The Art of a Meaningful Comments

I'll be the first to admit that I don't always write the most remarkable comments, but I'm seriously going to try to include something more substantial into all of my comments. Why? Comments can help artists create better music and give them the confidence to upload more songs. Also, good comments can get a song noticed that may otherwise go unnoticed. Remember, a link to your comment will show up in the subscription pane of your subscribers.

There's an art to writing a great comment. Inane comment banter is easy. Just take a look at the average Digg comment or the comments left on Perez Hilton "First! " It's an asinine comment free for all over there). YouTube comments? Here's a grand example: "ok i think u're f**ked and ur getting Mac and Pc mixed up Macs r the best PC's SUCK ASS!!!!! U NEED TO DIE NOW!. "

So, you're pretty clear on a bad comment - but how can you ensure a meaningful, clever and/or creative comment?

1. Make sure you have a point, whether it's positive or negative. If you can't think of anything to say, don't say anything. Here are some ideas of what you can put into valuable comments:

   - What aspect of the song did you like most and why? What didn't you like about the song?

   - What emotion did the song convey to you?

   - Does the song touch on a taboo subject that makes you uncomfortable?

   - Did the song bring up a memory for you or remind you of another song?

   - Is the subject matter, inspiration or instrumentation something you are particularly fond of?

2. Grab their attention. Write with personality and don't be afraid use this little guy if you can't think of another word for 'great'.

3. People like humor, so write something witty, as long as they are about the song or topic at hand.

4. Check your spelling and punctuation. You don't want to people to think you didn't make it past the 5th grade, like the moron who made the YouTube comment above.

5. Ask a question to get feedback from the artist or other listeners and artists. Add to the conversation.

6. Captain obvious says: "Even if your comment is negative, don't be mean spirited". Real men don't start flame wars. Showing tact and an open mind will win you friends and respect.

Remember that guy KosmikRay, the master of creative comments? Let's take a cue from Kosmic... a tribute to the man... the legend. Write some creative comments about songs

KosmikRay's Mega Upload Party in honor of Michael Paul Miller on May 8th

From Kosmik Ray's Wallzine:

Like a New Orleans-style musical wake, the next listener event is a Mega Upload Party in honor of Michael Paul Miller on May 8th. I'm open to ideas about the time or times.

ANY 61 artist who wishes to join in should send me a wall post or tunebox with their song name (and the band name if it comes from a listener account) so I can list and do pre-promotion for you

I'll tunebox a heads-up to all 173 of my subscribers, and the top 100 listeners who aren't.

I know this will be the biggest t61 upload event ever, and includes:

1. Michael Paul Miller: "I'll Be Walking Home Today."
2. Below-Fi: "Peace."
3. Catnip Tea: "Shaking Hands."
4. Prompter: "Air"
5. While They Were Sleeping: "Prequel."
6. Alex Gloworld: "System- NuTone Remix"
7. Raw Mutant: "TBA"
8. Kourosh Eusebio: "Dragon"
9. Mad Starring Eyes: "Well Done Son"
10. Hidari "Yume."
11. Goodwin: "Revelation of Revolution."
12. Tinocat: "Well We Wonder."
13. Glenn Case: "TBA"
14. Glenn & Rachel: "TBA."
15. Temple Scene: "TBA."
16. Wake Effect: "TBA."
17. Eric Campbell: "TBA."
18. Cactus Bob: "TBA"
19. Laura Marie: "Good Enough."
20. Black Diamond Love: "TBA"
21. Cait Wade: "Mr
22. Siegal."
23. Lyndon Heart: "TBA"
24. Lotta Katarina: "Paper Aeroplane"
25. BabbleGrabble: "TBA"
26. Kazoo Funk Orchestra: "TBA"
27. Empire Day: "Story Of A Ghost"
28. Will Dailey: Yesterday's Gone"
29. The Host: "TBA"
30. Aron Wright: "TBA"
31. Jessie Grace: "TBA"
32. -100: (Your Band Here!)

Bozo Scramble On Sunday!

The next listener event is the Bozo Scramble on Sunday, March 23rd beginning at Noon EASTERN time (u.s.). The earlier than normal time is to allow Euro listeners and bands to participate. All Bozo Fund contributors or pledgers were invited to submit their three top underbumped favorites, and the Scramble, which will post on my wall at noon, is open to all comers. It is a chance to drop many points in a "target rich environment", and many songs have posted from the exposure in the past. There was much initial interest in the Upload Party that follows two hours later, but the recent de-pointing realignment has soured some artists, and will prevent some others from being able to upload who wanted to. Had the change not happened, it would've been the biggest joint upload event ever at triple the size.

