The incredible shrinking forum

[Bob Pacey]

Ya forgot about fishing and golf H !

Been on holidays for two weeks and the wind has been blowing a gale so I've paid all the bills and visited some old friends at the Tavern.


You can betcha it will stop blowing next week.


Bob

[Cropduster]

I liked your reference to 'The Farewell', Neville.

On the flip side, I have seen Youtube clips of Ravel's Bolero where the piece starts with a lone drummer, and then more and more instruments join in until the piece reaches a crescendo.

I found when I first started writing poetry that I did not get a lot of genuine support from my peers. It was the support, encouragement and feedback from members of ABPA that empowered me to continue to write and hone my skills.

I hope the forum lives on and continues to thrive. It is a wonderful community, and a place where I feel I am able to express myself openly through poetry.

[Heather]

I think we all felt that way about the forum when we first joined Allan. We've all had to set our babies out into the big world, but here it's a safe world amongst friends. That encouragement has been good for all of us and still is I suspect.

Heather

[Bob Pacey]

Funny that Allan hey my crew are the same one mention of poetry and they all run or listen under sufferance. Kym told me the same thing once and yes the companionship of this group is very motivating.

Bob

[Dave Smith]

I guess in my advancing age I don't have a lot to say but I still follow this page and come on most days even if it's just to look around.

TTFN

[Bob Pacey]

Nothing worse then a bloody old perve with knobbly knees

[keats]

perhaps more publicity of the forum in the ABPA magazine,

I understand what you are saying Vic, but I have pushed and pushed our online Forums and the website in general in the ABPA Magazine, but it has made little difference. I just think that most of the major players in Bush Poetry these days are moving their focus away from online activity. I know from experience that my personal website gets me little work, yet writing, promoting and generally putting myself out there with personal promotion keeps me busy all year around. I think (and please don't quote me on this) that online Forums and social media died a quick death in our art form. Yes, these forums are great for a chat and the occasional poem, but here we are preaching to the already initiated. Presenting ourselves elsewhere takes personally approaching people and groups. I know from running festivals, that I take little creedence in being given links to someones self-written accolades and would prefer to see them perform first hand before booking them.

Maureen has done a wonderful job here over the years with her homework topics, but only the same few embers respond. I am guilty of being lazy in that respect, but I have too much going on with my writing to risk putting it into public forums after having many ideas ripped off over the years.

What I am basically saying is that Social Media, including Forums, are slowly dying in regards to our art form and despite numerous attempts to promote this site, it has fallen on deaf ears.

I don't know what the answer is, but whatever we have been trying is simply not gaining us any ground.

yours respectably

Neil

[Neville Briggs]

Yeah I did notice Neil, that you had a prominent bit about the forum, in bold letters in the magazine. Can't do much more than that.

The aspect of getting gigs is not in my line so I can't comment on that.

You say that the forum is good for a chat and the occasional poem. I just thought it a pity that if we are an association, that more members couldn't spare a little bit of time for, as you say, a chat and an occasional poem. Associating is part of the life of an association isn't it.

Maybe there is no answer.

[Bob Pacey]

Who the bloody hell are you calling an ember

I might be getting on but I still spark a flame .

Agree Neil I get most of my bookings through word of mouth .


Bob

[keats]

Yep Nev. You can lead a horse to water etc. etc.

Personally I would love to see this website and Forums flourish, but there becomes a point where you are bashing your head against the wall. I will continue to promote it through the Magazine, but I seem to be fighting a losing battle, sadly.

Thank you for keeping these Forums moving along. You are one of our main contributors and we thank you for that.

Neil