Many people have said how much they appreciated the forums and hoped something could continue. Ditto for other things Balletco do. The problems with the old forum have robbed people of a place to talk about things and for the community to see how it might go forward with Balletco itself going into archive.
What I have done is set up a forum with a specialist provider (I have nothing to do with the technology you will be pleased to hear!) and I will pay for the service for 3 months – until 20 March 2012. Sorry to say that to use the new forum you must register again.
You can see the new forum here:
http://www.balletcoforum.com
The prize is that the community draws together and creates something enduring in the spirit of Balletco’s forums or more.
There needs to be some overall direction and sifting of ideas in the discussions and I am forming a committee of established forum/Balletco users who will ultimately take a decision within the 3 months available about taking a community-driven intuitive forward or, in the worst case, not. I will give the benefit of my views/experience to the committee but ultimately it will their decision on how things proceed. They may decide that this forum at this new address is great or they may decide some other way forward is better – we will see. A number of people with technical ability have also indicated that they could help and it will be for the committee to review what’s possible with what would be desirable and make decisions on who might do what to run it all effectively in the future. The committee will be announced early in January – in the meantime, all Balletco regulars do say what you feel about all this.
I think there is much good will and there is a very real opportunity for the community to pull together and create something unique, better and more responsive than before – I most sincerely hope something comes out of it.
Besides creating a space for people to talk about a better future there are the realities of today and the new forum has the following areas for people to use:
Ticket Exchange – always been popular and trusted because of the need to register.
Doing Dance – has been a very active community and very UK focused with much self help etc.
News - for people to put news items
What’s Happening – for people to talk about performances and for now, everything else.
I could add in all the other forums we have had but I think initially at least that gets people going and provides a tight focus.
Forum Acceptable Use Policy etc.
This will be initially as for the old forum. The committee will be able to change the policy as it sees fit and things unfold. I will moderate initially but over time the committee, or moderators appointed by them, will need to take over.
{ 15 comments }
I’ve registered – when will I be able to post (I haven’t got anything important to post at the mo, just curious to go through the process)
I’ve just taken 4 accounts live – including yours.
Still finding my way around the admin interface which is amazing, but another learning curve! Hopefully I can get it to email me when accounst are created and it should be slicker.
Bruce: Another generous gesture, for which Many Thanks, and something of a challenge to the rest of us in the weeks until 20th March!
Thanks Ian – probably best these conversations are held in the new forum now, but although a challenge, if something can’t be sorted on a way forward in 3 months its never going to happen!
Bruce – thanks so much for this. I’ve missed the forums more than I ever would have realised. If there’s any way I can help, please let me know.
Thank you, Bruce – that’s very generous and really great news for us!
Very much appreciated
Jacky
What a thoughtful offer, thank you. The forum is a great leveller a source of reassurance and valuable information for many.
Your input into the birth of a new forum is much appreciated!
Bruce this is the best Christmas present! Thank you so much. I would be happy to send a donation towards the cost via paypal if that is something that is possible as I feel you should not have to bear the cost alone. Best wishes and a huge thank you again, DQF
Best Christmas present by far – thanks very much, Bruce!
Well just goes to show….you can’t keep a good man down! Many, many thanks for spending yet more time and effort to keep the rest of us happy. You are a star Bruce, and this is a lovely and unexpected Christmas present. Thank you, thank you, thank you. xxx
I also thank you very much, Bruce. Other major dance forums on the internet have greatly praised what you have done and hopefully will accomplish for all of us in the future. Like DonQ Fan I would also be glad to make a donation for your future expenses.
Thanks again for helping to keep yet another form of expressing beauty, Dance, alive in our minds and in our hearts. Beauty is one of the things that I, for one, live for.
Thank you so much Bruce, great to have the forums back, even temporarily.
Dear Bruce,
Like others, I would be very happy to contribute to your costs if it would help. I have missed ballet.co greatly and this is very good news.
It is a joy to have the forums back and I too would be happy to contribute. Thank you Bruce for the extra personal effort as well as cost this must have taken. This has to be one of the most appreciated gifts ever given.
Bruce – I’d be happy to contribute – I’ve really missed the Forum
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