Site Ideas

Seeing how people are saying TG is slow at the moment here's my latest project.

Back story:
My son is a DJ/producer. During the Covid restrictions a group of 12 local DJs started sharing ideas and formed Home Grown. 12 months later restrictions are lifted and large music festivals are now back here in Queensland.
The group are pretty well established in the Gold Coast nightclubs and have secured their first large festival. They now feel they would like a website to compliment their social media.

"Dad, we want a website. Different to the usual template stuff. Weird, or bright, or shocking, something in your face. Aim at mobiles, we don't care about desktops. There's a bar of chocolate in it for you."

>>> Home Grown 1 <<<
>>> Home Grown 2 <<<
>>> Home Grown 3 <<<

Waiting for them to have a board meeting in the Tipsy Pig before I get further instructions with regards to content. I've already abandoned #2.
No links or anything yet. Page sizes are all 640px, pasteboard set to 'Fill Browser Window' no 'Scale To Fit Width'. They look decent on both mobile and 1920 screens in my opinion.

You have until their last gig at Tipsy's on Sunday night (Aus east coast time) to tell me I failed and field opinions. :cool:

3 misidentified as 2. 1 being my distant second fav. If you could somehow animate the colors, maybe some kind of cycling, that would be even better. And of course some music in the background.

Animating the colours is a good idea. I'm thinking fading the background to monochrome whilst simultaneously fading colour into the text. I have no clue how to do that, but I'll enjoy playing around and finding out.

Yes ... I agree 3 and then 1, 2 is a non starter in my (very humble) opinion.

3 is my fav.

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Originally Posted by gwpriester

And of course some music in the background.

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They'll want their Spotify/Soundcloud/individual sites used for music. This is purely for events.

I've used 5 slots for the group members, but there's going to be 13 in total and, I presume, a contact form. Hopefully they don't add too much as I'm looking at it much like an advertising brochure.

Nr. 3 is my favorite too.

Typical. I mention the lack of Covid restrictions and Melbourne records 13 new cases, goes into a 5 day strict lockdown and Queensland shuts the borders.

I am not a fan of any of them.

I would use images from actual gigs.
I would have an immediate call to action at the very beginning - talking directly to the visitor
I would stop presenting imagery as though a mobile was a desktop (as in the collection of posters)
The traditional "about us" kind of thing is really boring in this context.

They need a news section (don't call it that) and to grow on Twitter, Tik Tok, youtube and Facebook.

Each DJ could make a post about some current DJ trend or subject, not all at once but to gain a following over time - blog or even a vlog. A little story about an upcoming or past gig. A shout out to some people (who will then post it on to their friends). They need to create a buzz around the group. Get some interviews with artists/musicians. Do some stupid stunt on the beach to get people to repost.

A simple website does nothing, it's the social aspect that counts. Don't make people yawn.

@pauland: I'm very glad you've taken the time to comment as I admire your face on approach to things like this. Could trouble you to add a little more detail to a couple of your observations?

The site isn't aimed at the general public, they are chasing event organising staff and industry head hunters. Twitter and Reddit are a go, but Tik Tok and Youtube would be out. Unsure about Facebook. I'm at the tyre kicking part and believe that the site will be used like a resumé - sent out to various 'in-the-know' people as a network tool. QR codes on business cards, link on Soundcloud, vCard on text messages...that type of thing. Standing out from the template crowd is the aim.

Using imagery from actual gigs isn't possible at the moment as their first festival isn't until 13th of next month. Luke (my son) and one other have done smaller festivals, but as a group they are all nightclub based. However, I do see your point and they can be added as and when they occur.

Now you've brought it to my attention, I do agree the posters miss the mark.

I don't follow your comment regarding "about us". At the moment there isn't one. If you mean the Statement section, then that part is probably the most important to get right as the organisers will need to know what they are potentially hiring. At this level DJs are commanding $3,000+ for a 2 day event...more if they are travelling interstate, but they'd be extremely lucky to be offered interstate without more under their belt. I fully expect the group to supply links to individual portfolios or personal websites as their about us part.

