[Mako]

Originally posted by Cozy
...I respect the fact that the promos are old. And I respect the fact that they aren't for everyone. But I did the ones for Gnosis and for Progressive Shores (and Interzone), and the parties involved were very satisfied. First and foremost that is what matters to me. But yes, they are old and I will talk to those involved about changing them.

I do appreciate the effort, intent and humor that went into the promo's, no worries there, but satisfying the DJ's vs. satisfying the listeners (and demanding lot of curmudgeons we can be too) are two disinct things.

I propose the concept that that promo's should made for the audience, not for the DJ's.

So that no one will be offended, I will do the next batch of promos as vanilla and monotone as humanly possible, and without such gratuitous compression. You'll be happy to know that I had the turnip surgically removed, but it's left a big scar and I occasionally create an involuntary gurgling sound.

I'm not suggesting the ads be emasculated, goodness no! Just remember there's a groove going on and a promo that is purposely made to be jarring and annoying is a poor fit with the programming. De-compression is good and much appreciated, thank you!

If there's a better way to describe the audio FX that were used for the Gnosis promos than turnip in the throat-itis, I'm totally open to it. My vocabulary comes up short otherwise.

Personally, I'm going to have fun with any/every promo I make and every show I produce. I prefer to approach it with a sense of humor but also be informative.

I appreciate and applaud that approach certainly.

I'm sure I speak for most of the other radio personalities here as well (at least Gags, Prog Shores, and Gnosis). And you know....if the style doesn't suit your critical taste, you can always turn it off. I for one am very thankful for the individual approach of each of the DJs and wouldn't want to see any of them compromise their style.

That's the point: I Do turn off the Gnosis promos. That's the definition of a promo that doesn't work isn't it? One that makes listeners reach for the Off button (or in broadcast radio, the button that tunes in your competetitor's station instead, which is Really Bad ju-ju).

Of course I do turn the shows off when they become boring or unsatisfying musically.

The point is I am offering a bit of constructive critisism which should be evaluated, and then either ignored or accepted as it makes sense to the producers of the shows.

Re: Sean's mic time... Sean McFee is just about one of the most articulate, most knowledgable music fans I know. He's also done a great deal over the years to

The underlying message being I am somehow saying he isn't a worthwhile DJ or I'm somehow questioning his Cred in the Prog community, got it.

That's not what I said at all. I do feel he talks too much to the minutia of the music and stand by my opinon that listening to P.S. feels like sitting in a class room. That's a totally legit and constructive critique to make and it is no reflection on the man or his contributions to the Prog scene in general.

If that's the intent/concept behind Progressive Shores, well bully for Sean and those fans who do enjoy the show. I certainly enjoy the monster variety of world tunes Sean plays, and that's why I still tune in until I'm overwhelmed and punch up a nice .mu3 or two of my own.

support the progressive rock community including co-producing festivals and co-running a record label. If he comes off as snooty, lecturing, or "in love with his own voice", I can tell you that's merely your perception. I know him very well, and know he's not that way.

A wee bit of lightening up would be worthwhile here I think. I'd hoped the bombastic tone of my message would have conveyed that, but I missed the mark there obviously.

Sean most certainly does not come off as snooty at all, but he does come off, perhaps inadvertantly, as a passionate but pedantic presenter of some really kick glutemus maximus music. Keeping the passion and dialing back on the pedantic components would tighten up the show considerably and make it that much more enjoyable in my opinion.

It's totally Sean's gig though, and if PS doesn't hook me, no worries, I'll queue up some Flower Kings and IQ and call it good for a couple of hours.

Keep in mind I'm just one listener with no cred in the prog scene beyond casual fan status. And that's ok. If it's not, well, c'est la vie, no?

Re: talking in general.... For every person that (as was so eloquently stated) wants the DJs to "shut up and play yer guitar", there are at least 5-10 others that

Ok, well, where are they then? Tell those lads to step up and be proud and be counted! No slacking allowed!

I tried to express the concept of being concise somewhere in my overly long winded anything but concise posts.

I still maintain that is part 'n parcel of being a good presenter for anything anywhere be it radio, TV or Toast Master presenter. Rambling deep into minutia is never a desirable style for any speaker. Put the deep info on the web page as needed, that's cool, but not into a mic.

appreciate the DJ's perspective on the music and the information they convey. After all, a monkey can merely program tracks into the system, but how much of a show is that??? On the avg, my entire talking portions run about 15 minutes during a 3-hour show.

But that's your show...

A good speaker can get his talking points across in 60 seconds flat. That's a screaming great gob of airtime in the broadcast radio genre. Anything more than that and you risk talking to a zombied out audience waiting for the Mellotrons.

Lastly, while all the radio personalities certainly appreciate the need for criticism (personally, I ask for it at the end of every one of my shows), I know it would be taken more seriously from those who don't exclusively focus on what is *wrong* with something.

- Cozy [/b]

I fail to see how phrases like I enjoy the wide variety of tunes played and Sean has a righteous and most appreciated taste in world music are not highlighting what the shows are doing right?

CYa!
Mako