I'm thinking of starting a forum where musical instruments could be bought, sold or discussed. I would be interested in any reaction/feedback to this. I'm planning to have 6 major categories initially - Fiddle, banjo, flute, accordion, piano and guitar.
I wonder if it would fly?
Well, I know there are instrument specified forums where there is a classifieds section already there. First you would have to think with the legal and hassle issues. Let's say C&F for example. I buy and sell there to people who I know and chat with daily. I am pretty confident that nobody would rip me off there. And, people know me as well. They would feel safe bartering with me as well. The same goes for all the other instrument forums.
Now, what if you have people that don't each other at all. There could be some scammers and cons out there because nobody knows each other. If anything like that did happen, it would all that would trickle to you, and people would complain, and there could be legal action taken.
Also, would you charge a percentage of the sales? How would you deal with frauds?
It is a good idea, but I just don't trust people that I don't know or don't know their reputation. It would be hard making business with people you haven't interacted with before. People build up trust with forums, and if it is just a sales for buying/selling, then I wouldn't see much trust building.
Like I said, it is a good idea, and if you could make it so where there could be a bit more interaction other than buy/sell, then it would be great. Instead of searching all the forums for that right fiddle, one site would be great.
Maybe you can make it where it is linked to the other forums. Like Steve from C&F is selling his flute. Here is a link to Steve's profile page on C&F:_______. They will see that Steve has over 1000 posts and is very active. I guess it would help just so they know a little about the person more, and know they aren't some con-artist.
Or maybe since you are the third party, have it where you take both people's addresses and phone numbers before they can make the deal, just in case they decide to rip off anyone. But that would be a lot of work for you. I guess I would encourage the people to trade numbers and addresses, and if someone doesn't want to, then they have a less chance of buying/selling.
I think you'd just be creating a redundant site with Chiff and Fipple, Concertina.net, Mandolin Cafe, etc. - there's already a site with forums for most instruments.
What I CAN see a need for is a more Wiki-style site about instruments, with pages for each make/model combination - for example, take a Burke High D whistle - it's page would ideally end up including a history of how Burkes have changed over the years, pictures of the different generations, notable players and performences (i.e., it was used in the Lord of the Rings score..., include a link to that vid on youtube)...that sort of thing. I think I've actually seen people say they were working on something like this over at Chiff and Fipple, but for whistles only. I see a lot of value in such a site for a broader subject base - but the key element is that it be oriented toward images, audio clips, and video. We already have plenty of resources to just talk about this stuff.
I've been doing quite a few wiki sites using various platforms, and Google sites are pretty good as a friendly wiki-type function which can act as a gathering-point to make sense of stuff that's around the web.
Wikis are notoriously difficult to make look good AND get people contributing - they are usually one or the other!
Maybe that should be 'not that interested in talking about instruments'? Because in my experience good players put in a fair effort to get an instrument that suits them. After which the whole thing does become redundant.
Good players may hang out in pubs. Some of us hang out in music stores, perhaps hoping that something significant will be absorbed. So yes, I would be interested in such a forum.
Musical Instrument forum/website
Musical Instrument forum/website
I'm thinking of starting a forum where musical instruments could be bought, sold or discussed. I would be interested in any reaction/feedback to this. I'm planning to have 6 major categories initially - Fiddle, banjo, flute, accordion, piano and guitar.
I wonder if it would fly?
# Posted on October 23rd 2010 by dobbins
Re: Musical Instrument forum/website
Well, I know there are instrument specified forums where there is a classifieds section already there. First you would have to think with the legal and hassle issues. Let's say C&F for example. I buy and sell there to people who I know and chat with daily. I am pretty confident that nobody would rip me off there. And, people know me as well. They would feel safe bartering with me as well. The same goes for all the other instrument forums.
Now, what if you have people that don't each other at all. There could be some scammers and cons out there because nobody knows each other. If anything like that did happen, it would all that would trickle to you, and people would complain, and there could be legal action taken.
