Personal Arrangement Threads

[Latios212]

This has been nagging at me for quite a while, so I may as well try and put it into words.

Personal arrangement threads are dead. Like, really dead. Most of the exchanges are something like the following:
"Hey, here's something."
"Nice."
"I made something else."
(2 weeks later) "I made another something."
(a month later) "Here's another thing."
<very long silence>
<end of topic>

Here are some examples of what I mean, chosen arbitrarily:
Olimar
Bespinben
Tobbeh
TheMarioPianist
InsigTurtle
Yug Guy
Brawler
JDMEK5

I don't know why, but the mentality at times seems to be "everything happens through the submissions board". Oftentimes, the process feels like this:

Spoiler

- Arrange something.
- Submit it.
- Get frustrated that it's not accepted yet.

[close]

Or like this:

Spoiler

- Arrange something.
- Post it on your thread.
- Feel unappreciated because no one comments on it.

[close]

And nowadays, many new users don't even bother creating their own thread and just go straight to the submissions board.
In essence, what I'm trying to say is that all the fun seems to have drained out from arranging and giving feedback. It should be the case that you post something in your thread, no matter how good or bad, complete or incomplete, and people will give you feedback, compliments, and friendly help. But the board is a lonely place where comments are becoming more and more infrequent. Digging through some topics that have been around for at least a few years, you can easily see it wasn't always like this. Obviously I wasn't here way back when, but the arranging/feedbacking community feels emptier than ever these days. I feel like we're stuck in a negative feedback loop of people not feeling like arranging because there are no compliments on their arrangements because there aren't any new arrangements to comment on. The opposite would be people supporting each other through compliments and helpful feedback, which make the arrangers happy and wanting to produce more sheets.

It saddens me that what should be the life of the forums - the real heart of NSM, the focus on the people creating the wonderful arrangements - has been watered down to the process of painstakingly pushing a couple of sheets through the submission system. (Either that, or congratulating yourself in a very lonely way after arranging something new.)

I want to breathe new life into the board. Shift the focus and give arrangers and arrangements the attention they deserve. It saddens me that off-topic threads can generate new pages full of empty conversation in a matter of minutes, but if you post a new arrangement that you're working on, chances are no one will reply to it. There's something to be said about the rampant activity and toxicity present in the off-topic boards compared to activity in arrangement threads. I understand the need for letting off steam or talking about a particular topic, but people join NSM because it's NinSheetMusic, not to ignore the sheets that give the site its name. Obviously I can't force people to give comments on personal arrangements, but I would like to encourage posting on that board. And most of all, I'm looking for ideas to make it fun.

Gonna end with a quote:

Let's get some comments this time around, please guys?

(Did I mention my vast appreciation for the truckloads of sheets that can only be found on people's personal arrangement threads? Seriously. Tons of my favorite sheets aren't even on site.)

[braix]

I agree. These arrangements should be the main focus of NSM but recently they've been dying. It honestly does feel really empty and that is one of the reasons I quit arranging(at least for the time being).

[Latios212]

The fact that stuff blew up in off-topic WHILE I WAS WRITING THIS just proves my point - what are people even doing here when not arranging .-.

[ThatGamer]

Actually, I arrange a bunch of songs but no one bothers to critique them. I get you though, Latios.

And uh, yeah that was some weird shit just nvm about that Latios, arrangements are more important...

[Altissimo]

The fact that stuff blew up in off-topic WHILE I WAS WRITING THIS just proves my point - what are people even doing here when not arranging .-.

Posting in off topic lmao
I dunno I usually sit around on forums uselessly while playing video games so
Part of my thing is I don't feel right critiquing songs I don't know well, and since my main franchises are the over-popular Pokémon, the much-less popular Kirby, and the even more obscure Ace Attorney, I don't find myself having a lot to say on a lot of arrangements. But maybe I should start branching out more.

[braix]

Lately NSM has basically all been in the Off-Topic boards yeah. I don't think it's neccesarily a bad thing, but it's pretty sad for the people that actually work hard to make arrangements for their personal arrangement threads because they get little to no attention most of the time.

[AwesomeYears]

I mostly don't critique them because they only post MUS files. (And how am I suppose to view them on my iPad )

[mikey]

I'm pretty sure I have a personal arrangement thread but Iwrote those sheets to have them submitted, not to get a that's cool and move on.  If you want them to be more active, make it the primary submission process

And I visit the off topic boards cause there are some cool people

[Hero of Trains]

I always look at them, but I don't really know enough to give a meaningful critique.

[TheMarioPianist]

I always look at them, but I don't really know enough to give a meaningful critique.

I think the point that Latios is trying to get at is that people should at least say something. I mean, it kind of nullifies the point if I put up six new arrangements and I get absolutely nothing in reply. I mean, a simple "nice work" would at least be progress. And you don't need to be some kind of music theory expert to give critiques. I mean, if you have any kind of suggestion at all, say it. I know that even if I refute a suggestion that someone makes, I do it politely and respectfully. Trust me, we won't crucify you for suggesting something. Just say something. Anything. (Ok, not anything, but you get it.)

