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SurfGuitar101 Forums » Surf Musician »

Permalink A rant and a request

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First the rant. Star ratings without comments on our uploads for the compilations and for backing tracks are stupid. They don’t help potential listeners and they don’t help the creator of the upload.

They don’t help potential listeners: If there is a 1- or 2-star rating on an upload, will it keep you from listening? We probably all listen to all the compilation uploads. They don’t help the creator: why did someone give 3 stars? What did they not like? If I agreed with their assessment, I might try something different with my next recording. That would be useful.

I’ve uploaded many backing tracks here. Most have received neither star ratings nor comments, though I’ve had a few 4- and 5-star ratings and some favorable comments, which I appreciate. For my upload of a backing track to Rumble, I received 2 stars. WTF? The backing track was a pretty faithful recreation of the original, minus the rhythm guitar. What did that reviewer find so wrong? I might have learned something if they had commented.

Now the request. For the 2023 compilation, I uploaded my version of Catalina by Jon and the Nightriders. After a couple of days I received a 3-star rating, with no comment. I request that whoever left the 3-star rating either give his reason here or PM me.

Thanks.

If I'd stop buying old guitars to fix, I might actually learn to play.
Bringing instruments back to life since 2013.

Lee, I think this is a valid point. I'm sure when the website was set up in seemed like a good idea, don't forget that was before the heyday of Facebook and Instagram and the era of only positive reinforcement. I think we're all conditioned to it now, myself included.

I can't speak for Brian, but I suspect it's too late in the game to alter how things are on this site. There's just not enough traffic to warrant the effort on his part, just as there isn't enough to make the download section a viable vehicle for sharing your music.

Yours and everyone's participation is much appreciated. We're only a community if everyone stays involved. However, much like other aspects of our lives, expectations and motivations have to be managed as time marches forward.

I've recently came to the conclusion that at this point of my life (58) I'm primarily making music because I can't think of anything more enjoyable to do with a lot of my free time. More than performing, more than posting on social media and more than putting out recordings - sitting there with my guitar and digital music stuff creating things is the how I live my life with music. And I when I get crickets from the things I do put out (which is often) I just keep reminding myself that I already received my reward just getting to do it.

Hope that's not too preachy. Everyone feel free to chime in.

Danny Snyder

"With great reverb comes great responsibility" - Uncle Leo

Playing keys and guitar with Combo Tezeta

Formerly a guitarist in The TomorrowMen and Meshugga Beach Party

Latest surf project - Now That's What I Call SURF

I don't really like the stars either. Comments are always so much more insightful. It's pretty well documented that like buttons and post ratings are a net negative. Not for the forum, for the users. As an artist it doesn't help at all. We want to know the human reaction, which is not a number. We want to know specifics. For example, the tone of the snare drum and drums in general, the guitar tones, the mix, the chords and melody, the speed, the timbre, the novelty, the authenticity, the vibe, what it reminded you of, any mental images conjured, did your body react physically, etc.

I would love to discuss music specifics, but people seem to get super defensive and stop being in the mood to discuss when anything critical is pointed out. I ran into this one and I went and rated each song on an SG101 comp. Dude wanted to know why I gave the rating I did and I explained it and that ended the discussion. It should have continued even to today, but it didn't. People are just too sensitive. I would have been more than happy to share exactly why I thought the way I thought, and perhaps build some sort of friendship that ended in positive change.

I think what your point is is that more discussion is infinitely better than simple ratings, is that about the size of it? It's a beautiful thought. To me, one of the greatest strengths of this site is the fact that the code is not updated! We do not need like buttons or any of that shit.

Daniel Deathtide

DannySnyder wrote:

I've recently came to the conclusion that at this point of my life (58) I'm primarily making music because I can't think of anything more enjoyable to do with a lot of my free time. More than performing, more than posting on social media and more than putting out recordings - sitting there with my guitar and digital music stuff creating things is the how I live my life with music. And I when I get crickets from the things I do put out (which is often) I just keep reminding myself that I already received my reward just getting to do it.

