The Clarinet BBoard

The Clarinet BBoard The C4 standard

New Topic | Go to Top | Go to Topic | Search | Help/Rules | Smileys/Notes | Log In

Previous Message | Next Message

Re: Well, that was fun too!

Author: SecondTry
Date: 2023-12-07 21:24

SunnyDaze wrote:

> I understand the amount of work involved because my husband
> used to run a service like this for fun, and it seemed be
> guaranteed to go wrong at moments when real life was also
> extremely busy.
>
> It really does take a very dedicated individual to run a system
> like this and step up when everything goes wrong. That's just
> the technical side, and is before we even start thinking about
> the work to sort out disagreements on the forum.
>
> The ICA has a discussion forum but you have to be a paid member
> to contribute and so it has far fewer members and much less
> traffic.
>
> I wonder if there might be other folks on the list who have the
> technical know-how to step up and be the back-up to Mark and be
> trained in how to run the system so he's not the only one?
>
> It seems as though there is a such a lot of amazing information
> on here, and it is 100% worth setting up a system to keep it
> going for another 25 or 50 years.

Jennifer:

Much that I don't know the technical contingency plans, if any, that Mr. Charette has in place to reduce his time commitment to this board--any more than they are any of my business-- I must confess that the only thing I feel more strongly about than a desire to implement your continuity idea is my belief, sadly, that it won't be viable.

Running this site takes a level of dedication, a time commitment away from endeavors that actually "pay the rent," and is otherwise anything but lucrative, such that a person would have to have a dedication to not simply clarinet but this bboard, as if it were their child: a (metaphorical) role only Mr. Charette can claim.

In my pipe dream, which is neither under my control nor should be: it is 100% Mr. Charette's call, an organization like the ICA might make some arrangement, hopefully one that is lucrative to Mr. Charette (and 100% his choice) although I have my doubts, that would agree to assume this bboard and its content, and agree to throw the $ at it to keep it running and maintained for an agreed upon period of time, likely charging some fee for its use to members; perhaps including it with ICA membership.

The ICA--and of course it need not be them as much as I feel them most appropriate--is rightfully pensive about assuming the roll of providing clarinet goods and services normally made available through private vendors, including this bboard. In an example taken to its extremes, imagine if the ICA bought out Selmer Paris Clarinets. Of course it isn't going to happen for both financial reasons and those I'm about to cite: but then clarinet makers like Yamaha, Backun and Buffet, for example, might think twice about offering the very sponsorship dollars to the ICA it needs, given the ICA's fiduciary (conflict of) interest in one particular clarinet maker.

That was an extreme example. The clarinet bboard is a resource more than maker of product. And it has no competition to speak of. It only stays afloat due to the 30 year dedication of one man whose niche market simply doesn't command the audience, and commensurate financial worth of a Facebook, for example.

May Mr. Charette and this bboard maintain its health for many years into the future.

Reply To Message | Avail. Forums | Flat View

Newer Topic | Older Topic

Topics

Author

Date

Well, that was fun too! new

Mark Charette

2023-12-05 04:17