glasspipes/artists.org

[The Lorax]

anyone else think the newest update kind of ruins the websites? i sure as hell do... things are just getting re-posted... and what can you nominate single pictures now?... blah!!:tantrum:

[garrick]

i agree, and its also loading slow as hell.

the reposting thing is happening from where artists are donating i think but imo sucks that its taking over the recently posted part.

[vetropod]

:twitch:

[Blade]

I'm not sure whats going on. Either there is a bug or Freek now sponsors the site.

[petto]

Either there is a bug or Freek now sponsors the site.
For sure, he rocked that home page for like 3 days. All the pcs I am pretty sure I have seen before. I don't think he was posting them either. Must be a fluke or something with the site. I am sure Justin will get it figured out soon.

[Mark F]

It maybe a glitch, but with the new membership levels that you can get gives you more publicity.

[Mark F]

..

[The Bigles]

glitch? the name in blue obviously means something.

[Mark F]

There was an email sent out that explained it all, 3 differant colors for membership levels, and more front page publicity. Why old stuff is coming up on the front page I don't know but still some tight stuff from 07

[HOSS]

You can get around the "glitch" and skip the reposted stuff by going to the gallery archive, instead of using the front page. At least on GP, haven't tried it with Ga.

[mer]

justin just explained this a couple days ago. it's not a glitch.
http://www.thegldg.com/forum/showthread.php?t=17379

[lucidvisions]

Yes, Justin did a good job of explaining the reasons behind the changes and additional membership options and fees. I still feel though that the new set-up is more confusing. Especially to the more new people to the site. My friends, family,(especially my dad) and clients had a hard enough time before finding stuff on the site because of all the pics and such. Not everyone is computer savy enough to now click on the web hyarchy of an artists front page and find what they're looking for. It was much easier and visually appealing when your front page just popped up.

Josh

[wildrokproductions]

I just think the pricing is rediculous! $60 a month is crazy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[billygoat]

cheapskate!!!!!!

[garrick]

I just think the pricing is rediculous! $60 a month is crazy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

for real, thats more than i pay for my cable and internet a month

[The Lorax]

^ yea i am surprised to see anyone be paying so much.... i don't see how it'd be worth it. sorry justin

[d-mitchell]

i cant even get into my gallery ....it doesnt have the "view your gallery" tab anymore....how do i get in to edit and add shit?

[mer]

are you signed in? i just added stuff to mine a couple minutes ago. it was really slow though.

[d-mitchell]

im signed in....but usually under account menu it has a tab that says "your gallery" or something along those lines....and its not there.....also am i to understand that when we add new pieces now they will not be featured on the front homepage unless we pay 60 bucks a month??? if thats the deal im not sure what the point is....i put stuff on there for people to see and cant sell things off there so im not quite sure what im paying for

[garrick]

i hate to be one of those people but the changes suck, ive quit even checking it the past couple of days because it takes forever to load now. i bet the people paying 60 bucks a month have it loading up instantly.

[garrick]

well i jus checked it and it loaded pretty quick this time, i can live with everything else.

[lucidvisions]

I'll add in again saying that the changes really aren't good for what GA used to be. Money and popularity does seem to change most things, not always for the better. I vote for a across the board small fee that can cover the cost of the servers, maintainance and such. We should all be created equal on the page that when it began was f'n great. My .02 if you want your own page that you don't have to pay an arm and a leg for would be www.otherpeoplespixels.com. It's set up for artists, has some pretty good layouts, you get you own domain name, and you can constantly change your content. I believe the multimedia page is $250 a month, with the normal page being $150 a month. That's a steal in my opinion. It just sucks that we now have to pay to share with others on GA, it was fun while it lasted.

Josh

[PyroChixRock]

Josh do you really think a vote to change things is going to change Justin's mind about this? Do you have any idea how much time, money and effort it takes to run the sites he does? If he has to change some things to keep the site going and open instead of giving up on it, then that's what he does. This is one of those changes, it's not an option for him and you guys complaining about it really sucks imo.

The sites are still free, and still attracting thousands of hits a day (justin has details on this not me) many of which are potential customers. Sure not on glasspipes.org, but who would risk selling pipes over the internet to a stranger anyway, so who cares. The site isn't just about showing your work, it's also about showcasing your work to potential galleries and customers. Have any of you NOT had someone solicit you for work off of one of his sites? I don't mean the people who just started a page there, I mean the ones who have been there and have updated regularly, etc.

