01/08/11/1435219
story
posted by
davidt
on Monday August 13 2001, @10:00AM
Following recent discussions on the site and privately, I have decided to ask for money from event postings/ads to help offset the costs of running this site. In those discussions, some people have expressed they would like to contribute personally, so in addition, I have set up a way for people to send in donations through PayPal. This is all completely voluntary, no one is forcing anyone to pay (I'm not requiring event advertisers to pay either). The site remains unchanged, regardless of if you pay or if you don't. Any donations are greatly appreciated personally by me, but regardless of whether you donate or not, your decision will have absolutely no effect on your standing as far as the site is concerned. You are free to donate whatever you feel is a good amount for the next year or so -- if you are a frequent visitor, my suggestion for a fair amount is $10.
I welcome any feedback and am always open to changing how things are done. Below are more details and some thoughts about my decision which you may or may not care to read:
- Apart from my time, the costs of the site are fairly simple to determine - I paid $6000 in May 2000 for the server (I realize prices have dropped quite a bit since then, but that's how it goes) and the monthly bandwidth cost I estimate at $100. There are some other various costs also like electricity, various equipment, software/license purchases, and the development server but I have not really kept track of those. I paid for the server on credit card and although I have been meaning to, I have still not been able to pay it off for one reason or another. I will eventually, but if there are a lot of donations I can reach this goal much more quickly. However, the primary use of the donations will be to insure that the site remains up. I will be saving up to move the server to a real hosting facility (as opposed to running it from my DSL line at home). In addition, the the server hosts the following excellent Morrissey / Smiths related sites: Shoplifers Union, The Arcane Old Wardrobe and Recycled Papers. So you could consider the donation support towards these sites also.
- I have tried to avoid money issue mostly because I think it is uninteresting, but also because I have always run the site on a day to day basis and like the complete freedom I have because I have not accepted any outside money. I like the freedom of being able run things however I want, and to stop the site at any time and in a naive sort of way, paying for everything myself sort of protects me from any sort of criticism. I should be above that though - I have been through enough and don't think that money could corrupt me, but if it starts to, I'm sure there will be many of you quick to point it out and keep me in line. As the site has grown, ultimately the freedom is still there but I feel there is also some responsibility now to the loyal site visitors and to potential new fans alike.
- I hope that by now people realize that I am not doing this site for money and that I am actually a real fan. Running the site has been great fun, a great learning experience, and the greatest honor, but there is also the reality that running this website does cost money. Since I consider the site to be run very efficiently and I have had a full-time job for a while, financing the site personally has not been a problem. I have always felt it my duty to assume all the costs myself since I can, but in recent discussions I have been convinced that it would make more sense to ask for many to chip in a little, rather than have one person "eat the cost". In this time of web-related companies running out of money (many which had millions, some which had billions of dollars invested into them), I want to insure that this particular site stays around.
- The best way to help contribute to the site stays the same - by contributing your excellent story submissions and comments to the site. If you can't afford the donation or if it is too much of a hassle or if you would rather put the money to other causes, I understand. Don't worry about it. In fact, if you cannot easily afford it at this time, I do not want you to even think of sending any money. If I have not said it enough, I greatly appreciate those who contribute their time to the site and those who have helped spread the word.
- Note, Paypal charges a small payment fee but there are no 'administrative costs' otherwise. This site is run independently of Morrissey and he will not be receiving any of the money sent to the site. 100% of any money I receive will go towards the costs of maintaining this site.
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Sure! (Score:1)
(User #864 Info | http://www.bozboorer.com/)
can't thank you enough! (Score:1)
not only does morrissey-solo keep us updated (useless and trivial newsbits aside), but it's host to a lot of great media, such as transcribed and recorded interviews and that nice 'young guns go for it' episode. without morrissey-solo, i wouldn't have seen any of it. (hell, i don't even think bleeker bob's has it for sale! at least, last time i checked.)
i will definitely contribute sometime soon. funds recently have been low due to infamously unbridled spending on concerts i shouldn't be spending on. (it's been a nice summer concert season, hasn't it?) but i get paid next week, so i'll try to clock in some funds.
also, i apologize for the lack of a more 'substantial' contribution. just goes to show how out of the loop i am.
at any rate, cheers to you david t! and thank you very much for all you've done for morrissey, marr, alain, spike, boz, andy, mike, spencer, gary (yeah, i know i'm missing some other band members, but this post is long enough!)... and above all, thank you for all you've done for all their fans!
(User #837 Info)
Cheers to You David! (Score:1)
~Chris
(User #263 Info | http://www.geocities.com/mammaryg/)
Kudos (Score:1)
Funds forthcoming-
Gregg in Denver
(User #3007 Info)
Thanks Dave! (Score:1)
(User #2789 Info | http://www.morrisseymusic.com/)
David (Score:1)
Again and again, you leave me impressed.
(User #215 Info)
If you don`t have a paypal account (Score:1)
(User #2713 Info)
Well Worth It (Score:1)
(User #1158 Info)
ASK (for donations) (Score:1)
Although in the days when this site was hopelessly poor I liked it more (because it was more of a secret), I fully understand that money is an obvious issue - so good luck to yer old son !
