Totally agree with the above!
Ok, I’m going to view it from the “business” viewpoint. Of course, this isn’t business for making money.
(1) What is the product of the salon? The leaders/officials need to think hard,
1st have a look what it does now. It’s a real (Friday evenings) as well as virtual (web) place for the photography hobbyists to:
Socialize with people with the same interests
Learn at various skill levels
Publish/share photos (mainly web)
Teach/share skills and experiences (for the pro or semipro)
Organize photo trips (sort of, as most were organized by individuals rather than thru the salon - tons room for improvement here)
Localized social events like the BBQ (again mostly by individuals)
(2) What would attract me to the salon as an end-user?
Timely and useful (including easy to get – info in comments isn’t it) information about photography:
New equipment (hardware as well as software)
New deals of the equipment (expansive hobby so every penny counts)
What’s good and where (Death Valley wild flowers are good (or past peak) right now, see the report
http://www.desertusa.com/wildflo/ca_dv.html).
What’s happening, e.g., competitions or exhibitions etc.
Events and trips.
How to (get to death valley, clean sensor, choose a camera/flash, process a portrait etc.)
Hey, if we get the knowledge base right, plus other stuff, we can beat WXC hands down (so we can add ads to the site and make tons money so every1 can have a D3) – please don’t let 558 see this. Just joking,
.
Experts help – it doesn’t have to be from a pro pro, as we each are good at something. 幽静(?) knows death valley like the back of his hand, besides many other expertise he possesses! 558 knows how to BBQ – kidding again.
Socializing.
Well organized and prepared presentations.
Efficient learning – typically thru demonstration. Some classes don’t have to be at Friday evenings.
To show my work to either get recognized (didn’t happen but I can’t blame anyone – I want to blame someone – due to the quality, ), or to get feedback (this is important to me, even comments as simple as “like #4” is helpful!), so I cam improve. Even “#5 sucks” has useful info in it!
To see others’ photos, and the comments that go with them.
(3) Can it be improved, practically (as we don’t do it for living)? Some ideas:
Resource: split the workload into small bits and get more people actively involved, it’s our hobby so naturally most of us don’t mind to spend SOMETIME on it. Maybe match those bits into corresponding items in the salon web site: local events, field trips, new equipment info, deals, etc.
Split the responsibilities too, for example, say have 558 in charge of local events so he can cook for us …actually whoever in charge of that just needs to be on top of everything “local events”.
Have a look of the website and see if it can be organized better? As to the outsiders, it’s the only interface to the real world.
(4) In practical terms
Bottom-line is people’s involvements. Probably immediate thing is finding out how to get people to post their work, and equally (or more) important how to get people to respond (comments). I get far more responses from the slideshow left on my pc screen at work than here in the salon.
Other improvements can be filtered gradually.
Maybe ask everyone on the mailing list these 2 questions can get it started:
What would make you to post all your photos on the salon site? My answer is “if I can get quality feedback”.
What would make you to view the site often and to comment more?
Just some unorganized thoughts using my coffee break, right or wrong, just to attract/get the real players (big guns) to talk,
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