If it's not cost effective to you and your business to advertise on glassartists.org, then get your own website and try getting customers to it. That's a personal choice we all have to make in our businesses. I've been a GA.org sponsor in the past and it always brought me customers.

[d-mitchell]

but my question is how the hell do i get to my gallery now??? i was out for about a month and didnt add anything...now i cant find the gallery page ...also ,IS it only people who pay whos work shows up on the main page when they add things....or will everyones work show up as they add it....just askin cause unless you are in the top 100 im not sure how people will ever see your work if its not on that front page when you first put it on

[ech]

Yeah I fully understand why Justin needs to do this but maybe if it was a little less expensive more people would go for a premium account. I know I'm toying with the idea. I mean shit its advertising. My brother is an electrical contractor just a small business and he spend $200 a week on advertising and hes says it pay off big time.
The only thing is it is a little spendy for a lot of us, thats all.

[Dom]

I dont like how people that pay get their stuff posted over and over on the front page, I keep seeing the same Freek and Billygoat pieces.

There should be another seperate window for those who paid. Perhaps in the spot that past features are posted. That way the "new on glasspipes" section is updated with new work.

[PyroChixRock]

but my question is how the hell do i get to my gallery now??? i was out for about a month and didnt add anything...now i cant find the gallery page ...also ,IS it only people who pay whos work shows up on the main page when they add things....or will everyones work show up as they add it....just askin cause unless you are in the top 100 im not sure how people will ever see your work if its not on that front page when you first put it on

When you're logged in you can go to your control panel, and then click the thing that says welcome back, (insert name) or just use your url. for example, mine is http://www.glassartists.org/EugeneRain

[d-mitchell]

thanx misha.....what about part 2...if i add stuff will it no longer make it to the homepage??

[PyroChixRock]

I just found and fixed the problem that was affecting GA. I lost a server this week and now we're running on 2 instead of 3 so everything is slow and messed up. I'm also getting ready to move the entire operation to a new colo that is actually within physical access to me as opposed to the less expensive one across the country where it's at now. In order to do this I'm going to have to be running in 2 places at once... otherwise everything would be gone for about a week (at least.) The 3 servers we were on were already getting quite overloaded so what I am doing now is buying the parts and software licenses for one really really badass server. This is looking like it's going to be right around $4k total for the new machine. But it'll be a huge upgrade over what we're using now, with redundant hot swappable everything, top of the line dual quad core xeons, tons of fast memory, etc. This will mean the sites will be much faster and much more reliable.

This new server would not be possible without the money I've been getting from those people who have signed up for premium accounts. There seems to be a common misconception that I am getting rich here. In reality I'm trying to keep my head above water and keep things moving forward and sometimes it seems like it all might just crash and burn no matter how hard I work at it. Fortunately there are a lot of very supportive people in my communities who take the time to email and let me know how stoked they are on what I'm doing.

It was definitely not my first choice to charge anyone money for anything, especially when ad revenues were adequate. But these ad revenues have been dropping for about a year. Maybe it's simply changes in the ad market, maybe it's that unknown variable revenue share that the powers who be get to change on a whim. The bottom line is that I'm serving more and more visitors and bringing in less and less money from ads, and if things didn't turn around quick I'd be going back to work for the man instead of setting up a new server.

My #1 concern with the creation of the premium accounts was that this would remain a FREE community, nobody would have to start paying for anything they'd already been getting for free. And I think I did a pretty good job of that. I created an all-new set of features, ones that make perfect sense to offer to paying subscribers but would never be missed by the casual free user. The one thing that really seems to bother some people is the front page list. My personal feeling on this is that the paying supporters of the site deserve the recognition. You still get your stuff on the front page if you're not paying, you just don't get to be as high on the page.

On a philosophical level, I think it's much better for these communities to be member-funded as opposed to advertiser funded. Why? Because whoever is paying the bills exercises a certain degree of control over the community. I am stringently bound to keep my site within the [often vague and restrictive] terms of the ad networks. I have to censor certain things, I have to make certain parts of my site run a certain way. If the community was purely member-funded, it would no longer be under the control or at the mercy of the ad networks. While I don't see that happening any time soon, I do like the idea of starting to shift things in that direction. I think by becoming investors in our own community, rather than just trying to get as much as possible out of it for free, we gain a greater sense of affinity and membership to that community.