Also, would you charge a percentage of the sales? How would you deal with frauds?
It is a good idea, but I just don't trust people that I don't know or don't know their reputation. It would be hard making business with people you haven't interacted with before. People build up trust with forums, and if it is just a sales for buying/selling, then I wouldn't see much trust building.
Like I said, it is a good idea, and if you could make it so where there could be a bit more interaction other than buy/sell, then it would be great. Instead of searching all the forums for that right fiddle, one site would be great.
Maybe you can make it where it is linked to the other forums. Like Steve from C&F is selling his flute. Here is a link to Steve's profile page on C&F:_______. They will see that Steve has over 1000 posts and is very active. I guess it would help just so they know a little about the person more, and know they aren't some con-artist.
Or maybe since you are the third party, have it where you take both people's addresses and phone numbers before they can make the deal, just in case they decide to rip off anyone. But that would be a lot of work for you. I guess I would encourage the people to trade numbers and addresses, and if someone doesn't want to, then they have a less chance of buying/selling.
Sorry I talked too much.
# Posted on October 23rd 2010 by pipersgrip
Re: Musical Instrument forum/website
"Now, what if you have people that don't each other at all"
First paragraph in the second sentence should have the word "know" there.
Now, what if you have people that don't "know" each other at all.
# Posted on October 23rd 2010 by pipersgrip
Re: Musical Instrument forum/website
Maybe I should try it without the buy/sell aspect - just a discussion forum?
# Posted on October 23rd 2010 by dobbins
Re: Musical Instrument forum/website
I think you'd just be creating a redundant site with Chiff and Fipple, Concertina.net, Mandolin Cafe, etc. - there's already a site with forums for most instruments.
What I CAN see a need for is a more Wiki-style site about instruments, with pages for each make/model combination - for example, take a Burke High D whistle - it's page would ideally end up including a history of how Burkes have changed over the years, pictures of the different generations, notable players and performences (i.e., it was used in the Lord of the Rings score..., include a link to that vid on youtube)...that sort of thing. I think I've actually seen people say they were working on something like this over at Chiff and Fipple, but for whistles only. I see a lot of value in such a site for a broader subject base - but the key element is that it be oriented toward images, audio clips, and video. We already have plenty of resources to just talk about this stuff.
# Posted on October 23rd 2010 by dereksmootz
Re: Musical Instrument forum/website
I've been doing quite a few wiki sites using various platforms, and Google sites are pretty good as a friendly wiki-type function which can act as a gathering-point to make sense of stuff that's around the web.
Wikis are notoriously difficult to make look good AND get people contributing - they are usually one or the other!
# Posted on October 23rd 2010 by Mark Harmer
Re: Musical Instrument forum/website
I've always found that really good players are not that interested in instruments.
# Posted on October 23rd 2010 by ...
Re: Musical Instrument forum/website
Maybe that should be 'not that interested in talking about instruments'? Because in my experience good players put in a fair effort to get an instrument that suits them. After which the whole thing does become redundant.
# Posted on October 23rd 2010 by Prof. Prlwytzkofski
Re: Musical Instrument forum/website
Yes prof, that's what I meant
# Posted on October 23rd 2010 by ...
Re: Musical Instrument forum/website
Good players may hang out in pubs. Some of us hang out in music stores, perhaps hoping that something significant will be absorbed. So yes, I would be interested in such a forum.
# Posted on October 23rd 2010 by oldstrings
Re: Musical Instrument forum/website
Maybe you could talk Jeremy into adding a "classified" section to the session.
Although, I think he wanted to do that he would have done it by now.
# Posted on October 24th 2010 by CleverName
Re: Musical Instrument forum/website
Well Jeremy does have a discussion section, even though I'm certain he regrets it
# Posted on October 24th 2010 by ...
Re: Musical Instrument forum/website
Be careful what you ask for, you may get it!!!
# Posted on October 24th 2010 by AlBrown