tookatooka
1762 posts
Sep 29, 2010
7:30 AM
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Well the response so far has been amazing. It just shows there is an appetite for this sort of thing from the forum members.
I've taken the temperature of the feelings of the group so far and have (I think) complied with the majorities wishes.
Some people may think I'm rushing this and railroading it through but believe me from past experience this is the only way to do it. Last time I think we spent a month just working out the rules. Don't believe me? Try it. Twenty odd people with different ideas and requirements is impossible to please.
I thought it best to get this going while the enthusiasm was bubbling. There are still a few things to consider like the submission deadline and sorting out a dedicated thread for embedding your YouTube files etc but hopefully that will all be sorted in time.
In the meantime if there are any really pressing queries let me know otherwise I'm in the woodshed. That's where you should be too. YeeHah!!
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HarmonicaMick
160 posts
Sep 29, 2010
9:40 AM
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That looks spot on to me, tooka!
Anyone who doubts what tooka said about establishing the rules for our previous harp challenges, just use the forum's search box and type HPC, HPC2 or HPC3.
The debates around the rules for those went on for days and days. It took tooka, me and (I forget who did the first one) eons to try and sort them out so that every one was happy with the result.
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YouTube SlimHarpMick
Last Edited by on Sep 29, 2010 9:45 AM
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Ant138
591 posts
Sep 29, 2010
9:54 AM
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No Rules!!, this starting to sound like Fight Club,eh wait i'm not supposed to talk about that.
Great job Tooka, I'm up for it. The less rules the better, i mean this whole exercise for me is about getting me in the woodshed to focus on something new and hopefully getting my chops into shape. It can take away the fun if you have too many rules.
Thanks again Tooka for sorting all of this out, you are a Legend!!
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http://www.youtube.com/user/fiendant?feature=mhum
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Heart2Harp
150 posts
Sep 29, 2010
10:00 AM
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yeaahhh, Tooka, I'm excited. This will be my first time. Always wondered what those HPC were all about.
Thanks for putting this together for us.
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Heart2Harp
Click here to access my youtube page
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tookatooka
1764 posts
Sep 29, 2010
10:09 AM
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Thanks Guys. Yes we need to keep it simple this time otherwise it's not fun anymore. I've also dropped the HPC thing because the initials meant nothing to a lot of people and I got tired of having to explain what HPC stood for. In fact I can't even remember what the P stood for now.
I'm open to suggestions from everybody regarding the Submission Deadline. We don't want it to be too far away otherwise enthusiasm may dwindle.
Also I'd like people to submit and embed their own YouTube files into a dedicated thread when the time comes. (I may need a moderators assistance here.) That will do away with having to use a YouTube Channel which if you recall gave us many problems. This does mean having to create our own YouTube Channels if you don't have one but that's no hardship and it can be used afterwards anyway. There is plenty of guidance on how to do that on the web.
Regarding video duration, I leave that to the individual. Personally, I've become quite adept at skipping a video within the first thirty seconds if my attention has not been arrested and I will not sit and listen to five minutes of a dirge and I wouldn't expect anyone else to either. So people must take that on board. The videos will need to be compelling and enjoyable.
Anyway there will be other issues to sort out but I'll cross that bridge when required.
Last Edited by on Sep 29, 2010 10:11 AM
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oldwailer
1356 posts
Sep 29, 2010
11:45 AM
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@tooka--the "P" was for "pissy" wasn't it? ;)
Great idea and great concept! I'm really down for this one--I think it will be a lot more fun when it isn't 27 renditions of the same tune to sort through. . .
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isaacullah
1175 posts
Sep 29, 2010
1:44 PM
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If I recall correctly, a recent thread about "what are you listening to now" had about 30 YT vids embedded in it, and it started to give a few folks browser troubles (crashes).
This could easily occurr again because of a very long "HPC4 Entries" thread. To prevent this, I suggest instead that each entrant start a NEW thread with the title "HPC4 Entry from 'username'", and then embed their video there. Then we can make a custom google search results page that lists the results for a custom google search of the MBH forum for keyword terms "HPC4" and "Entry". This page will be continually and automatically updated every time it is refreshed or reloaded. This way, all the vids (and their associated threads) can be automatically organized together in one place, and the entrants will only have to upload their vids the normal way we all do it in a new thread. Either of myself, Nate, or GH definitely have the technical know-how to pull this off...
For voting, I suggest making a Google docs poll, and linking it to the contest page (I can set this up on my Google account, or tooka or one of the mods can do if they would rather). This way, voting is confidential, and anonymous. It helps keep folks feelings from being bruised, and it will prevent influencing future votes based on who is in the lead at any given moment. Also, it then frees up every one's individual Entry thread for comments from the bleachers....
Just some suggestions...
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View my videos on YouTube!"
Last Edited by on Sep 29, 2010 1:48 PM
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tookatooka
1766 posts
Sep 29, 2010
2:24 PM
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I welcome your suggestions Isaac I wasn't aware of the browser problems. Maybe limit the thread size to ten entries per thread then get a mod to lock it and not allow any comments. I'm concerned with flooding the forum otherwise.
I purposely steered away from the 'HPC' for simplicities sake. People kept asking what it meant and I got tired of repeating myself. Whatsmore I've even forgotten myself what it stood for.
Regarding voting. As there is no prize as such do we need confidentiality and anonymity? We are all adults and know we're not the worlds best harpist. The truth will do us good if we want to get better. A few bruises wont hurt and we need to keep it simple.
I'm just concerned that we don't get ourselves into the situation we had previously that got so over- complicated that I spent ages explaining, re-explaining how it was all going to work. I don't have time for that now.