Not everyone is going to be into this concept. There will always be a certain percentage of people who hear the word "community" and think "somethin for nothin." But then there are the "lets build something cool together" people and those are the ones I'm in this for.

Keep the feedback coming....

Yes, your work is still on the front page.

[Alfred]

Wow,a whole lot of bitching about something the guy has been doing essentially for free for a long time now?Waaah,my free pic hosting site isn't working the way I(a non-paying user) wants it to?Sorry but I been feeling the cliches lately and the one that comes to mind here is:"Give an inch,they'll take a mile"Personally I want to say :THANK YOU JUSTIN!!!!For all your hard work and devotion to helping us out!I'm grateful to have a place on the web I can show my work!

[billygoat]

yea what he ^ said ...waah!... if it werent for glasspipes most of us pipe makers wouldnt have the community that we have where else can you go and look at so many talented artists work in one place....think about all the techniques you never even conceived of that you got turned on to there.and bit. and all the times you send folks there to look at yer stuff next to other awesome artists stuff. cry all you want babies. i just wanna know why you think your so special that you deserve to have justin provide this AWESOME place for you to showcase your work for FREE? for years he got ZIP,NADA!!! ....hey thanx justin for providing me with a showcase for my glass all these years....and to the whiners go cry elsewhere and stop wasting space on this forum with your selfishness.

[lucidvisions]

I think I'm truly being read wrong, I'm not bitching at the point that fees need to be put in to help keep the site afloat, I agree the site needs to be supported to keep it up. Personally the amount of $ accounts is not why we're even there. It's purly to share work. I spend lots of money on marketing and trying to further our studio, but feel that money spent on a site with all the best competition is not the place to spend it. I will say again, as in the other thread that Justin does not deserve to be given shit for what may need to change to keep the site up and running. He has done us all a service of creating this great place for all of us to share and keep in touch with other glass addicts. I just feel the charges are a bit high. I'll leave it like that. When we have the money to make that investment into sharing I will definately as least purchase the basic membership. I put in my other post a place where others can go and create their own page mearly as an altenative to those who now may feel that if they're going to pay for a site where they can do business, it's probably best away from the competition. I'm am sorry if my posts seem as though I'm knocking Justin, his site, or the long hours I'm sure he has put in, but I'm not. I love that site dammit and thats why I'm trying to raise some of the issues I have been thinking about. Whether you agree with me or not, I think it's good to discuss the pluses and minuses of the changes.

Josh

[Alfred]

Sorry you took that personally Josh,it wasn't my intention to point a finger at anyone in particular!This isn't the only thread where I've noticed people griping about the free service Justin provides,and I felt the need bring up my point.I'm sure CC is always appreciated,but the tone of some of the posts I've read(once again,not all of them in this thread)have not been all that "constructive".

[lucidvisions]

I guess I was just wondering if a flat fee for all the members that was reasonable would actually bring in more $ for the site. There's something like over 2k members and if we were all charged a flat yearly fee it seems cash flow for Justin and the site could be more lucrative. But who knows what his overhead is on the site, if you can consider that. To have overhead would mean you're in it for profit, and I know that there's little of that I'm assuming. I thought that when putting up ads on the site the site in only paid when people actually click on the ad link. Maybe to also help out we all could make an effort to go through those ads to help in the sites revenue. Seriously, my intentions are to in someway help keep GA and other of Justin's affiliated sites to stay up, grow and serve all of us the best way possible.

Josh

[PyroChixRock]

You have the option of 4 different prices brackets right now, one of which includes FREE.

[slinger]

i havent read every word of this thread but i did read justin's post...

and i have alot of respect for Justin and glasspipes.org, since Operation Pipedreams, glasspipes.org has definitely help keep the scene going during an otherwise internet blackout...

im totally down to pay for the site, ive been thinking of a sponsorship for awhile and i would definitely upgrade my account...

BUT, i have to say the site has gotten pretty ugly and hard to navigate the more complex it has got...

between the google ads, marketplace, related sites, and the forum box, the site is so jumbled it is not only confusing to navigate but its ugly...

id buy a professional account tommorrow if:

1. get rid of google ads if they are not paying the bills.
2. take the marketplace off the front page, the same nine things have been for sale for 6 months....
3. upgrade the front page, re organzie it to make it any bit nicer, maybe a bit more simple..
4. the pro account should have the contact artist button (if it doesn have it already)

plus do we need 500 mods?
i see people on there who are level whatever mod and dont even have a pic in their gallery...