Hope that's not too preachy. Everyone feel free to chime in.

I aspire to be this way. That is the true artist's way. I have motivation issues, it's super hard to do anything completely solo.

You raise an important point, which is how the site only thrives with involvement, just like a music scene. Not much of a scene if no one shows up to shows. So I'll say it now since I didn't before - I love your solo stuff. It's wonderful. There were some very local commercials I used to see growing up and I'd love to hear surf versions of those. The Woolworth's "Hawaii's Favorite Store" was a great one. It had a badass flute lead haha!

Daniel Deathtide

I love Danny’s mindset. It is one I strive for too. I’ve found Rick Rubins book from last year, “The Creative Act”, to be a helpful resource in that pursuit. I am attaching a great introduction/summary video, however, I highly recommend spending the $18 or so to buy a physical copy of the book. There is something about a hard copy to sit with, away from a computer or phone (read: distractions). In my own experience, best first thing in the morning, preceded by nothing but the preparation of a cup of coffee to consume with a few pages of the book itself. Your ritual may vary.

Fady

El Mirage @ ReverbNation

I could probably remove the rating system if that's what everyone wants. I don't have strong feelings.

Site dude - S3 Agent #202
Need help with the site? SG101 FAQ - Send me a private message - Email me

"It starts... when it begins" -- Ralf Kilauea

Thanks for the comments.

Danny, I also play for my own enjoyment and also the mental and physical challenge (I’m a fair bit older than you). I upload songs for the compilations because it gives me the chance to try playing a song well, and it gives me a chance to work on mixing. I suppose I shouldn’t care what other people think of my work if I’m happy enough with it. It's good to receive a 4- or 5-star rating or a positive comment, and I’d honestly be happy for a negative COMMENT if it gave me something I could work on improving. It just gripes me that someone does a ‘drive-by’ 1- to 3-star rating without bothering to say what the perceived issues were.

DeathTide, yes, discussions are much better than ratings. If not discussion, at least a useful comment.

Brian, I’m all for getting rid of the stars on uploads. If you get rid of stars, people can still leave a ‘star rating.’ In the comments, they can say ‘I give your song 2 stars.’ But in that case the anonymity is gone. That would be a good thing, I think.

If I'd stop buying old guitars to fix, I might actually learn to play.
Bringing instruments back to life since 2013.

Someone just rated my 2023 Compilation contribution with 1 star, and no comment.

I hope it is fun for you.

If I'd stop buying old guitars to fix, I might actually learn to play.
Bringing instruments back to life since 2013.

That might have been me, I thought clicking on the stars icon would take me to a different screen where I could choose it, it also doesn’t let me change it. My bad! But just goes to show how things like these are often just human error, I think the song is great. 5 stars to you Mr. IDK!

-Zanti

Instagram:

My IG

Combo Tezeta IG

The user interface is confusing. I had an other member contact me and tell me they accidentally voted on their own submission and asked me to remove it. It turns out I can remove the votes pretty easily so I'll just do that for ldk and the other member.

In the future if I ever start working on the site again (there is some hope!) I'll just nix the rating system.

Site dude - S3 Agent #202
Need help with the site? SG101 FAQ - Send me a private message - Email me

"It starts... when it begins" -- Ralf Kilauea

Last edited: Mar 18, 2024 15:49:52

Thanks. I shouldn't let these things bother me, but they do.

If I'd stop buying old guitars to fix, I might actually learn to play.
Bringing instruments back to life since 2013.

I am not a music creator but am a creator in other areas of life. I am my worst critic, I believe most creators are. If someone you respect says something positive or negative, it has weight. Random comments from anywhere, not so much. Most know we are responsible for our happiness. I side with Danny, being a simpleton, I'm easily amused. LOL.

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