In this case, the social aspect isn't important, they already have followers as individuals and are often rolled out in club advertising. It's more about applying for a job, more factual than marketing.

OK, first of all a disclaimer because I am a keyboard warrior not a marketing expert.

Wherever possible with anything to do with the internet I always imagine the perspective not of the client, but that of the client's client.

So your guys are trying to get gigs and essentially your current intention is to have a website that could be a CV PDF pamphlet. I would say in that case just go ahead but don't be under the illusion that you are fulfilling your clients brief! definitely not "Different to the usual template stuff. Weird, or bright, or shocking, something in your face.".

Event organising staff, industry head hunters are looking for people who are in vogue, up-and-coming and have a growing following. You will make them yawn with a resume site.

I believe their internet and social media presence should be about making a buzz, catching attention of their audience, growing a following. When that happens you can point to what is going on, how the following is growing and that they are trending. Your resume part is then about their growing social media profile and popularity and everything else supports why that is happening. The world is about followers and social media. Adele was spotted making videos online and had a growing number of followers - her talent and growing fan base gave her her break.

Your event organisers want to book the group everyone is talking about. Your venues want the people with a buzz.

That's your advice from a total non-expert.

Thank you for your thoughts. All noted and I shall pass them along.

BTW, if anyone thinks my perspective is nonsense - please say so!

Chris,

I took a look at the sites on both my phone and desktop. My only real questions is, how does a user know they need to scroll down to see more?

Ray

Quote:

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Originally Posted by RKissane

Chris,

I took a look at the sites on both my phone and desktop. My only real questions is, how does a user know they need to scroll down to see more?

Ray

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There are templates available from some of the promotion companies like Chapter Eight, G and MoS. The layout is pretty much the same and the target audience know what they are looking at. I'm waiting for the group to throw their 10c in, but I believe #3 will be the one they go for.

Taylor-Shay is their manager and happens to be my sons long term girlfriend. They've both seen it and she's happy with the title and background. If you knew Taylor-Shay you'd know that if all 12 of the group voted for A and Taylor-Shay wanted B...they'd go with B :D

I agree with @pauland and will suggest they change the event posters to a simple bullet point list as it's easier to read and you still have a feel for the number of events they have collectively done. Taylor-Shay isn't keen on the contact bar I used as page dividers so they'll probably be replaced.

A photo taken during a gig would be better as a background image

Some examples here:

https://www.alexdj.com.au/?gclid=EAI...yAAEgIPZfD_BwE

https://www.novadjs.com.au/wedding-d...iAAEgKvQPD_BwE

I'm a little sorry I started this thread :D It's my fault for not explaining what the page is for. I didn't realise you would all think it was public facing when it isn't. It's aimed at festival promoters, event organisers and, to a lesser extent, nightclub managers.

The biggest global festival organisers are arguably QDance and Tomorrowland.The aim is to have quick info for the promoters/organisers are similar, smaller, more local versions of the same. Think focussed resumé rather than 'book us for your wedding'.

Well, the group didn't like the background...too old looking. Nor did they like the headings on each section...not needed. I shan't be updating anymore as all I'll be doing is adding their statement and updating the missing profile pics and links.

>>> HOME GROWN <<<

Forgot to add - they wanted to keep the event posters as promoters would recognise the events easier than reading a list of text. They think the latest half dozen would be enough, updated as and when.

I know it's an ongoing project Chris but I find that background very off-putting, mainly due to the 'jaggies' within the image. If you've created it in Xara it would be far cleaner as an svg?

DEMO

That's a lot cleaner, Egg. Did you redraw the whole thing in Xara?

The background was found on the night by one of the group. It isn't fixed in stone and only a 'something like this' option. I haven't been in touch with the artist to buy the image yet and presume the size and quality would be higher if they decide to stick with it. I mentioned before that Taylor-Shay is the decision maker and she didn't find the picture so it's not necessarily a done deal.

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Did you redraw the whole thing in Xara?

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Well half of it, as it's symetrical, so just flipped the other half.

Clients can be a PIA.