(User #2823 Info)
Money (Score:1)
(User #508 Info)
Hi Dave, 10$ to support this site is a bargain!!!! (Score:1)
(User #3273 Info | http://www.akiraware.com/)
Payment? (Score:1)
Would it be possible to send a money order to Morrissey-solo or to you through a P.O. Box or an address. I'm very naive and hopeless when it comes to computers and would feel safer sending it through the mail.
Plus it would be a pleasure sending a donation to this great site. In comparison here in Los Angeles, I recently send in a donation to KCRW 89.9 fm, which is commericial free radio and enjoy their morning show which features great musicians I enjoy that are from independent labels you don't get a chance to hear much. I was wondering in future reference, like PBS and KCRW, you can give, say a Morrissey-solo t-shirt for giving a donation in show of support....or for valued contributers a raffle for Morrissey related items. Just a thought. But again....
If you have a P.O. Box or an address I can send a money order that would be great....
(User #236 Info | http://hometown.aol.com/mozcowboyii/myhomepage/profile.html)
Vegas!! Baby.. Vegas.......... (Score:1)
Roll them dice.. and win BIG .... Payment on the way...
thank you for all the great info..
Art
(User #3401 Info)
about the contributions (Score:0)
However:
-please do not let Morrissey or people sent by him give you a dime; it would be depressing and counterproductive;
-as already mentioned, consider selling stuff here
(t-shirts, stickers etc);
-do not count on this PayPal money to support the site completely, because it won't;
-shouldn't some of the peddlers on the marketplace be a little more generous to Morrissey-Solo?
Please keep up the excellent, priceless work. There's a place in Heaven for you and your friends.
just an idea (Score:1)
i know it's easier said than done, but hell, it's not a bad way to raise funds for a non-corporate-record-company owned resource for morrissey fans worldwide.
(User #837 Info)
International donors (Score:1)
Paypal makes you jump through hoops if you don't live in the USA to give you money. Basically, you have to wait for your credit card bill to come through, and then verify your credit card using a number printed on your bill next to a sample PayPal transaction. The whole process will take a minimum of 4 days to complete, and may take as much as a month. People forget their good intentions over the course of a month.
I've had a look around for an alternatively to PayPal, and can't see one (I though Amazon provided payment facilities - but can't find it). If you can, David, it would be great if we could have an alternative to using PayPal.
To everybody else: Give until it hurts! You know how much this site means to you - keep it going.
(User #256 Info)
Please Contribute if You Can (Score:1)
...and Morrissey(just in case your eyes glance over this), it would be such a little thing to help David promote your career ($$$,info,buried songs) but the difference it would make...
(User #3249 Info | http://www.myspace.com/coldwarspies)
Permanent Link (Score:1)
Please set up a permanent link so that I can contribute money in the future. Money is a little tight for a cheap ass like me but this is something that I would happily contribute to.
(User #953 Info | http://randumbs.blogspot.com/)
pledge (Score:0)
hello (Score:0)
It is so beautiful (Score:1)
P.S hey David, (just a suggestion) I think it would be a good idea to set up a permanent link for the donations on the front page so people new to the site can also be aware of the contribution. Also I think you should put a link up to all the threads regarding the donations so the new people surfing in can see all the positve comments about donating.
(User #3415 Info)
Amazing (Score:1)
Only in the World of Morrissey!
(User #3415 Info)
£ changes everything (Score:1)
I'm no financial expert, but couldn't you just set up a bank account that we can send dosh to?
(User #3416 Info)
Ummmmmmmmm (Score:1)
(User #3410 Info)
This was not a hard decision (Score:1)
I just gave my $10 pledge to keep this site running and it was my pleasure. If nothing else, it is my way of repaying your kindness for the pictures that you took of my 30 seconds with the Mozzer during the NYC DVD signing. That picture is a treasured memory and I can't thank you enough for doing that and also keeping the site running in a top manner. Anyone else that had their pic snapped should do the same because I'm sure all of those pictures take up quite a bit of server space.
I'm continually impressed by the timely manner this site is updated. When the Mozzer was on tour, I could always count on checking the site and getting last night's set list and comments from everyone. That, in itself, is commendable.
Thanks for everything, please keep up the good work!!
Cheers!!!!
(User #47 Info)
Can we have a target - say $6000 (Score:1)
It might encourage people to give . . .
(User #256 Info)
Update on Donations? (Score:0)
I'd love to hear an update on the progress
in getting donations.
Can you give us some statistics?
How many donated, what was the average donation?
I'm willing to give MORE if it seems that your costs are not getting paid.
I won't pay you (Score:0)
I won't pay you, oh uh oh
With you site being so gay
and the words that you say
I won't pay you, no oh oh
I won't pay you, oh uh oh
Cause David is a money grubbing fag
and I'm a true Morrissey fan
I won't pay you, no oh oh
good karma (Score:1)
David, I just want to thank you again for this wonderful place. My day wouldn't seem the same without it.
(User #134 Info)