[Tobbeh99]

I really appreciate this post you did Latios. Y, I just thought that it would be great if the arrangement threads got as much comments as the off topic threads. It's nice that people can socialize at the off topic board but arranging is the point of the site, and as a musician I'd appreciate more activity in the arrangement board. I think it would also encourage more people and new members to arrange more and contribute to the site.

And as MarioPianist said, it doesn't have to be really professional critique, but more so feedback and comments to make the arrangers aware of that their arrangements are being appreciated, making the arrangers encourage to make more arrangement.

[JDMEK5]

I have a lot to say on this so bear with me:

I totally get what Latios means. I see NSM as a family or a crew on a ship. That's why I hate to see us fighting amongst ourselves. Most of us have been around to remember the hostile phase NSM had where we literally had basically a fight a week. Now I'd say we're into a silent phase where as Latios said, the arranging community that once was the pride of NSM has become a ghost town. I'm very much guilty myself of being distant lately and not giving much to the community but I'm going to change that now and I hope the rest of us do too. I can't complain about not having any feedback on my personal arrangement thread because I haven't posted on anyone else's for a long time either. But I'm going to be more active around here starting now. Let's liven this place up to its former glory.

NSM once was called the friendliest forum on the web by one of our own and I have a dream of that being us again. Music brings people together and we're all a certain type of family really. Let's support each other because we want to. I understand that people get busy and sometimes disappear for weeks at a time even but if everyone gave to the best of their abilities, this place would be lively and fun and the kind that would make people want to join just for the atmosphere.

When I first joined in 2010 I never went to the Off-Topic section because I was only concerned with the arranging at the time but it was as dynamic as the Off-Topic section is now. That and everyone was able to say stuff without concern of being slammed for being wrong or misinformed cuz everything was said respectfully. I see NSM as a brotherhood. Now before you go saying that I'm an idealist and a dreamer and I'm saying some unrealistic stuff, some things I've said I know won't happen but it's a goal to strive for, but other things I've seen happen in the past. I know it's possible. We're a family and we should be helping and supporting each other wherever we can because we want to. I'm not trying to say you have to be super-committed to the site in order to do anything, but I know there are lots of us who are here a lot and it's our job to build an atmosphere where creativity can flourish because that's what arranging is too. Every arrangement has a piece of the arranger's heart and soul put into it and to put it out for critique can be intimidating at first. I say that from personal experience. But the goal here is to learn and nobody learns anything when everyone is quiet and looking out only for themselves. Like I said, obviously there are exceptions and stuff and I'm as guilty as they come for that but the goal of this thread is to change that and I'm supporting this two feet all the way in.

I'd also like to point out that there are many members who are only active in the Off-Topic section of the site simply because they don't arrange. Which is absolutely totally fine. But for that reason, that makes 3 different kinds of people active in the forums: There are those who are only active in the Off-Topic section because they don't arrange, there are those who are only active in the Arranging section because they aren't concerned at the moment with the online socializing floor, and there are those who do both. My point for pointing this out is because the people in the Off-Topic section are often different than the ones in the Arranging. Just something to keep in mind when we say that ppl aren't involved in the arranging section enough. Cuz some users just aren't that involved period and that's ok. NSM isn't a contract. But those who are involved in both, don't forget the arranging side of NSM.

I'm pretty sure I have a personal arrangement thread but Iwrote those sheets to have them submitted, not to get a that's cool and move on.  If you want them to be more active, make it the primary submission process

And I visit the off topic boards cause there are some cool people

If that's the way you feel about it that's fine but I and many others get a little dose of inspiration and motive when we get feedback or even a "Cool beans" for something even if it's in the works. And I totally agree: there are cool people in the Off-Topic section. (I'm not that active there simply because I'm not exactly a social butterfly. I can thrive in social situations but I don't get drawn to them is all.)

[braix]

I'll personally try to be more active in the Arrangements threads. I'd like to see them being active and less lonely

[Pianist Da Sootopolis]

As will I.
I'll see if I can try and give feedback, maybe get one more arrangement done before school starts.

[Latios212]

people understanding what I'm saying

But maybe I should start branching out more.

I think the point that Latios is trying to get at is that people should at least say something. I mean, it kind of nullifies the point if I put up six new arrangements and I get absolutely nothing in reply. I mean, a simple "nice work" would at least be progress. And you don't need to be some kind of music theory expert to give critiques. I mean, if you have any kind of suggestion at all, say it. I know that even if I refute a suggestion that someone makes, I do it politely and respectfully. Trust me, we won't crucify you for suggesting something. Just say something. Anything. (Ok, not anything, but you get it.)

And as MarioPianist said, it doesn't have to be really professional critique, but more so feedback and comments to make the arrangers aware of that their arrangements are being appreciated, making the arrangers encourage to make more arrangement.

I'm going to be more active around here starting now. Let's liven this place up to its former glory.

I'll personally try to be more active in the Arrangements threads. I'd like to see them being active and less lonely

As will I.
I'll see if I can try and give feedback, maybe get one more arrangement done before school starts.

[close]

Yes, yes, YES!

I know that one cause of a slip in activity is people growing up and becoming busy with real life stuff, but equally detrimental is people being turned off by a lack of community interest (example: you guys).

Let's turn that around, shall we?

(There's too much that I love about JDMEK5's post to quote all of the good parts so I'll just suggest reading it again)