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Littoral
100 posts
Sep 29, 2010
2:38 PM
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The more votes there are the more valid the results. I would guess that overall more people will vote anonomously. Just a thought.
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tookatooka
1768 posts
Sep 29, 2010
2:54 PM
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Hmmm! Votes? Lets keep it simple. Voting is a burden. If you make an entry then you are dutybound to choose the one you like most as long as it's not your own. Last time we had multiple votes (three I think) and it got tiring and time consuming.
Not many people outside of the last challenge voted anyway although it was encouraged.
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HarmonicaMick
161 posts
Sep 29, 2010
3:09 PM
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I suggest that we keep the voting on similar lines to that which we had the last three times. It did work well, and provided a forum - literally - for the feedback that was all a part of the fun.
As for browser issues, I know what Isaac is talking about here. I think that some people, perhaps those with slower processors or less RAM, had huge problems with the submissions thread loading. I know I did.
Perhaps it would be a good idea to have a YT channel specifically for the purpose of these events, and create a playlist for the event at hand, as was suggested after all the hoo hah we had last time with worries about someone sabotaging the harpfriends channel. I expect that Isaac would be more clued up on the practicalities of this than I am.
EDIT: tooka, if you prefer, this time round I'll tally the votes, and exclude those that ignore what is decided on, e.g. voting for ten entries when you can only vote for three, or whatever.
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YouTube SlimHarpMick
Last Edited by on Sep 29, 2010 3:16 PM
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eharp
819 posts
Sep 29, 2010
3:10 PM
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i wasnt aware during your last challenge that non-participants could vote.
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isaacullah
1177 posts
Sep 29, 2010
3:38 PM
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Fair enough! I, too, want to keep things as simple as possible. Both for the contestants and for the voters and for the organizer! Voting for only one is as simple as it gets, so I support that! My only worry is that it is "simplest" to keep all the videos together in one place so that they are easy to find and keep track of, but that every time we've tried to do this, we've run into some kind of technical problem that has contradicted our efforts to keep it simple! If there are going to be multiple threads (ie. as you suggest, limiting to 10 vids and locking it), then a) it is possible that the threads will become separated, and b) the threads will get "buried" really fast in the archives.
Another alternative will be for one of us (I can certainly do this) to host a page on their own webspace where all the videos are embedded. We can then keep it to 10 per page, and have a link to the next set of 10, etc. Contest entrants can just e-mail the URL of their uploaded YT video to whoever is hosting the viewing page... Anyway, just another suggestion. I am, of course, willing to do it any way you think is best...
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View my videos on YouTube!"
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tookatooka
1769 posts
Sep 29, 2010
3:42 PM
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@HarmonicaMick. Tallying the votes wasn't a problem it only took about twenty minutes. The problem was deciding on the mechanics to do it. If anyone has any good ideas and would like to take that responsibility on then I'm happy for them to do it. My way would be one vote each for the video or soundfile you liked best (for whatever reason). It's really difficult trying to work out who to put second third etc.
Yes the YT Channel was a nightmare last time and we pobably wont know that the previous problems have been fixed till we bombard it with entries. Once again if anyone wants to take this on and work out how it could be managed be my guest. If there are no takers I suggest just making each participant responsible for embedding their own entry into a small number of dedicated threads so that a single thread is not overloaded.
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tookatooka
1770 posts
Sep 29, 2010
3:49 PM
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@Isaacullah. Thanks for the offer. it's late here now and I need slumber badly. I'll consider your proposal, if I can't think of anything better maybe you would be kind to do that but I thought you were up to your neck in work too. It's not fair that this should eat into your time.
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isaacullah
1178 posts
Sep 29, 2010
3:51 PM
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Okay, just to illustrate my point, here's a page I made in about 5 minutes: https://sites.google.com/site/mbhblowyourbrainsout2/
What do you think? It's VERY easy to do.
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View my videos on YouTube!"
Last Edited by on Sep 29, 2010 3:51 PM
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tookatooka
1771 posts
Sep 29, 2010
3:58 PM
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@Isaacullah. Looks good Isaac. You are on then. I've never used the google sites thing. I'll need to look into that myself and see what it's all about. Thanks and goodnight.
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isaacullah
1179 posts
Sep 29, 2010
5:12 PM
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Sure thing. Like I said, it really doesn't take much time. I'm very busy these days, but I can certainly find a few minutes to do this. I wouldn't want it all to have to be on your shoulders, since you did it all on your own last time. Since the rules are that there are no rules, that means I'll have more of my "free" time to help with the organization, rather than devoting myself only to the woodshed!
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View my videos on YouTube!"
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MichaelAndrewLo
430 posts
Sep 29, 2010
5:51 PM
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I got my .357 magnum ready for this challenge!
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Andrew Larson, R.N.
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ricanefan
75 posts
Sep 30, 2010
2:23 AM
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I've never played in public, and no audio or video of my playing has ever graced the world wide web (or any other media for that matter). This may just have to be my "coming out" party. Lord knows, the feedback couldn't hurt!
Now, to find the time and place to create digital evidence...
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tookatooka
1772 posts
Sep 30, 2010
2:59 AM
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@ricanefan. Neither had I until a short while ago. 170 in the aucience at my last gig and I can only just about play and I'm semi-hermit.
You got to do it, you'll love it once you break through.
Ahhhh! The smell of the grease paint, the roar of the crowd .... Testing 1 2 1 2 wah wah wah. Autograph Madam? Why of course.
Last Edited by on Sep 30, 2010 5:22 AM
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ricanefan
76 posts
Sep 30, 2010
9:47 PM
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Performing in public is not a short term goal, though I'm not ruling it out. I think I'm just about ready for some feedback from the MBH crowd, though...
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