(by 3 people)
This lens describes my work as administrator of the largest german speaking bass player community Bassic. Please rate this lens or contact me with any additional ideas, thanks.
Initial Idea
Initially the idea to start the website came at a web publisher course I attended back in 1998. For the final exam each student had to build a website with samples of different web techniques based on a self written concept. I chose building an online community - as a bass player myself, I chose bass guitar as the main topic.
A long way since then
and a very interesting time this has been!
Since going online after passing the web publisher exam this top scores, Bassic has grown to be the largest german speaking bass player community on the internet with over 7'200 registered members from many different countries - mainly Germany, Switzerland and Austria.The bas(s)ic idea was to enable the members to easily register and design their own member area. Also: any member could add entries to the bass gear database, take part in the discussion forum and interact with the other members in many other ways.
For 1999 it was quite an innovation. Me being very new to the whole thing and most people being new to internet (or not online yet at all) - it took a while (and some mistakes) to get Bassic to be the lively online community it is now.
The Bassic logo, an abstraction of the bass clef - a symbol used in written music - actually was created in 2004.
Key Features of Bassic
most of which where added after the first launch
A quick overview of the main features that help Bassic be a lively and interesting place for bass players to meet (and to return to!). I'm very much interested in your ideas for further features!
- individual member area including bio, picture, mp3 file
- individual blog system
- a point system (for just about any interaction on the website the members are awarded different numbers of points)
- award a member system (depending on the amount of points a member has gathered, he is able to award other members a "cup" in recognition of helpful answers in the forum or just as a sign of thanks or friendship)
- chat (the really lively phase in the life of Bassic started off in the chat - people get to know each other, eventually meet in real life and regularly turn up in the chat to meet thier buddies)
- a discussion forum (no real need to explain. by now one can find answers to almost any question regarding bass playing or bass gear - or get answers to new questions within minutes)
- bassic shirts (help members to recognize other members for instance at large exhibitions like the Frankfurt Musik-Messe - also works as advertisement for the website) http://bassic.spreadshirt.net
- buddy system (any member can add other members to his buddy list)
- bass worshops by Adrian Maruszczyk, a well known polish bassist living in Germany. The workshops include video and audio.
Most Important
I think the most important thing for an online community is members really getting to know each other.
So, if your website just hasn't got going properly, consider organizing some kind of member party - or maybe even just start very small and get 2 or 3 members to meet for a beer somewhere. And see what happens ;-)
So, if your website just hasn't got going properly, consider organizing some kind of member party - or maybe even just start very small and get 2 or 3 members to meet for a beer somewhere. And see what happens ;-)
Bassic Member Shirts
An example of community wear ;-)
Here an example of Bassic Community Wear. Find many more including the ultimate bass player's barbeque apron at: Bassic Spreadshirt. Some Other Resources on Bass Guitar
- Jaco Pastorius Lens
- Jaco Pastorius, the world's greatest bass player. Lens by Corey Brown
- Bass Guitar Lens
- Not very informative Lens by Eric Himmelreich
- Talkbass
- Lots of information on bass playing
- ActiveBass
- OLGA tab search, composition tools, resources, accessory and sheet music reviews, scales, lines, and more! [but not much change on the website for years]
Great Stuff on Amazon
Bass Guitar for Dummies
Amazon Price: $16.49 (as of 08/21/2008)
Hal Leonard Bass Method - Complete Edition: Books 1, 2 and 3 Bound Together in One Easy-to-Use Volume!
Amazon Price: $15.61 (as of 08/21/2008)
The Art of Contemporary Travis Picking: How to Play the Alternating Bass Fingerpicking Style (Bk & CD)
Amazon Price: $13.57 (as of 08/21/2008)