[Wierdeer]

i havent read every word of this thread but i did read justin's post...

and i have alot of respect for Justin and glasspipes.org, since Operation Pipedreams, glasspipes.org has definitely help keep the scene going during an otherwise internet blackout...

im totally down to pay for the site, ive been thinking of a sponsorship for awhile and i would definitely upgrade my account...

BUT, i have to say the site has gotten pretty ugly and hard to navigate the more complex it has got...

between the google ads, marketplace, related sites, and the forum box, the site is so jumbled it is not only confusing to navigate but its ugly...

id buy a professional account tommorrow if:

1. get rid of google ads if they are not paying the bills.
2. take the marketplace off the front page, the same nine things have been for sale for 6 months....
3. upgrade the front page, re organzie it to make it any bit nicer, maybe a bit more simple..
4. the pro account should have the contact artist button (if it doesn have it already)

plus do we need 500 mods?
i see people on there who are level whatever mod and dont even have a pic in their gallery...

preach it brotha. I don't think that anyone who posted about this is crying or whining. I just think that If the peeps gotta pay, site should be worth payin for. Justin has offered a great service to us for free. and the site ran smooth untill reacently.( probably the upgrade stuff don't know tho ) If we are to pay I think justin should know how everyone feels about it No negativity please Because justin is still the man and I'm sure evrything will work itself out on the site. and if it don't and your not happy with the cash upgrades than don't pay for now I am holding onto my cash till the site runns smoothly again prob will not pay 60 a month no matter what. thats 720 a year thats a new kiln or a good chunk of a new torch witch in my opinion are far more valuable than having a pic of one of you pieces on the front page for days or a contact button. oh I can't even get onto gp right now site is down er somethin, this happens more to that site than any other site I go to maybe it has something to do with the complexity of gp I don't know but not service I am willing to pay for.

[lucidvisions]

Slinger, you probably did a better job than myself of explaining the issues with the sites as they are now. My suggestions were to hopefully put those ideas out there so Justin can be informed on what us, the users think might make it the best site it can be. I truthfully have full confidance that it will work itself out in the long run.

Josh

[fumalicious]

Google can't find the artists' galleries anymore....

[Alfred]

Is it me or is gp.org still having some issues?Can't seem to get the "All Artists" to load.Can't bring up my user CP either,amongst other things.Getting "Server Error" on a lot of the links.I'm guessing it has to do with the new server?just checking though.

[loydb]

slinger +1

And it isn't showing galleries for me either.

[The Lorax]

i don't see how people get motivated enough to pay when the site crashes once a week minimum.

[Wierdeer]

I didn't want to say anything because I didn't want anyone to think I was bashin the site but wow! nobody can see my work including me. it has been like this for days. I would have probably bought a basic upgrade for a month just to see if I was missing anything. Right now the only thing that I am missing is being able to show my work to friends and family(not buyin basic shit) and I don't see too many of the top 100 stepin up to the bat either. I don't know jack about servers or computers really but this site has been running poorly for some time now. who's ready to pay for that service if you than contact me for box of brocken pieces good deal 100% satisfaction garunteed!

[Alfred]

I wasn't trying to complain,just trying to see if the problem was with me or the site!!! Obviously setting up the new server is causing some temporary problems,usually though it gets solved and sites run way better! I'm sure once the upgrades are finished and all the bugs worked out ,it'll be much better.Changing servers is probably in response to all the previous crashes.Sometimes it takes a bit to work everything out.

[Jupiter]

I just read all these posts and have to agree with slingers. Ive been on glassartists.org for so long now and its helped me to share with everyone. I think its amazing that its been free for so long. With that being said though I dont think ive ever made a sale because of it. The site has gotten too bloated over the last year or so starting with the adds. potential customers would take one look at the front page and go elsewhere.

Right now the site only works about 5% of the time anyway and im not sure if thats just on my end. it loads really slow and if it does load then when i click a link i get a server error.

maybe a small flat fee subscription for all users would work but there is no way i would pay 60$.

I would like to thank Justin for all the years of this service, it has been such a great tool to connect with peers.

Jupiter