Piano World Home Page Forums Restricted and Archives The Coffee Room Reviews of the three other forums

(1) jgoo's. Has the most people at present. Easy link (www.coffee-room.com). Seems to have technical problems, but these should be resolved. Long-term weakness: no obvious way to drive future new traffic beyond current members from PW.

(2) Cindy's. Nice interface. Easier to follow posts and threads than jgoo site. Weakness: same as jgoo's site. Also has fewer PW posters at present.

(3) Larry's. Best interface. Because it has a piano focus like PW, it has a potential reason to generate new traffic. It remains to be seen if it will do so. Weakness: many current PW members have issues with the founder of the site. Except for continuing a CR forum, I am not sure what it adds to PW in the total piano-internet-chat room space.

These are my opinions only. The founders of the site should take them as feedback to help improve, not as criticism of three really good tries on short notice.

I really wish PW had stayed as it was. Many meetings and friendships and parties grew out of this site, and without the CR I wonder if that will happen to the same extent.

Best wishes to all and especially Frank. - Jeffrey

http://www.pianoworld.com/ubb/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?/forum/39.html

Just to keep it in one place.

I actually like jgoo's site architecture the best. It's most intuitive for a "power user" or someone who wants to move quickly.

Allows you to "fast forward" to new posts since your last posting on a thread, interface is skinnable (very cool).
But has the drawbacks you've mentioned.

Cindy's site looks nice, but isn't very intuitive in terms of design/layout.
Lacking features you might expect, and is way too female oriented (come on... "eve"??... and purple everywhere??)

Larry's site has made huge progress in the last 24 hours, but is lacking people and ease of use.

Jgoo's still wins, but only as a short term solution.

Unfortunately everyone rushed out to start their own rather than discuss as a group (as if they were waiting to do so).

Some of us more tech oriented could help a lot to build a proper site with it's own domain. Everyone working together, with a desire to build something more long lasting could really create a "home" for everyone I think.
But as it stands we have 3 sites that have been thrown together quickly, with only one really suitable as a replacement right off the bat (jgoo's)

Just my humble opinion of course, and subject to change hourly as the 3 new forums do.

i hope you'll help us Caviar

I didn't even know cindy had a site. I never saw a posting in regard to it. I like jgoos site as it moves quickly and it seems very simple to use. I have not been to Larry's as I just don't have that much time to devote to more than 1 site. But I will follow the crowd. I'd hate to lose contact with all the great friends I have made here in PW.

I've offered to... I'd like to.

Perhaps I'm not as helpful as I think, as nobody has yet asked me to!

I reposted my review in the appropriate place btw.

KB, can we get back onto jgoo's or is it down for good? I can't find it.

been reading their support forum... server's still down as far as I know.
It's a global thing for them, it's not just jgoo's forum.

These things happen, especially with free hosting (one of the things you pay for when you buy hosting is server redundancy so that this exact thing doesn't happen).

My thoughts. Repost:

OK, all you business and technical geniuses. Let's build us a web site. We'll start with one of these guys and lets figure out how to make it attractive to new posters but also turn a profit.

I've started businesses before (though never anything web based.) It's not that hard. We can see if we can generate some ad revenues, maybe even sell some stuff.

Let's be creative with this.

I don't want to compete with Frank. I think something different is in order.

*shudders*

I agree with TomK. There is really no reason for another *piano* site between PW and some other long-standing piano forums we all know about. jgoo's site is easy to use and has passed the "vote with your feet" test - many more people went to his site than the others. The key issue is sustainability with new members and possibly some cash flow. Key questions: why was the CR in PW successful? How do we drive new traffic to the site, while keeping membership standards fairly high and interesting?

I'll definitely do all my piano discussing here.. I do have one and do play.

certainly find Jgoo's to be user friendly and such.. and for once, I agree with Tomk

Tom, let's figure it out.
Seriously, I'd like to help out with something like that in whatever limited capacity I can.

Easily your best post to date, Jeffrey. I agree that the best -- maybe the only -- way to drive new traffic to the site, while making membership standards fairly high and interesting, is to bribe them.

apple,

his is the second time you agreed with me...you also agreed that I was the hottest guy on the internet.

How do we drive new traffic to the site, while keeping membership standards fairly high and interesting?

We could sell atom splitting equipment or brain surgery tools (on second thought, those people are boooooring).

promote it as a place to discuss current events

promote it as a place for music lovers (not just pianists)

If we build it they will come........

Really Good Questions !! I *shudder* to suggest this ... but would a *survey* be in order?

I liked this website b/c after I bought my piano, I then tuned into the PF as I was keen on practice/learning. Then I tuned into the CR to talk with people who simply loved pianos & piano music. Then I discovered I shared other interests with these people. So I think the answers have something to do with Piano People> Piano Music>Music>Other Interests.

Fizzygirl,

Some of us are at

www.welltemperedforum.com

Fair reviews, Jeffrey.

Spam everyone with Tom's photo. No women will be able to resist and there will be so many that the rest of us will have some leftovers.

jf