KosmikRay's Wall Crawl is Tonight and other events from Kosmik

KosmikRay runs all sorts of online events at The Sixty One and we're hoping he'll join the blog in a couple of weeks. In the meantime, I'm reposting from KosmikRay's Wallzine:

Wall Crawl

TIMYJL and KOSMIKRAY invite you to the inaugural WALL CRAWL this Sunday night beginning at 8 pm EASTERN. For two hours we will jump to a dozen listener's walls for great underbumped music, and end with a new music upload party at 10 pm EASTERN. The crawl starts at 8 on Timmy's wall. He will put up 3 great tunes and we'll have three minutes to listen, bump and comment on each. After ten minutes, he'll post a link to the next Wall and off we all go again. Previous events like the Bump & Grind Strategic Bombing Mission and the infamous SCRAMBLE netted lots and lots of new songs posting and zillions of listener points happily used.

If you would like to be considered to be visited by the torch-carrying bumping hordes of the first-ever Wall Crawl, send me a tunebox with the three killer tunes you would have featured ASAP. Only one slot is left.

If you are an artist and would like to join the upload party at the end of the crawl, send me a tunebox with the band and new tune name. The Wall Crawl and Upload Party is open to all, so pass the word. The more the better. So far, noctaluca will put up "Suck Hard" (one of their best and previewable at noctaluca.com), lovespirals "This Truth" (live) (tentative due to scheduling), and newcomer Banjo Drill's "Robot Boy", Laura Marie's "People" (live), and probably more. Puntspeedchuck wants to revisit all the Wall Crawl tunes we visit in his 61 podcast, so additional exposure is assured.

Lovespirals Remix Contest -- Win An Ipod Touch!

Peace Love Productions is holding a remix contest for Lovespirals recent single, 'This Truth". The top 5 finalists will be promoted as podsafe singles on Lovespirals' Podsafe Music Network remix page and considered for inclusion on a new digital remix EP and CD, plus the top 2 finalists will receive all 3 Lovespirals' CDs - personally autographed by Anj Bee and Ryan Lum - and the grand prize winner will also get a year's subscription to the PLP Producer's Vault and an 8 gig iPod Touch! Find out all the details at lovespirals.com!

Bozo Drive!

I STILL don't know if there are enough people who are willing to pay to force me to put up an ugly Bozo photo (instead of my nice blue snow) for all of spring. As you know, here's the bet: Everyone join in and pledge $1,000 in TOTAL donations to Sam and James' t61 enterprise, and I'll kick in $100 and change my pic to Bozo for three months. The top 500 listeners were contacted about this via wall message. That means it could happen with just $2 per person. Post on my wall or in my tunebox your pledge marked BOZO DRIVE, and I'll keep a tally.

Bonus: Any song in a BOZO DRIVE tunebox pledge will get a guaranteed bump if pledge is more than the points cost.
Art Bonus: Graphic Designer timyjl is working up the BOZOFOTO.

Double Bonus: missi will match my $100 when $1k is reached! Sweet!

1. $50 pledge from zagudabuda (additional donation) 2-10
2. $60 pledge from jorunnix 2-10
3. $35 pledge from petiejoe 2-11
4. $50 pledge from kafkajoubert (additional donation) 2-11
5. $75 pledge from anon (jpalf., upped from $50) 2-11
6. $20 from anon (additional pledge) 2-12
7. $20 donation from mrvelvet (just used paypal) 2-12
8. $10 pledge from artist Laura Marie 2-12
9. $10 pledge from rfiedel 2-12
10. $20 pledge from comradinarms (additional donation) 2-12
11. $25 pledge from LMMS 2-12
12. $20 pledge from matttynabib 2-12
13. $20 donation from batface89 (additional donation) 2-12
14. $30 pledge from bloke 2-13
15. $10 pledge from calculatedCHA0S (additional donation) 2-17
16. $20 pledge from blkdiamondlove (additional donation) 2-17
17. $40 pledge from comradeinarms (third donation) 2-18
18. $20 pledge from iWex (additional donation) 2-28
19. $30 pledge from myktoronto (additional pledge) 2-29

Current Pledge Total: $585 (+ $100 kosmik + $100 missi) = $785

That Was Pathetic!

That is the latest playlist from batface89. All the new dogs are to be impounded there. Send your worst finds to her. (Will anything EVER beat Stuggleburger's Stairway to Heaven?)