apr 30, 2014 3:39 PM
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nacoran
7702 posts
Apr 30, 2014
5:15 PM
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It's a shame it can't be integrated into the main site more. I can't think of any way to really get any synergy out of it, between the way FB controls data and the limits of our software.
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Facebook
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isaacullah
2725 posts
May 01, 2014
5:52 AM
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Yeah, I was really hoping Adam might want to take it over, since ostensibly, most folks who joined the FB group have some relationship with this site... But it's looking more and more like i'm holding a 1091-member hot potato that no one else wants to catch.
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isaacullah
2726 posts
May 01, 2014
5:54 AM
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PS, I'll hold out a few more days in hopes one of you might want to take it over, then I'll post at the group itself, and if still no takers, then I will probably shut it down...
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eharp
2150 posts
May 01, 2014
6:05 AM
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1000+ members, but how many are truly active?
Just like Adam's site, which I think has the largest number signed up, only @ 20 post regular.
And, probably most of the people here are on several other forums and FB pages.
What i have noticed on most FB pages is there are always a core of less than 10 that post fairly often and most of the remaining core chime in on that.
Usually, the person that started the topic posts it on 2 or 3 other sites.
I don't understand why the same people would need to be 2 sites.
What would they post there that couldn't be a topic here?
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isaacullah
2727 posts
May 01, 2014
6:12 AM
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Eric: good point, and speaks exactly to the issue I'm having. Originally, I made the FB group as a way for us all to communicate with eachother on social media. Basically as a centralized FB "meetup" spot for MBH members to conduct online socializing in a friendlier, more extensive online environment. Well, it certainly worked as such for a long time, but as FB evolved, it really changed the nature of its "groups" so that they have become message boards in their own right. I was happy to "moderate" a meetup site, but I'm not at all interested in moderating a forum. I also don't particularly see the point of having a forum about a forum.
That all being said, I do keep getting member requests daily, so some people must see some utility in it! Right? Plus, even if it is only 10 people posting (and it really basically is), there must be some value in having a pipeline to the FB newsfeeds of 1091 harp enthusiasts? Right? or am I just kidding myself? (and I really could be...)
I'm really just offering this whole deal up for grabs to someone who might want to do something with it, before I call it quits..
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Last Edited by isaacullah on May 01, 2014 6:15 AM
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tookatooka
3648 posts
May 01, 2014
8:55 AM
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Eugene Ivanov (Jim) runs the Harp Repair FB page Isaac. Maybe he could incorporate yours into his, so to speak?
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isaacullah
2728 posts
May 01, 2014
9:48 AM
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Thanks tooka, that may be a possibility, but I'm not sure if it's really the best one... Jim's group is great and tightly focused on single topic (I'm a member of it), but by necessity limited to a few people. The MBH group is a whole 'nother beast, however, and I can't think of any ways in which the two groups are very compatible...
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kudzurunner
4663 posts
May 01, 2014
12:05 PM
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Isaac: Thanks for your offer, but I'd rather just keep my attentions on this group. I will allow others to take the FB group off your hands.
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ridge
503 posts
May 01, 2014
12:32 PM
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Isaac, you should just go on a banning spree and start kicking members to see who notices ;) (Winky face means joke)
But seriously you should do it!
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Last Edited by ridge on May 01, 2014 12:34 PM
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isaacullah
2729 posts
May 01, 2014
1:45 PM
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Thanks Adam. If you are not interested in claiming it, then I will make a general plea on the FB group itself. Failing that, i'll kill it as gracefully as I can.
@ridge: :) Either I pass the reins, kill the whole thing off, or I go crazy and become a huge @$$hole telling people to eff off! :)
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paulbunyn
97 posts
May 01, 2014
7:39 PM
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As a beginner/intermediate player, this group has meant a great deal to me as a teaching aid and interest group. I wish my computer skills would allow me to step up to the plate but I am afraid they are not. I for one will miss this group a great deal and thank you all for your contributions, everyone. Issacullah, even tho this forum may be rated 3rd, it is rated 1st with me. I personally thank you for your efforts and contributions you have given to this forum. I hope someone will step up and keep this group going. If not, thank you all for helping and contributing.
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A440
142 posts
May 02, 2014
12:41 AM
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Most people I know have left FB over the past couple years. It's certainly not the same kind of community platform as it was 5 or 6 years ago. IMHO, the MBH community is alive and well on this forum (thanks Adam!), therefore I see no need that a parallel FB site would fulfill.
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A440
143 posts
May 02, 2014
12:41 AM
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Most people I know have left FB over the past couple years. It's certainly not the same kind of community platform as it was 5 or 6 years ago. IMHO, the MBH community is alive and well on this forum (thanks Adam!), therefore I see no need that a parallel FB site would fulfill.
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isaacullah
2730 posts
May 02, 2014
7:09 AM
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@paulbunyn: Thank you! I'm glad that the group was of some use for you... It's good to know that.
@A440: Yeah, it's changed a lot. I still find some use in it, but it's not the thing that it was back then. In many ways it's just too much to deal with these days, and it really can complicate things. This is all part of the reason why I want to scale back my responsibilites with the FB group.
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isaacullah
2732 posts
May 02, 2014
8:23 AM
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Also, just FYI, the group is now at 1113 members. That's a lot of FB connections that one could leverage! ;)
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tookatooka
3649 posts
May 03, 2014
12:20 PM
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Hi Isaacullah.
Wonder if someone like
https://www.facebook.com/RandomJammer?fref=ts
would be interested in it somehow?
A harp community and quality backing track maker would be a marriage made in heaven for both sides.
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isaacullah
2734 posts
May 04, 2014
5:42 AM
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Thanks again, tooka... That's definitely another possibility. I've had at least one person volunteer to help me approve member requests, so that may be another way to go (share the responsibilities)... Still haven't made up my mind, but I think something will work out...
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